Music Not Diving with Scuba

Scuba

Paul Rose aka the musician, DJ, and label boss known as Scuba talks to people of significance from the world of electronic music about their experiences, observations, and attempts to cultivate a life for themselves in the murky and sometimes treacherous waters of the music industry.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

229 episodes
Updated Wednesday
Explicit

Episodes229

Newest first

Dec 31, 2025 · 44 min
#034 Twenty-Twenty-Five and all that
Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving A review of some of the stuff that happened in the Year of Our Lord, 2025. Percy Digs instagram as mentioned: https://www.instagram.com/percydigs?igsh=MXM3OGJ0OW9rZDMzbA== All other links and more info on this episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/best-of-2025-147063099 -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 00:00 Brought to you by Acid Nation 02:50 Track of the year 04:45 Conclusions of the year 15:20 Album of the year 18:46 Book (fiction) 22:00 Book (nonfiction) 25:14 Podcast episode 26:47 Nightclub 30:02 Forgotten Hard Rock album 33:06 Best gig 36:56 Streaming platform 40:25 Worst album of the year 41:23 Worst track of the year 42:00 Coming up in 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 17, 2025 · 1 hr 15 min
#033 Kazim: artist manager on how to get ears on your music in the streaming era
PLEDGE DRIVE 2025 - all new subscribers to the Musicality tier on Patreon will get a Not A Diving Club t-shirt in your size of choice, delivered to your door completely free of charge! Full details. Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving Kazim is an artist manager whose clients include Nightmares On Wax, and also the chief creative and brand officer at RA. We discuss the mechanics of creative campaigns for new and legacy artists, the challenge of breaking new music, and the different obstacles in the way of older acts. We also discuss the music media landscape and the role of media in today's industry. This is a rare chance to get the inside track on artist management and big music media platforms... get involved! Music discussed in the episode… https://jitwam.bandcamp.com https://anaiis.bandcamp.com https://saultglobal.bandcamp.com https://nightmaresonwax.bandcamp.com 00:00 Brought to you by Acid Nation 02:13 Episode start 04:52 Artist management vs. media platforms 07:55 Death of middle class in music 11:35 Successful artists can't tour 14:39 Everyone’s a DJ Now 17:38 Can albums still take years to break through? 21:08 Great music always shines through 24:04 100,000 songs a day 27:09 Going viral is the wrong goal 30:46 Success without social media 33:14 Word of mouth over algorithms 35:30 It’s always been a slog 39:00 Maintaining a legacy of an artist 45:00 Power in the catalogue 55:00 Working for Warp Records 01:01:35 Fans vs. listeners 01:03:20 Chasing the algorithm is not the way 01:04:50 Working at RA 01:12:08 The state of Berlin -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 00:00 Brought to you by Acid Nation 02:13 Episode start 04:52 Artist management vs. media platforms 07:55 Death of middle class in music 11:35 Successful artists can't tour 14:39 Everyone’s a DJ Now 17:38 Can albums still take years to break through? 21:08 Great music always shines through 24:04 100,000 songs a day 27:09 Going viral is the wrong goal 30:46 Success without social media 33:14 Word of mouth over algorithms 35:30 It’s always been a slog 39:00 Maintaining a legacy of an artist 45:00 Power in the catalogue 55:00 Working for Warp Records 01:01:35 Fans vs. listeners 01:03:20 Chasing the algorithm is not the way 01:04:50 Working at RA 01:12:08 The state of Berlin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 10, 2025 · 1 hr 24 min
#032 Sam Binga: the art of A&R, UK bass culture, and the importance of community
