Dexter Jones

Dexter Jones

Dexter Jones Podcast is a long-form interview series documenting the people, stories, and moments that shaped dance music culture, from the early rave years to the global club movement. Hosted by Dexter Jones, the podcast features in-depth conversations with DJs, producers, promoters, journalists, and industry figures who lived through the rise of rave culture, clubbing, and Ibiza as a worldwide dance music epicentre. Each episode goes beyond nostalgia to explore what really happened behind the scenes, covering creativity, success, failure, excess, reinvention, and the realities of building a life and career in electronic music. For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter: rave@onemoretimeibiza.com

  1. HACE 4 D

    Paul "Madders" Madan on Sundissential, Addiction and Recovery

    This episode of the Dexter Jones Podcast tells the real story of Paul Madan AKA "Madders", who is one of the defining figures behind Sundissential and UK club culture. It’s an honest, unfiltered conversation about success, addiction, collapse, and recovery. From the height of clubland to a twenty-year battle with crack cocaine, this episode goes beyond dance music into accountability, survival, and rebuilding a life. This is one of the most important conversations we’ve ever recorded on the Dexter Jones Podcast. This is not a nostalgia piece. It’s a raw, human conversation about success, excess, addiction, collapse, recovery, and the long road back to finding meaning again. From the rise of Sundissential and packed-out clubs to a twenty-year battle with crack cocaine, losing everything, finally finding recovery and his true purpose in life, this episode goes far beyond dance music. It’s about accountability, survival, and choosing to face life head-on. This episode is dedicated to everyone around the world living with any version of addiction, and to those in recovery who choose courage, honesty, and hope every single day. In this episode, we cover: 📖 The real story behind Sundissential and its impact 🤯 The pressure, chaos, and reality behind the scenes 🤧 Addiction, denial, and hitting rock bottom 😢 Losing everything and starting again ▵ Recovery, responsibility, and life today 🥰 What survival actually looks like when the noise stops --- Chapters 📖 00:00 Intro | The Real Story Begins 04:08 Why He’s Always Been Called “Madders” 06:13 The Rumour That Madders Was Dead 10:14 Addiction Tightens Its Grip 25:53 Promoting the First Events | Early Clubland Days 37:32 How His Mum Invented the Name Sundissential 44:53 Sundissential Grows to 100,000 Members 57:51 Five Thousand People Turn Up to One Club 01:05:00 Sundissential Becomes a Superclub Brand 01:27:56 Club Deaths, Media Pressure, and Everything Falling Apart --- THE WELLBOURNE CLINIC A huge thank you to Paul and the team at The WellBOURNE Clinic for the vital work they do supporting people affected by addiction and recovery. If you’d like to learn more about their approach and the support they offer, please visit their website:  https://thewellbourneclinic.co.uk/

    1 h 33 min
  2. 1 FEB

    Saytek on Live Techno vs DJing

    Live performance in electronic music is widely misunderstood. In this episode, Saytek explains what playing live actually means and why it is fundamentally different from DJing. Saytek has never DJed. Every performance is built, arranged, and performed live in real time. Nothing is pre-arranged, nothing is duplicated, and no two sets are ever the same. He has been part of electronic music culture for decades, from early UK rave and squat parties to international touring, Berlin clubs, Ibiza seasons, and headlining techno rooms around the world. His background in sound engineering and deep technical understanding shaped a live performance approach that prioritises creativity, risk, and connection with the crowd. In this conversation, we break down the realities of live techno performance. We talk honestly about gear, Ableton, hardware myths, Berlin vs UK culture, why live acts are rarer than DJs, the sacrifices involved, and how electronic musicians actually think while performing. This is not a DJ debate. It’s an explanation. Topics include: • Why Saytek has never DJed • What live techno performance really involves • Hardware, Ableton, and the myth of “cheating” • Sound engineering roots and early London club culture • Squat parties, illegal raves, and DIY scenes • Berlin vs UK techno culture • What defines an electronic musician • AI, creativity, and human imperfection • Gear Acquisition Syndrome and why more gear isn’t the answer ⏱️ PODCAST CHAPTERS 00:00 – Saytek: “I’ve Never DJed” 04:27 – What Is Techno (and Why Live Matters) 10:56 – Live Techno Gear Explained 12:52 – Ableton Live: Tool or Cheat? 19:06 – How Saytek Got Into Live Performance 26:08 – London, Club Home & Sound Engineering Roots 32:19 – Squat Parties & Illegal Raves in London 35:53 – Berlin vs UK: Techno Culture Explained 45:02 – What Is an Electronic Musician (Not a DJ) 54:27 – AI, Creativity & the Future of Electronic Music 01:08:44 – Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS) Explained If you’re a DJ, live act, producer, promoter, or someone interested in how electronic music is actually performed, this episode will give you real insight.

