A DJ's Journey

DJ history you haven't heard: Kelly Reverb returns to A DJ's Journey — our first-ever two-time guest — for a deep dive into 1980s and '90s Dallas dance music. From the legendary Starck Club (designed by Philippe Starck, "ground zero" for MDMA before it was criminalized) to Lizard Lounge, the original Hard Rock, and the night Jerry Jones turned up on his dance floor, Kelly map...

Rusty Belicek found a Slick Rick tape in an Oklahoma parking lot at age 11 — and it set everything in motion. From DC's 18th Street Lounge to opening for James Brown to building All Good Funk Alliance with Frank Cueto, Rusty tells the inside story of breakbeat's mid-tempo underground. Topics covered: the Star Wars soundtrack as first musical memory, finding forbidden music in a Seventh-day...

DJ History from the architect's chair. Damian Harris founded Skint Records, designed the Fatboy Slim logo, started the Big Beat Boutique, and A&R'd Norman Cook into the biggest DJ on the planet. Now he tells his side of the story. From punk gigs with his brothers in Canterbury to acid house in Brighton, from living with Norman Cook to watching "Santa Cruz" become Skint's...

DJ History meets Big Beat in this keystone episode. Fatboy Slim (Norman Cook) joins Deckard for a conversation nine previous A DJ's Journey guests have been teeing up since episode one. From punk bass player at 14 to the biggest DJ in the world, Norman traces the full arc: The Housemartins, Beats International, the four-ingredient recipe for Big Beat (Beatles pop hooks, punk attitude, hip hop...

Fatboy Slim. The name nine guests dropped before he ever sat in the chair. Full episode out now on A DJ's Journey, Ep 17. Norman Cook on Big Beat, Brighton, the Big Beat Boutique, and the Tuesday night that named a genre.🎧 Apple / Spotify / SoundCloud: https://adjsjourney.com/episodes/ep17-fatboy-slim🎙️ Hosted by @djdeckard👤 Guest: @fatboyslim#FatboySlim #NormanCook #BigBeat #ADJsJourney #Br...

Breakbeat history gets the insider treatment as Justin Rushmore — co-founder of Finger Lickin' Records and one half of Soul of Man — sits down with Deckard for a deep dive into one of the most important independent labels in UK dance music. Justin traces his path from discovering Street Sounds Electro compilations as a teenager to throwing "French Kissing Balls" at 16, organizing aci...

Lee Rous of Plump DJs sits down with Deckard for a DJ history deep dive — from the Freskanova Records scene and Finger Lickin' to a 10-year Fabric residency, Field Day Sydney, Coachella, and 25 years of A Plump Night Out. We get into DJ culture in the UK breaks underground, the Spain breakbeat revival, what's fueling the Plumps' creative resurgence, and their upcoming album Night of th...

Breakbeat helped define an era, and The Freestylers were right in the middle of it. In Episode 14 of A DJ’s Journey, Deckard sits down with Aston Harvey to trace the roots of The Freestylers, the rise of UK breakbeat and big beat culture, the story behind We Rock Hard, life on the road with Lenny Kravitz, and what still drives Aston today. They also get into rave culture, scene history, and new mu...

Breakbeat music and DJ culture meet in this deep conversation with Steve Raskin of Fort Knox Five. DJ Deckard hosts one-half of the legendary DC-based duo to explore breakbeat origins, the funk-fueled DC scene, life as a touring DJ, and the story behind Fort Knox Recordings. Whether you’re a DJ, a music lover, or just curious how the greats built their careers — this one’s for you.​ In this episod...

A DJ's Journey Ep 13 Fort Knox Five In this clip as told by Steve Raskin - John H handed out Fort Knox 5 mixtapes everywhere. Every club, every city, every person he met. One of them ended up with Gwen Stefani's manager. Her first solo tour was being planned and they wanted exactly what Fort Knox 5 were doing. There was just one problem — only room for one on the tour bus. Steve Raskin mad...

A DJ’s Journey Ep. 12 drops now — featuring the legendary Sporty-O (@sportyowingman), the international wingman himself. From hustling mixtapes in Atlanta to performing on the main stage at EDC, Sporty-O’s story is one of hustle, reinvention, and relentless love for music. We talk about his early days as a hip-hop MC, his move to LA and writing music for TV, connecting with Keith MacKenzie through...

