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. 1d ago

    Dave Beer on The Extraordinary Story of Back to Basics

    Welcome to Part One of my special mini-series with Dave Beer, the legendary co-founder of Back to Basics and one of the most recognisable characters in UK club culture. In this opening episode, Dave takes us right back to the beginning. We talk about discovering house music in America, walking through those famous plastic sheets at The Haçienda, and the inspiration that eventually led to the birth of Back to Basics. What started with around 80 people grew week after week, becoming one of Europe’s longest-running weekly club nights, with Dave at the helm every Saturday for 20 years. Dave also tells the brilliant story of how, before business cards and booking agents, he would write his phone number on a $50 bill, pass it across the DJ booth and tell the DJ:  “That’s your deposit.” But this conversation goes much deeper than clubbing. Dave opens up about the four-and-a-half centimetre tumour that came frighteningly close to his spine, as well as the horrific road accident in which he says he died before being brought back. This is the story of Dave Beer and Back to Basics, but it’s also the story of an extraordinary life lived well outside the ordinary. And this is only Part One. Part Two coming soon. If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe to the Dexter Jones Podcast, drop a comment below and let me know your memories of Back to Basics. Chapters:  00:00 Coming Up 01:53 Dave Beer on Surviving Cancer 04:00 From Roadie to Club Culture 05:14 Discovering House Music in America 06:38 The Hacienda Changed Everything 08:32 The UK Rave Explosion 11:17 Charlie Chester & the Early Days 13:15 The Birth of Back to Basics 15:30 Building a Legendary Club 18:01 The Music of Back to Basics 20:39 Two Steps Further Than Any Other F****r 21:42 The Iconic Back to Basics Artwork 24:46 Bringing American DJs to the UK 26:01 The $50 DJ Booking Trick 27:02 Dave Beer’s Unfinished Book 30:28 Finding Buddhism 34:28 How Buddhism Helped Dave Through Cancer 36:27 Given a 5% Chance of Survival 40:15 Finding Strength in Other People 42:11 “This Isn’t the First Time I’ve Died” 42:53 The Car Crash That Changed Everything 44:24 Two Weeks in a Coma 46:00 The Strange World Inside a Coma 48:08 Dyslexia, Knowledge & Altered States 50:12 20 Years of Back to Basics 52:25 What Made Back to Basics So Special? 55:36 How Club Culture Has Changed 57:48 Synchronicity, Spirituality & Life

  2. Sep 28

    DJ Rap on 22 Years in America, House Music & Life Beyond Jungle

    DJ Rap is synonymous with jungle and drum & bass, but that’s only part of her story. In Part 2 of our conversation, we go beyond jungle and uncover the other side of DJ Rap’s extraordinary career. She talks openly about signing to a major label, the backlash she received for stepping outside the boundaries of jungle, and how her career suddenly exploded in America. From Coachella and performing alongside David Bowie and Green Day, to New York Fashion Week and landing a huge Calvin Klein campaign, this was a completely different world. But behind the success were some difficult lessons. DJ Rap explains why she believes she had the wrong management around her, why Sony wanted to turn her into a pop artist, and how an electronic album she wanted to release was rejected. We also dive deep into something many UK clubbers may not realise: DJ RAP PLAYS HOUSE. She spent years playing house across America, held a residency at Crowbar Miami, played marathon sets including eight hours at Burning Man, and has been producing and releasing house music for decades. DJ Rap explains why she’d love to return to the house circuit, her passion for classic house and the Toolroom era, and why being booked for the right crowd in the right room makes all the difference. Plus, we talk about her 22 years in America, returning to the UK, rebuilding her career, creating her online community, the story behind the name DJ Rap, promoters, social media and the records she’d choose to close the perfect night. This is DJ Rap: Beyond Jungle. 00:00 They Wanted Me to Go Pop 03:20 Major Label Backlash & Leaving Jungle Behind 06:45 Coachella, David Bowie & Green Day 10:15 Sony, America & the Calvin Klein Campaign 14:30 22 Years in America 18:10 Coming Back to the UK 21:15 Where the Name DJ Rap Came From 24:00 Beyond Jungle: DJ Rap Plays House 28:00 Crowbar Miami & Burning Man 32:15 DJs, Promoters & Playing to the Right Crowd 35:10 The Last Record of the Night