PLEDGE DRIVE 2025 - all new subscribers to the Musicality tier on Patreon will get a Not A Diving Club t-shirt in your size of choice, delivered to your door completely free of charge! Full details. Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving Sam Binga is a DJ & Producer from Bristol, UK. Having first emerged in the breaks scene of the early 2000s, in the 2010s he placed himself firmly at the centre of UK bass, with releases on 50 Weapons, Exit and Critical. His sound spans the anthemic rowdiness of tracks like ‘AYO’ and ‘Lef Dem’, to the deeper explorations of his collaborations with Om Unit. He also runs Pineapple Records, a crucial label in the patchwork of soundsystem-adjacent UK electronic music. We discuss the state of the current UK scene, his history through various areas of the UK bass scene, forthcoming music on Pineapple, and a lot more. Get involved! -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 00:00 Brought to you by Acid Nation 02:10 Longtime listener first-time caller 05:24 2025 recap 06:30 Pros and cons of self-releasing 11:00 Liking your own music 13:30 The producer’s mind 17:30 Intuition, magic, and fear of the future 24:30 Breakstep 30:00 Bao Binga, breaks, and nearly going Dubstep 34:00 The death of the alias 37:20 Early aspirations, career advice and mountain biking 41:41 Early 2000s and lower barriers to entry 43:44 Community before social media 48:30 What Makes a scene? 52:55 Sankeys, violence, police pressure 55:00 Seeing Jeff Mills at Sankeys 58:15 The 2010s House era 59:14 The birth of Sam Binga & Exit Records 01:08:10 UK Radio culture vs. US 01:17:20 Label philosophy: skate-team energy & A&R instinct Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 3, 2025 · 1 hr 14 min
#031 Carrier: the crisis in music and how to stay true to your creative vision
PLEDGE DRIVE 2025 - all new subscribers to the Musicality tier on Patreon will get a Not A Diving Club t-shirt in your size of choice, delivered to your door completely free of charge! Full details. Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving Guy Brewer, aka Shifted, aka half of Commix, aka Carrier, made an appearance on our previous incarnation, the Not A Diving Podcast, a couple of years ago that was very popular. He returns with a new alias but a similar selection of wise takes on the electronic music scene and the challenges facing everyone trying to operate in it. We discuss the new Carrier album, Rhythm Immortal, the challenge of genre expectations, the disappearing middle class of musicians, the (ir)relevance of record labels, and much more besides. This is a good one! -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 00:00 Brought to you by Acid Nation 02:48 Transition from Shifted to Carrier 04:48 Creative burnout 07:03 Creative Cycles & Starting Over 09:31 Musical Influences Behind Carrier 12:01 Genre ambiguity 15:04 Creative Rebirth 18:01 Industry vs. scene 21:01 The middle class of music has gone 24:02 Tech and lower barriers to entry 27:07 Does personality still matter? 31:13 Hard Techno is lifestyle branding 34:32 Aesthetics, label identity and scenes 38:20 Big tech, democratisation and gatekeeping 42:02 Self-release or label chase? 48:00 Art and intent 53:58 Production philosophy 01:00:02 Tools, workflow & sampling vs. modular 01:03:10 Creative ruts, flow states & longevity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 26, 2025 · 1 hr 11 min
#030 François X: Concrete, French touch, and the development of techno in Paris
PLEDGE DRIVE 2025 - all new subscribers to the Musicality tier on Patreon will get a Not A Diving Club t-shirt in your size of choice, delivered to your door completely free of charge! Full details. Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving François X is a key figure in the history of French techno. From his DEMENT3D label and nights at Social Club to his residency at legendary club Concrete, he has helped redefine the music over time and made a huge contribution to its development in Paris and beyond. We discuss all of the above, as well as the state of the scene right now and of course the music. -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 00:00 Brought to you by Acid Nation 03:02 Episode start 04:15 State of Paris clubbing 08:00 Music evolution and changing sounds 14:00 Roots of Francois X sound 18:00 Repurposing influences 19:42 Booking Scuba & Joy Orbison 21:00 Concrete: The legendary club 32:12 Paris’ club culture identity 34:00 Quitting the day job 38:00 Disco, House and Techno 38:25 The origin of 'Francois X' 39:00 House music ruled the roost 42:10 Electroclash, French touch and Ed Banger 45:00 Soulful to Techy: Records that flipped it 48:00 Klockworks, MDR and Dub Techno 50:51 Production beginnings 52:25 DEMENT3D and starting a label 58:24 How would you start a label now? 01:05:50 Social media pressure and identity 01:11:50 What's next for Techno? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 11, 2025 · 46 min