    1 h 8 min
  3. 25 ENE

    Stephen Kirkwood on trading turntables for Pizza… and getting both!

    Today, I sit down with one of the most respected and quietly influential figures in modern trance and electronic music, Stephen Kirkwood. Stephen’s story is not the usual DJ success narrative. This is a deep, honest conversation about creativity, resilience, graft, and finding multiple ways to survive and thrive in an industry that constantly shifts beneath your feet. If you know Stephen for his productions, his releases on major labels, or his appearances at iconic venues like Amnesia Ibiza, this episode reveals the layers behind the music. If you do not know his story yet, this is a rare opportunity to hear how a working-class kid from Scotland built a career in trance, production, education, and business by staying adaptable and relentlessly consistent. We talk about Stephen’s journey from early DJ gigs and self-promoted club nights to working with industry heavyweights, hearing his music played by legends like Paul van Dyk, and eventually playing after them on some of the biggest stages in dance music. One of the most surprising parts of this conversation is how Stephen built Banging Pizza, a now multi-location pizza business that became a genuine hub for the Scottish electronic music scene. What started as a lockdown pivot turned into a thriving brand, with shops run and franchised by DJs and producers from the scene itself. It is a perfect example of creative thinking outside the booth. We go deep into music production, the reality of putting in 10,000 hours, why most tracks fail before one finally works, and how mentorship from figures like Lange, Mark Sherry and David Forbes shaped Stephen’s sound and mindset. Stephen also opens up about teaching the next generation through Escapade Studios and why education and community matter more than ever in today’s music industry. This episode also explores: • The pressure of playing after global trance legends • Law of attraction, manifestation, and belief • Why consistency beats perfection in music careers • The truth about ghost production vs collaboration • Using AI as a creative tool in modern production • Social media, micro-communities, and the 1,000 true fans principle • Why trance is experiencing a genuine resurgence • How Ibiza performances change an artist forever We also talk candidly about rejection, releases falling through at the last minute, managing expectations, and how to stay mentally grounded in an industry built on highs and lows. This is not just an interview for DJs. It is a conversation for any creative, entrepreneur, or artist trying to build something meaningful while navigating pressure, comparison, and constant change. If you love Ibiza culture, trance music, electronic production, behind-the-scenes industry stories, or real conversations about creativity and survival in music, this episode will resonate deeply. Do not forget to subscribe for more long-form conversations with DJs, producers, promoters, and the people who built the culture from the inside out. Chapters: 00:00 Intro – Stephen Kirkwood: Trance, Ibiza & Creative Survival 03:15 When Covid Stopped Music and Forced a Pivot 07:31 Growing Up in Scotland: Where Music First Entered His Life 09:35 Starting a Local Club Night and Promoting Parties 14:27 SKcapade Studios: Teaching Producers and Giving Back 17:32 The 10,000-Hour Truth About Music Production 22:52 Ibiza, Law of Attraction and Manifesting Big Moments 25:03 Lange, Mentorship and Real Industry Friendships 40:25 The First Time Hearing His Music Played by the Legends 45:40 Social Media, DJs and Building a Real Audience 50:28 Why 1,000 True Fans Beats Huge Follower Counts 55:44 Playing After Paul van Dyk and Going “Cloud Nine” 59:28 AI in Music Production: Tool or Threat? 01:12:15 One More Tune: The Perfect Last Track of the Night

    1 h 15 min
  4. 18 ENE

    Habs Akram on Carl Cox saying “Best visuals I’ve ever seen”