📣 New Episode Drop: Krafty Kuts on A DJ’s Journey From bingo caller and car boot crate-digger to breakbeat icon , Martin Reeves aka Krafty Kuts shares the wild ride that took him from the UK’s underground scene to world tours and legendary festival sets like Shambhala 🌍🎶 We talk: 🔊 His musical roots in ska, funk & electro 🎧 How a Beastie Boys record named him “Krafty Kuts” 📀 The moment F...

From early breakbeat bangers to classic electro and modern productions, Lee Coombs walks us through 9 pivotal tracks that shaped his career. From The Invisible Men to Break Free, this deep dive is packed with moments in time and stories from a legend. The Invisible Men - Self Indulge    • The Invisible Men - Self Indulge   Exodus to Paradise - Rock It (Exodus to Paradise Remix)    • Exodus To Para...

A DJ’s Journey - Ep. 9 Jem "Stone" Panufnik In this conversation Deckard speaks with Jem Stone, co-founder of Finger Lickin' Records, who shares his unique journey through the music industry, from his unconventional musical upbringing to the birth of his record label. He discusses his early influences, the evolution of the breaks scene, and the importance of collaboration and community in music. J...

In Episode 8 of A DJ’s Journey , Canadian producer and DJ Myagi (Andrew Mavor) joins me for an expansive conversation about artistic evolution, the breakbeat era, touring the world, and why Burning Man marked a turning point in how he saw music, purpose, and success. We cover everything, from the remix that ties Myagi and I together to his new album The World of Tomorrow and how his love of sound,...

🎧 A DJ’s Journey – Episode 7: Simon Shackleton Hosted by Deckard Simon Shackleton joins Deckard for a deep dive into a life shaped by music — from acid house and warehouse parties to global tours and reinvention. They cover his early days as a classically trained pianist, forming Lunatic Calm, defining breakbeat as Elite Force, and his most recent work, The Shadowmaker . Listen now on Spotify and...

🎤 Interview Outline – Lee Coombs | Ep. 6 of A DJ’s Journey The conversation explores the Lee Coombs journey through music, from early childhood memories and influences to the evolution of DJing and music production. Lee highlights the significance of sampling, the importance of building relationships within the music industry, and the impact of live performances on the speaker's career. The discu...

A DJ's Journey Ep. 5 Keith Mackenzie 🎧 Keith talks about starting off in the record business, diving in to the Florida rave scene and beginning his DJ and production career. We also talk about his record label Illeven:Eleven Recordings and the origin of his long standing friendship and collaboration with Sporty-O. Check out the full episode for Keith Mackenzie's journey to breakbeat legend.  Like...

Qdup shares his musical journey, from his childhood influences to his evolution as a DJ and producer. He discusses the impact of his early experiences with music, the rise of Fort Knox, and his festival experiences, particularly at Shambhala. Jason emphasizes the importance of supporting independent artists and shares insights into his current projects, including music production and sample packs....

Music Production Stories don't come much richer than Kelly Reverb's. A hand-stamped "F* You, We're From Texas" white label. A track in the Wesley Snipes film Blade . Twelve releases on Lone Star Records — until Napster killed the vinyl economy overnight. And one of the most honest accounts of thirty years of drinking, a 2020 rehab, and the second act that followed you'll...

DJ Deckard and Wes Smith explore the intricate journey of becoming a DJ, delving into their musical roots, early influences, and the evolution of the electronic music scene. They discuss the impact of raves, the challenges of navigating the music industry, and the importance of community and networking in shaping their careers. The dialogue highlights the unique paths each DJ takes, the significan...

After 25 years behind the decks, I've learned that every DJ has a unique path. I'm DJ Deckard, I’m launching 'A DJ's Journey' - a podcast that explores the stories behind the music with the DJs who shaped our scene. My first guest is pioneer DJ Dan, taking us from the early West Coast rave scene up to today's electronic landscape. Welcome to A DJ's Journey - where every beat tells a story.