#029 Mixtress: seminal clubs, beefing artists, and why DJing isn't for everyone
Recorded during the 2025 edition of Amsterdam Dance Event, this episode is sponsored by Jägermeister's Save The Night. Born in 2020 as an emergency response to the pandemic, Save The Night has grown into a global platform that supports the people and ideas keeping nightlife alive. Through its annual Fund, Jägermeister provides €156,000 in funding, mentorship and visibility to bold projects - from making dancefloors more accessible, to pioneering greener club nights, to amplifying voices from grassroots creative communities. Applications are now open for the Save The Night Fund. If you're a creative, a promoter, a venue owner, or simply passionate about building safer, more inclusive, and more sustainable nights, this is your chance to bring your vision to life. Check out jagermeister.com/exploration/save-the-night -- Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving Mixtress is a London-based DJ and producer from Amsterdam known for her versatile sets that blend genres like UK hardcore, jungle, bassweight, techno, and dubstep. Raised with a strong musical foundation, she has performed at major venues like Printworks and Fabric, appeared on platforms such as Boiler Room, and holds resident DJ spots at Rinse FM and The Cause London. We discuss her dance music roots in Amsterdam and London, the changing nature of DJs and their careers, notable DJ beefs, and the influence of Colin Faver. This is the fourth and final of our recordings at ADE, thanks for listening! Back on regular episodes next week. -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 00:00 brought to you by Acid Nation 02:36 Episode start 03:02 Amsterdam origins 04:36 Majestic Casual era 06:04 Lapalux shaping her taste 09:00 University, Joy Orbison and dBridge 12:10 Major events shaping music 14:30 Cancel culture 17:14 Are there too many DJs? 19:00 Hustle mindset infiltrating club culture 23:07 Edit culture and TikTok trends 24:15 Defining her style 26:35 Realising she's a 'proper DJ' 29:03 COVID era and radio shows 30:43 Scene rebuilding 32:49 Post-COVID behaviours 37:20 Can the scene autocorrect itself? 40:03 Warm-up sets and etiquette 41:30 The big rant 43:35 Favourite parties to play Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 7, 2025 · 46 min
#028 Sofia Ilyas: breaking Nils Frahm, working for Beatport, and escaping loneliness
Recorded during the 2025 edition of Amsterdam Dance Event, this episode is sponsored by Jägermeister's Save The Night. Born in 2020 as an emergency response to the pandemic, Save The Night has grown into a global platform that supports the people and ideas keeping nightlife alive. Through its annual Fund, Jägermeister provides €156,000 in funding, mentorship and visibility to bold projects - from making dancefloors more accessible, to pioneering greener club nights, to amplifying voices from grassroots creative communities. Applications are now open for the Save The Night Fund. If you're a creative, a promoter, a venue owner, or simply passionate about building safer, more inclusive, and more sustainable nights, this is your chance to bring your vision to life. Check out jagermeister.com/exploration/save-the-night -- Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving Sofia Ilyas is currently Beatport's Chief Community Officer, formerly a key figure at the Erased Tapes label, and an important force in the emergence of ambient/neoclassical superstar Nils Frahm. We discuss her upbringing and subsequent escape from a highly conservative family in Wales, discovering electronic music in her late 20s, and eventual career in the industry. This is a fascinating and unexpected conversation - get involved! This is the third of our four recordings at ADE, the final one will be along shortly! -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 00:00 Brought to you by Acid Nation 02:40 Intro 03:35 The Role of Chief Community Officer 05:40 Loneliness, creativity & connection 07:55 Changing Beatport’s culture 09:40 Building a role from scratch 11:10 Beatport’s redemption 14:23 Early life in Cardiff 15:31 Escaping ultraconservatism 19:45 Temple life 21:36 Discovering club culture 25:16 Meeting Nils Frahm 27:36 The rise of Erased Tapes 30:08 Creative experiments 32:15 Leaving Erased Tapes 35:00 Saying No and authenticity 40:24 Joining Beatport 41:30 Loneliness, grief & identity 44:20 Coaching the next generation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 4, 2025 · 42 min