    In this episode of The Dexter Jones Podcast, Dexter Jones sits down with Habs Akram, a pioneering VJ, visual artist, and live visual mixer who has helped shape how electronic music events, clubs, and festivals look for over 35 years. Working alongside some of the biggest names in dance music, including Carl Cox, Habs has played a key role in bringing club visuals, live video mixing, and stage visuals into global electronic music culture, from underground London parties to Ibiza superclubs, Glastonbury, and world tours. Often mistaken for “the lighting guy”, Habs explains what a VJ actually does, why visuals matter on the dance floor, and how live visual mixing can completely change the way music is experienced in clubs and festivals. We dive into: 🔥 The moment Carl Cox told Habs: “Best visuals I’ve ever seen” 🎥 Why VJs are still misunderstood and undervalued in club culture 🌍 Touring the world with Nine Inch Nails and creating visuals used as lighting 🎬 How Habs’ work ended up in AI: Artificial Intelligence, directed by Steven Spielberg 🎪 The infamous Glastonbury “blag” that led to running the Pyramid Stage 🧠 Mixing visuals live, in real time, not pressing play 📱 The decade-long journey to building V4M, a live visual app that fits in your pocket 🎶 Why visuals should respond to music, not overpower it 🖤 The art of restraint, blackouts, and understanding the shape of sound This episode is not just about visuals. It’s about timing, instinct, creativity, and what it really means to bring music to life on a dance floor. If you’ve ever wondered how iconic nights actually come together behind the scenes, this one’s for you. Chapters:  00:00 Why I wanted Habs Akram on the podcast (VJ & visual pioneer) 02:14 VJ vs lighting engineer – what a VJ really does 03:01 How live visual mixing actually works in clubs and festivals 03:30 West London roots, early rave culture & clubbing history 04:01 Turning up to Slinky in a suit – learning the rave scene 06:53 From corporate AV to underground dance music visuals 07:51 The visual idea that was ahead of its time 10:02 Nine Inch Nails tour, Spielberg & breaking into world tours 25:38 Carl Cox’s compliment: “Best visuals I’ve ever seen” 28:40 Why Habs doesn’t rate AI visuals in dance music 50:28 V4M app explained – live visuals from your phone 1:05:15 Space Ibiza years & the golden era of club culture 1:14:00 The secret sauce: blackouts, timing & reading the drop 1:22:18 Last tune to end the night – closing moments --- Download the V4M APP  www. https://visuals4music.com/ Info: https://www.facebook.com/Habsy.Akram

    1 h 24 min
  5. 11 ENE

    Jason Fubar on why the system is broken and dance music Is harder than ever

    The System Is Broken: Why Dance Music Is Harder Than Ever | Jason FUBAR In this episode of The Dexter Jones Podcast, I sit down with Jason FUBAR, a long-time DJ, promoter, and rave scene grafter who has lived every era of dance music culture first-hand. Jason has been part of the scene for over 35 years. From the early rave days in Blackpool to superclubs, festivals, bars, the Royal Navy, Ibiza, Mallorca, and booking future superstars before they were even known, he’s seen the industry evolve from the inside. This conversation is a reality check on why dance music feels broken right now. We talk honestly about rising costs and shrinking margins, exclusivity deals, micro-venues versus mega clubs, and why promoters are being squeezed harder than ever. Jason also shares stories from running bars and festivals, touring internationally, and witnessing UK rave culture being built from the ground up. This is not nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. It’s about the current reality, what has changed, and what still makes dance music special after 30+ years. 🎧 Take your time with this one. We talk about: ■ Why it now costs more to make less money in dance music ■ Rising overheads, ticket pricing, and the real pressure promoters face ■ How exclusivity deals are damaging local scenes ■ Why small 200–300 capacity parties are making a comeback ■ Social media, trolling, and the abuse aimed at DJs and promoters ■ DJ culture then vs now, and why the scene feels different ■ Ibiza, BCM Mallorca, and the Balearic circuit ■ The Syndicate Blackpool and the superclub era ■ Why originality in music is disappearing ■ What still makes dance music worth fighting for Chapters: 00:00 The System Is Broken: Why Dance Music Is Harder Than Ever 08:23 You Used to Spend a Quid to Make a Tenner 13:25 Starting Out DJing in the Early Rave Era (1991) 24:14 Joining the Royal Navy While DJing 33:29 English Drinking Culture and Festival Spending Power 38:25 Back to the Old Pool Festival: Risks, Costs and Crowd Control 51:24 Trolling on Social Media: Abuse, Misogyny and Promoter Hate 01:03:09 The Syndicate Superclub, Blackpool (5,000 Capacity Era) 01:18:37 BCM Mallorca and Breaking Into the Balearic Scene 01:29:46 How Early Facebook Changed Ibiza Forever 01:32:19 Music Production Today: Remixes, Samples and Industry Laziness 01:40:36 One More Tune: Final Track Choices and Podcast Wrap-Up ----more---- For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter: rave@onemoretimeibiza.com