  3. Sep 21

    Jon X Crosse on The Secret Sasha & Digweed Tapes That Changed Everything

    In this episode of the Dexter Jones Podcast, I sit down with Jon X Crosse for a journey back into the golden age of 90s trance and electronic music. Jon’s story is absolutely fascinating. From working with some of the earliest MIDI technology and experimenting with synthesizers in the 1980s, to creating Crescendo – Are You Out There? and becoming part of The Morrighan, this episode takes us right inside the making of some truly special records. We get into the remarkable story behind Crescendo, a track whose musical foundations Jon says began when he was just 12 or 13 years old and were partly inspired by Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. Jon also tells the incredible story of booking Sasha & John Digweed at Heaven in the early 90s, recording their sets onto DAT and studying the way they built their musical journeys. Those recordings would go on to have a major influence on the way he approached the production of Crescendo. Then we get into Lange featuring The Morrighan – Follow Me, how Cecily wrote those unforgettable lyrics, how the record came together with Lange, and why more than two decades later it can still create incredibly emotional moments on the dancefloor at Amnesia Ibiza. We also talk Judge Jules, Pete Tong, Paul Oakenfold, Guru Josh, Radio 1, Heaven, the early days of music production and plenty more stories from an extraordinary period in British dance music. If you lived through this era, there are some serious memories in this one. And if you didn’t, this is a brilliant insight into how some of the records that helped define it were actually made. Jon X Crosse: Inside the Golden Age of 90s Trance Anthems. 00:00 Intro 01:18 Jon X Crosse: An Extraordinary Career 02:04 The Birth of MIDI & Electronic Music 06:23 Jon’s Disastrous First TV Appearance 08:45 The Story of Crescendo 12:24 The Emotion Behind Crescendo 13:21 How Sasha & Digweed Influenced Crescendo 14:54 Crescendo, Beethoven & Moonlight Sonata 17:01 Making Crescendo 19:53 Guru Josh, Kirk Field & The Prodigy 23:21 The Morrighan 25:09 The Story of Follow Me with Lange 28:23 How Follow Me Was Written 29:42 Why the Lyrics of Follow Me Endured 32:29 Follow Me & Kevin and Perry 33:12 Why Crescendo Was So Different 37:39 The Bizarre Story Behind the JD-800 42:08 How Jon Booked Sasha & Digweed for £350 45:21 The Secret Sasha & Digweed DAT Recordings 46:53 John Digweed Plays Crescendo on Radio 1 49:54 What Happened After Crescendo? 51:47 80,000 Records Sold in One Week 52:54 The Return of Crescendo 55:02 Why These Records Still Mean So Much 56:02 Part Two: Prince William, the SAS & More 56:39 Judge Jules & His Radio 1 Debut 58:16 Part 2 incoming. Contact Jon: www.morrighan.com  @jon_x_crosse

