How To DJ

The next series of How to DJ arrives this week with guests including Orbital, Groove Armada, Dave Beer & Judge Jules. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the final episode of the series, Chris sits down with Stephanie Hirst who talks through her journey from first discovering radio to her national radio shows today. In it, she discusses her time presenting the Hit40UK and gaining over 1m listeners to her Breakfast Show on Capital. How to DJ is a Listening Dog Media production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris sits down with Greg Wilson who discusses his career from growing up on Merseyside, his musical influences & his move into music production. How to DJ is a Listening Dog Media production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris sits down with Jon Carter to discuss his life and career from starting out as a musician at University through to today. How to DJ is a Listening Dog Media production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andy Bush began his DJ journey somewhat accidentally, without any prior interest in radio. After university, he moved to Bristol to play in a band and took on a day job at BT to pay the bills. One day, during his lunch break, he stumbled upon a careers fair in Clifton where they were advertising for Traffic News readers. Despite not being a driver, he saw it as a unique opportunity and recorded a...

Mr Scruff, a British DJ, found his passion for music at a young age. As a twelve-year-old, he was captivated by the Street Sounds Electro series and the art of mixing. Initially, he didn't fully comprehend the intricacies of DJing, but as he tried it himself, he realized the complexity involved. Despite being isolated in his musical interests, he delved into the world of radio and magazines, disco...

In today's episode, we have a special guest, Claire Sturgess, who shares her fascinating journey in the world of radio and broadcasting. Claire's story begins with her A-level studies at Salisbury College of Technology, as she didn't attend university. Despite her desire to attend an art college, she believed she wasn't artistic enough and ended up working various jobs, including for a local newsp...

In this episode of "How to DJ" as we delve into these fascinating stories and gain valuable insights from the brilliant Utah Saints. Tune in now to learn more about sample clearance, unexpected influences, and the power of live improvisation. You won't want to miss it!  How to DJ is a Listening Dog Media production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, we hear from Utah Saints. They started getting into music at a young age and saved up to buy their own turntable. They entered and won a DJ competition and eventually found success working at a club in Harrogate, where they started their own night playing house music. They discuss their musical career and how they transitioned from playing at raves to performing as a band at festi...

Chris is joined by Nicky Horne who talks about his journey in radio which has taken him through Radio One, Virgin, Jazz and all the way through to Boom Radio today. From club to radio and every other music DJ in between; Chris Hawkins warms up his guests before asking them to pick a set of 5 questions from a box of 45 and there’s always an apocalyptic set closer too! In Series 6 Chris cues up eigh...

Chris catches up with an old friend in this episode as he speaks to TV & Radio Presenter Jayne Middlemiss. She talks about starting out in television and the incredible journey she's been on since then from interviewing the likes of David Bowie to finding herself at Virgin Radio. From club to radio and every other music DJ in between; Chris Hawkins warms up his guests before asking them to pick a...

In this episode, Chris Hawkins catches up with Sam Divine, renowned Defected DJ and producer who’s certainly paid her dues in many ways to become an established name in the clubs. From attending her first rave, aged 15, Sam’s passion for dance music has taken her back & forth across the globe many times and led to her running her own record label DVINE Sounds. From club to radio and every other mu...

In this episode, Chris Hawkins speaks with DJ, film director & musician Don Letts who discusses his career from growing up in London to becoming a pioneer for punk in the UK. Don's story is fascinating and his love for all kinds of music shines through. From club to radio and every other music DJ in between; Chris Hawkins warms up his guests before asking them to pick a set of 5 questions from a b...

In this episode, Chris Hawkins speaks with a DJ who has a firm grasp of their broadcasting medium; former Radio 1 and current BBC Radio Wales & Radio Cymru presenter Huw Stephens. Huw’s obsession began with magic but as soon as he heard Virgin Radio 1215 AM at an impressionable age, he quickly turned his hand to Hospital Radio before landing a job at Radio 1 at the age of seventeen. Huw’s journey...

In this episode, Chris Hawkins speaks with one of the finest voices in the radio business, Absolute Radio’s Leona Graham. After catching the radio bug at university, Leona certainly paid her dues DJing on local commercial radio stations across the country. Her tenacity and talent paid off with a slot on Virgin Radio that led to her becoming a long standing fixture at Absolute since its launch back...

In this episode, Chris Hawkins catches up with Gary Crowley; an old colleague from their time at BBC Radio London together. A music obsessive who’s passion was lit from his early teens as punk exploded, Gary’s career began writing fanzines, working in radio & TV promotion, as well as a writer at the NME. From there he became the youngest voice on London’s Capital Radio which led him to Radio Londo...

In this first episode of a brand new series, Chris Hawkins catches up with a true pioneer, a DJ who trailblazed a path for himself and his contemporaries to become Superstar DJs. Carl’s love of music is centre stage and it's this passion that has informed all his many successes including his long standing residency at Space in Ibiza which he’s still very emotionally connected to. Like the true cre...

A brand new series of How To DJ is coming soon! How to DJ is a Listening Dog Media production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this bonus episode, Chris looks back at some of his favourite How to DJ moments from the past year. You'll hear part of his conversations with the likes of Paul Oakenfold, Greg James, Mark Radcliffe and Emma B. How to DJ is a Listening Dog Media production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this final episode of the series, Chris Hawkins chats with pioneering Superstar DJ Jeremy Healy in what is a glorious romp through his varied career. From his early breakthrough as an off-the-wall Pop Star in the 80s, through to his explosion in the 90s as a credible and much sought after DJ; Jeremy has always ploughed his own furrow by taking chances and doing everything for the love & FUN of...

In this episode Chris Hawkins has an in depth chat with a pioneer of the Asian Underground sound and former Radio 1 DJ, Bobby Friction who is still a stalwart of the Asian Network. From his musical baptism at the altar of Prince who has shaped Bobby’s musical and performance styles, this is a fascinating dive into the mind of an engaging and intelligent artist still enjoying the challenge of disco...

In this episode Chris Hawkins catches up with one of Radio 1’s newest DJs who’s also emerging as club DJ on the global stage, Sarah Story. From paying her dues on her local radio station and taking her love of clubbing and dance music to the decks with a sideline in songwriting; Sarah’s fun and frank approach to her career is as inspiring as it is breathtaking; and like she says she’s only ‘just g...

In this episode Chris Hawkins chats to the original & ultimate Superstar DJ, Paul Oakenfold. It’s a fascinating insight into what makes him tick and still drives him to this day. From finding his feet as an awkward school kid to quickly understanding his musical calling and DJ style; Paul has led from the front and played some of the biggest and most amazing events on the planet. From club to radi...

In this episode Chris Hawkins chats with American DJ & music producer Freddy Fresh. It’s a fast paced romp through his career that began as an avid collector turned Roller Disco DJ who regularly journeyed from Minnesota to New York to pick up the latest records and be on top of his game. His DJing and music making have taken him all over the world, working with some of the most credible and pionee...

In this episode Chris Hawkins chats with Radio 1’s Jack Saunders; a truly driven and passionate person who has completely immersed himself in his role as the presenter of Radio 1's Indie Show and the Official Chart Show. From his formative years Jack’s goal was to land himself the prized role as a DJ on Radio 1 and his hard work & effort has certainly paid off. This is a story of music obsession f...