    1 h 47 min
  6. 4 ENE

    Ian Van Dahl on the pressure & reality of making timeless dance music

    Ian Van Dahl on the pressure, politics, and reality of making timeless dance music Few tracks define an entire generation of club culture quite like Castles in the Sky. For many, it was a soundtrack to first nights out, Ibiza summers, and the emotional peak of late-90s and early-2000s trance. In this episode of The Dexter Jones Podcast, I’m joined by Ian Van Dahl to revisit the story, sound, and legacy behind one of the most influential dance music projects of its era. We explore the rise of euphoric trance at a time when clubs were built on emotion, release, and collective energy. From early aliases and studio pressure to record label politics and creative control, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what it really took to create records that still resonate decades later. This is not nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. It’s about understanding why this music mattered, why it connected so deeply, and why it continues to hit differently today. If you lived through the golden era of trance, this will resonate. If you are discovering this music for the first time, this episode offers vital context into a moment when dance music felt truly timeless. 🎧 Take your time with this one. We talk about: 🎶 The story behind Castles in the Sky 🌍 How Ian Van Dahl broke through globally 🧠 Making music before laptops and DAWs ⚖️ Record labels, pressure, and creative control 🪩 Eurodance, trance, and why the UK scene was different 🔮 Why modern DJs struggle with identity Chapters: 00:00 Intro and meeting Ian Van Dahl 01:31 How the name Ian Van Dahl was created 03:16 Early music career and multiple aliases 10:50 Making music in the 90s before laptops and DAWs 22:02 Eurodance vs trance and why the UK was different 30:04 The Ian Van Dahl project and Castles in the Sky 39:24 Record labels, pressure, and creative control 54:35 European club culture and the rise of Eurodance 1:19:22 Why modern DJs struggle with identity 1:29:00 What’s next for Ian Van Dahl as an artist For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter: rave@onemoretimeibiza.com

    1 h 47 min
  7. 28/12/2025

    Lisa Good on life after Ibiza

    What happens after Ibiza? For many, Ibiza is a moment in time. For others, it becomes a turning point that quietly shapes everything that follows. In this episode of The Dexter Jones Podcast, I’m joined by Lisa Good, a former Manumission performer, to explore what life really looks like after the lights come up and the music fades. We begin where it all started. The Manumission years. The madness, the freedom, and the surreal experience of living in Ibiza during one of its most iconic cultural eras. But this conversation goes deeper than nostalgia. Lisa shares the journey that came after Ibiza, how travel, the ocean, and a series of life-changing experiences led her away from the party world and towards a new purpose rooted in environmental action, community, and long-term legacy. This is not a charity pitch. It’s an Ibiza story that didn’t end when the island chapter closed. At its core, this episode is about evolution. How a place like Ibiza can change you, challenge you, and quietly influence the rest of your life in ways you don’t always recognise at the time. If you lived through Ibiza in the late 90s and early 2000s, this will resonate. If you’ve ever wondered what happens after a life built around music, freedom, and excess, this conversation is for you. 🎧 Sit back, take your time, and enjoy this next chapter. To find out more about Pure Sea, visit: www.puresea.co.uk We talk about: 🪩 Life during the Manumission era in Ibiza 🗺️ What happens when that world ends and reality returns ✈️ Leaving Ibiza and searching for identity afterwards 🌊 How the ocean became a turning point 🎗️ The connection between music culture and community action 🎧 Ibiza DJs and creatives giving back Chapters: 00:00 Ibiza, Manumission & Losing Identity 02:03 Welcome Back: Life After Manumission 05:43 When Ibiza Comes to an End 08:18 Travelling Thailand Changed Everything 10:04 Swimming With Sharks in Thailand 12:09 Australia, Diving & Marine Conservation 16:20 Cage Diving With Great White Sharks 19:29 From Ibiza to Ocean Activism 23:09 The Birth of Pure Sea 27:23 Why Registering a Charity Is So Hard 32:47 Beach Cleans With DJs & Fatboy Slim 34:00 Cleaning Up Camden Lock 40:38 Teaching Ocean Awareness in Schools 45:15 Why Helium Balloons Kill Wildlife 51:22 Why the Education System Must Change 57:04 Animal Testing, Activism & Awareness 1:01:43 Food Waste & Overconsumption 1:03:53 Why Everyone Should Watch My Octopus Teacher 1:07:21 One Last Tune From Manumission 1:09:45 A Labour of Love For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter: rave@onemoretimeibiza.com