#027 Dot Major (NIGHT manoeuvres / London Grammar) on getting signed, his crazy Printworks set, and HYPH MNGO
Recorded during the 2025 edition of Amsterdam Dance Event, this episode is sponsored by Jägermeister's Save The Night. Born in 2020 as an emergency response to the pandemic, Save The Night has grown into a global platform that supports the people and ideas keeping nightlife alive. Through its annual Fund, Jägermeister provides €156,000 in funding, mentorship and visibility to bold projects - from making dancefloors more accessible, to pioneering greener club nights, to amplifying voices from grassroots creative communities. Applications are now open for the Save The Night Fund. If you're a creative, a promoter, a venue owner, or simply passionate about building safer, more inclusive, and more sustainable nights, this is your chance to bring your vision to life. Check out jagermeister.com/exploration/save-the-night -- Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving Dot Major is half of NIGHT manoeuvres (with ABSOLUTE), who are releasing via fabric's label. And he is also a member of London Grammar, one of the better bands to emerge from the UK in the last decade or so. We discuss his gradual journey into electronic music, what it's like breaking through in a big way, and some of the unusual things he's got up to along the way. This is the second of our four recordings at ADE, the next one will be along shortly! -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 00:00 Brought to you by Acid Nation 02:40 Intro 03:00 Missing moderator 04:11 The birth of NIGHT manoeuvres 05:16 Playing the Crane at ADE 06:31 Musical roots 09:30 HYPH MNGO and Dubstep 12:00 The roots of London Grammar 14:24 Blending live and electronic worlds 17:00 DJing, skill, and the soul of performance 20:06 Technology always wins 24:06 Baptism of fire at Printworks 28:03 Ibiza memories & the Lynx Africa hot tub 31:00 NIGHT manoeuvres from studio to stage 33:15 Gear talk 36:00 AI talk and the future of music 41:11 Favourite Dance albums Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 29, 2025 · 51 min
#026 Joris Voorn: how ADE changed the Dutch scene, and the threat of AI to musicians
Recorded during the 2025 edition of Amsterdam Dance Event. This episode is sponsored by Jägermeister's Save The Night. Born in 2020 as an emergency response to the pandemic, Save The Night has grown into a global platform that supports the people and ideas keeping nightlife alive. Through its annual Fund, Jägermeister provides €156,000 in funding, mentorship and visibility to bold projects - from making dancefloors more accessible, to pioneering greener club nights, to amplifying voices from grassroots creative communities. Applications are now open for the Save The Night Fund. If you're a creative, a promoter, a venue owner, or simply passionate about building safer, more inclusive, and more sustainable nights, this is your chance to bring your vision to life. Check out jagermeister.com/exploration/save-the-night -- Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving The first of four conversations recorded at ADE last week. Joris Voorn is a key figure in Dutch house and techno, and actually the genre as a whole. Releasing albums since 2004, he's been a fixture on the biggest stages for basically the entirety of the intervening period, and carved out a distinctive sound without ever pandering to the fashions of the day. He's also thoroughly nice chap who talks very well about the music and culture that surrounds it. Stay tuned for the other three conversations coming over the course of the next couple of weeks. -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 02:30 Intro 04:18 ADE & Amsterdam 06:15 Ibiza: Then vs. Now 10:53 Genres 14:35 Minimal was a shockwave 16:27 Albums & consistency 19:50 “I thought you needed a 303 to make Techno” 23:57 Carl Cox the kingmaker 26:08 “All the music I made, probably 1% got released” 34:00 Creative change and backlash 36:10 ‘Serotonin’ and personal loss 38:09 The songwriting process 44:00 “You can’t tell if it’s AI or Human anymore” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 21, 2025 · 1 hr 29 min