  4. Sep 14

    DJ Rap on Raves, Pirate Radio and the Birth of Jungle

    DJ Rap joins the Dexter Jones Podcast for a journey back to the 1990s, when rave culture, pirate radio and a new underground sound were changing British music forever. Long before jungle and drum & bass became global movements, Rap was living and breathing the rave scene. She talks about discovering acid house, spending everything she had on records, living in squats, learning to DJ and breaking through on pirate stations including Rave FM and Fantasy FM. Rap also opens up about the much deeper role music played in her life. After an incredibly difficult childhood, she found freedom, friendship and a new family through rave culture. We hear how she became one of the first women to break onto the main stages of the UK rave scene, demanded the same money as the men, and then lost every London booking following an extraordinary and tragic coincidence at Telepathy involving “Mr Kirk, Your Son Is Dead.” Rap eventually headed north, before discovering AWOL and a new sound that would completely change her direction as a producer: jungle. She remembers studying DJs including Kenny Ken and the late Randall, watching the emerging generation around her, including Andy C, and taking that inspiration back into the studio. That journey ultimately helped produce records including Spiritual Aura and launched another chapter of her career. This is the story of DJ Rap, pirate radio, rave culture and the birth of jungle, told by someone who was right there in the middle of it. 🎧 DJ Rap: From Raves and Pirate Radio to the Birth of Jungle If you lived through the 1990s rave scene, let me know in the comments: where did you rave, and which DJ defined that era for you? Subscribe to the Dexter Jones Podcast for more conversations with the DJs, producers, promoters and characters who helped shape dance music culture. Chapters: 00:00 The Story That Nearly Ended DJ Rap’s Career 01:32 DJ Rap: The Early Rave Years 03:12 Growing Up Around the World 05:36 A Difficult Childhood & Finding Freedom 08:51 The First Club That Changed Everything 10:55 Squats, Raving & Living for Records 14:00 Before DJing: Dancing at Raves 18:03 The Moment DJ Rap Knew Her Future 20:53 Learning to DJ on One Turntable 22:28 Making Her First Record 23:10 Pirate Radio, Rave FM & Fantasy FM 25:33 DJ Rap’s First Ever DJ Set 27:38 Producing Records & Breaking Through 28:12 The Telepathy Incident: “My Career Just Ended” 29:24 Becoming the First Woman on the Main Stage 32:55 Breaking Barriers as a Female DJ 35:51 Losing London & Starting Again 37:35 AWOL & Discovering Jungle 40:01 Studying the Masters: Randall, Kenny Ken & Andy C 41:34 Spiritual Aura & Breaking Through as a Producer 41:47 From Jungle to a Sony Record Deal 42:31 When Music Became a Business 43:27 Losing the Record Deal & Learning the Hard Way

  5. Sep 7

    Lottie on Turnmills, Space Ibiza, "Faking It" & the Early Days of DC10 Ibiza

    This week on the Dexter Jones Podcast, I sit down with one of the defining DJs of the golden era of UK and Ibiza clubbing, Lottie. From discovering acid house and finding her people at The Haçienda, to learning her craft behind a pair of Technics, becoming a resident at The Gallery at Turnmills, recording her breakthrough BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix, and eventually playing some of the greatest clubs in the world. We go deep into Lottie’s incredible years in Ibiza, including playing Space, DC10, Circoloco, Pacha, Amnesia and Manumission, closing Space and the unforgettable moment Pepe Roselló introduced her to the crowd. We also revisit her famous appearance on Channel 4’s Faking It, where Lottie was given the seemingly impossible task of turning a classical cellist into a convincing club DJ. She reveals what really happened behind the scenes and how the programme suddenly made her recognisable far beyond the dancefloor. Lottie also talks candidly about motherhood, stepping away from the relentless touring lifestyle, the incredibly difficult circumstances that changed her family life, and why returning to DJing and discovering new music has become so important to her again. There’s also plenty of discussion about how DJ culture has changed, the lost art of the warm-up DJ, learning your craft through residencies, phones on dancefloors, modern Ibiza and why Space remains her favourite club of all time. This is a proper journey through more than three decades of house music, club culture and Ibiza with someone who was right there in the middle of it. If you lived through this era, I think you’re going to absolutely love this one. And if you didn’t, here’s your chance to find out what all the fuss was about. 🎙️ Lottie: Turnmills, Space Ibiza, ‘Faking It’ & the Golden Age of Clubbing Chapters: 00:00 Coming Up 02:54 Discovering The Haçienda & Acid House 08:14 "Faking It" & Turning a Cellist Into a DJ 16:10 Buying Her First Technics 1210s 20:00 Moving to London & Becoming Lottie 22:41 The Gallery, Turnmills & Learning to Warm Up 25:25 The Essential Mix That Changed Everything 31:58 Going Global & the Golden Age of Radio 1 35:00 Ibiza in Its Glory Days 37:43 Space Ibiza, Manumission & Closing Space 40:05 The Early Days of DC10 & Circoloco 45:00 Touring, Family & Stepping Away From DJing 50:00 Finding Joy in DJing Again 55:00 Is the Art of the Warm-Up DJ Disappearing? 59:20 Imposter Syndrome & Earning Your Stripes 64:46 Creamfields Memories & One More Tune