    1 h 11 min
  8. 21/12/2025

    Katie Knight on documenting Ibiza before social media took over

    Who documented Ibiza before everyone had a camera? Before podcasts, before social media, and long before everyone had a camera in their pocket, Ibiza’s club culture was documented by a small group of presenters, hosts, and storytellers working quietly behind the scenes. In this episode of The Dexter Jones Podcast, I sit down with Katie Knight, one of the most influential yet often overlooked voices in dance music media, to explore how Ibiza’s club history was captured during its most important years. From her early days at Amnesia Ibiza to hosting interviews for Amnesia TV, Boiler Room, Ibiza Global Radio, the International Music Summit, and live broadcasts for Amazon Music, Katie has spent over a decade documenting the artists, venues, and moments that shaped Ibiza and the global electronic music scene. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the media side of dance music. We talk candidly about working inside Ibiza’s clubs during the 2010s, being thrown into high-pressure interviews with artists like Carl Cox, Marco Carola, and Steve Aoki with little or no preparation, and why presenters and hosts play a critical role in preserving dance music history. We also explore career advice for aspiring presenters and podcasters, the importance of communication and public speaking, the realities of live broadcasting, radio versus filmed interviews, cultural and language fluency in Ibiza, online abuse in the modern era, and why nostalgia-driven storytelling resonates more than hype. This is not an episode about trends or algorithms. It’s about legacy, documentation, and the responsibility to tell the story properly. If you care about Ibiza, club culture, dance music history, or the people who built the scene behind the scenes, this episode is essential listening. 🎧 Take your time with this one. We talk about: 🇪🇸 Life inside Ibiza clubs before social media 📺 How Amnesia TV documented a generation of artists 🎤 Being thrown into interviews with no training or prep 🪩 The unseen role of presenters in dance music culture 📻 Radio vs filmed interviews and the power of storytelling ❌ Misogyny, online abuse, and resilience in the industry 🎬 Why nostalgia content connects more deeply than hype ❤️ Preserving Ibiza’s cultural history properly Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Katie Knight 02:00 Wanting to be a presenter from the age of five 06:00 Growing up in Spain and becoming bilingual 10:00 Discovering Ibiza and early connections 14:30 First steps into Ibiza club culture 19:00 Life inside Amnesia: press, social media, and long days 24:00 Amnesia TV begins: thrown in the deep end 30:00 Interviewing artists every night, seven days a week 35:30 Ibiza mornings, terraces, and club culture nostalgia 40:30 Why Amnesia still feels like family 46:00 Boiler Room, press rooms, and the smell of Ibiza 51:00 From Amnesia to radio and global platforms 56:30 Radio vs filmed interviews: storytelling with the senses 1:01:30 Interviewing global stars and handling entourages 1:06:30 Misogyny, online abuse, and resilience 1:11:30 Podcasting, editing, and the unseen workload 1:16:00 Why nostalgia interviews outperform hype 1:20:00 Presenting around the world: Middle East and beyond 1:24:00 Legacy, pride, and documenting Ibiza properly 1:27:30 One More Tune For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter: rave@onemoretimeibiza.com

    1 h 23 min

Información

Dexter Jones Podcast is a long-form interview series documenting the people, stories, and moments that shaped dance music culture, from the early rave years to the global club movement. Hosted by Dexter Jones, the podcast features in-depth conversations with DJs, producers, promoters, journalists, and industry figures who lived through the rise of rave culture, clubbing, and Ibiza as a worldwide dance music epicentre. Each episode goes beyond nostalgia to explore what really happened behind the scenes, covering creativity, success, failure, excess, reinvention, and the realities of building a life and career in electronic music. For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter: rave@onemoretimeibiza.com

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