  6. Aug 24

    Carrie Stevens on How Ibiza was in 2001

    What was it really like to live, work and dance in Ibiza in 2001? Carrie Stevens was right in the middle of it. After arriving on the island, she became a club dancer at Es Paradis, before being poached by Eden and eventually becoming Head Dancer. This was an Ibiza of packed dancefloors, podium dancers, workers crammed into apartments, club parades through San Antonio, morning bars and after-hours sessions that could disappear well into the next day. In this episode, Carrie takes us back inside that world. We talk about the reality of being an Ibiza dancer, the incredible atmosphere inside Es Paradis, life at Eden, the notorious Garden of Eden, Ibiza worker culture, Judgement Sundays, surviving the winter and why the island felt so different before social media. Carrie also tells us about one of the happiest moments of her life: dancing above a packed Es Paradis as the shutters opened and Café Del Mar played. If you worked, danced or partied in Ibiza during this era, tell me your memories in the comments. What was YOUR Ibiza like? Subscribe for more conversations and stories from the people who lived through dance music and club culture. Chapters: 00:00 What It Was Really Like Being an Ibiza Dancer 01:26 Leaving Ibiza and Coming Back 04:34 An Unforgettable Night at Es Paradis 06:44 Why Ibiza Felt So Different 08:05 Did Social Media Change Ibiza? 09:45 Surviving an Ibiza Winter 12:54 Becoming an Ibiza Club Dancer 14:04 Getting Poached by Eden 15:51 Becoming Eden's Head Dancer 17:28 The Infamous Garden of Eden 19:50 Ibiza's Drinking Culture 21:40 Es Paradis vs Eden 22:32 Ibiza Dancer Auditions 26:37 Kevin & Perry and Ibiza 28:38 Moving to Ibiza 32:05 Ibiza Worker Apartments 34:35 The Darker Side of San Antonio 36:14 Ibiza's Dangerous Dance Podiums 39:23 Dancing Above a Packed Club 41:48 Knowing When to Leave Ibiza 42:49 The Legendary Ibiza Club Parades 48:28 Part Two...

  7. Aug 17

    Marcella Woods on The Voice Behind a Generation of Dance Anthems

    Marcella Woods is the voice behind some of the most recognisable anthems from the golden era of dance music, including Beautiful, Liberation (Fly Like An Angel) and El Niño. In this episode of the Dexter Jones Podcast, Marcella tells the incredible stories behind those records, including how Liberation was recorded in just 20 minutes and how the vocal for Beautiful was nailed on the very first take. Marcella also takes us back to the clubs that shaped her, from Bagley's and Strawberry Sundae to Freedom and The Fridge, and explains how a chance introduction eventually led her to Matt Darey and a string of records that would become part of dance music history. But Marcella's story hasn't stopped there. Now in her 50s, she's taken on an entirely new challenge: becoming a DJ. After just six hours of intensive training before her first gig, she's gone on to play festivals and events, finding herself handing over the decks to artists including Mauro Picotto, Dave Pearce and Signum. We also talk about why dance vocalists haven't always received the recognition they deserve, Marcella's extraordinary classical musical background, the realities of balancing music with family life, and why she's still every bit as passionate about dance music today. A brilliant conversation with one of the voices behind the soundtrack to a generation. Subscribe to the Dexter Jones Podcast for weekly conversations celebrating the DJs, artists, clubs and stories that shaped dance music culture. CHAPTERS 00:00 Liberation Was Recorded in 20 Minutes 00:18 Marcella Woods & The Story of Beautiful 02:35 From Vocalist to DJ 04:37 Bagley's & The Golden Era of Clubbing 07:12 Marcella's New Life Behind the Decks 09:56 Hearing Your Own Voice on a Dancefloor 10:49 Do Dance Vocalists Get Enough Recognition? 12:14 Singing vs DJing 14:09 Nine Gigs a Weekend 15:53 Could Beautiful Be a Hit Today? 17:24 Marcella's Classical Music Background 19:03 The Truth About El Niño & Beautiful 20:21 Liberation: 20 Minutes to Record a Classic 22:08 How Marcella Became a Recording Artist 25:03 Family, Touring & Music as an Escape 27:30 Classical Training Meets Dance Music 29:34 What DJing Has Taught Marcella

About

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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