#025 Perc: the scariest clubs, hyper professionalism, and how Napster killed techno labels
Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving Perc is one of modern techno's reference points: an internationally touring DJ and live act, founder of the scene-leading Perc Trax label and one of the most respected producers in techno today. We discuss his early period of hardware experimentation, the birth of Perc the artist project as well as the Perc Trax label, recent developments in techno, and the evolution of his sound. This is a crucial conversation with one of the absolute key figures in the history of UK techno. Get involved! -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 00:00 Brought to you by Acid Nation 02:23 Perc 04:27 Techno DJing today 06:26 A weekend of cancellations 07:24 Tresor and Techno 11:26 Berghain reflections 18:39 Early life & musical roots 21:13 From Metal bands to machines 26:35 Studying Music Production 36:07 The birth of Perc 39:59 Working at Prime 48:01 Collapse of vinyl's golden age 50:58 Life after Prime 55:50 Learning the label game 59:30 Nucleus records and gaming the charts 01:05:30 Perctrax 01:09:00 Social media, hype, and longevity 01:13:25 Mentoring challenges 01:16:40 Tiptoeing around Hard Techno 01:24:43 The worst thing for Perctrax 01:26:00 Best Techno parties now Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 14, 2025 · 46 min
#024 The enshittifiction of music: should you boycott Spotify... or maybe something else?
Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving A boycott is the end of a conversation, not the start. On Music Not Diving this week, we discuss whether Spotify is such an exceptional case of evil that it deserves be made an example of, or whether there might be another platform, for instance one owned by a Communist dictatorship, which might better fit the bill. And we give thanks to Cory Doctorow for his theoretical underpinning to the episode, which also features in the title! Chapters: 00:00 Brought to you by Acid Nation 04:00 Enshittification 13:27 The Napster era 18:40 Is Spotify a special case? 25:00 AI music in streaming 31:15 Tiktok is a music streamer 37:55 The real problem is distribution 41:45 Do labels still add value? Honestly this could easily have been twice as long and there are many issues which are omitted or insufficiently covered... but it took nearly a whole day to record and edit and that's about the limit of my pay grade! -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 7, 2025 · 1 hr 31 min
#023 DJ Bone returns: the art of Techno from Detroit to Amsterdam
Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving DJ Bone is a legend of Detroit techno, and previous guest on the original version of this show, episode 73 of the Not A Diving Podcast. We discuss the latest goings on between Motor City and his adopted home of Amsterdam, his recent album The End Of Never... and whether DJs really need to learn how to beatmatch. A welcome return from one of our favourite guests in the history of the show! -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 00:00 Brought to you by Acid Nation 03:00 DJ Bone 05:18 “Professor Bone time” 07:01 Prince, Mojo & the birth of Detroit Techno loyalty 012:26 “People forgot how to rave” 15:30 Creeping commercialisation 21:00 Music and distribution 23:15 10,000 vinyl records 30:20 Beatmatching is DJing 101 35:49 The next gen and mentorship 41:03 “They're too worried about a career before they hone their craft” 47:00 Music is therapy and the album process 57:00 Playing your own music out 62:00 Detroit vs the world 01:06:10 Aphex Twins and Moodymann 01:11:00 Techno is political 01:22:30 Homeless homies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 30, 2025 · 1 hr 20 min
#022 Paul Ćinske: How to program the world's most important techno club
Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving Paul Ćinske is the man behind every single booking at the most important club in the history of techno (maybe)... Tresor. We discuss the current state of the Berlin scene, the changes since the trauma of the pandemic, his role at the venue in detail, the importance of one person steering the creative ship of a club like Tresor... and much else besides. We haven't had anything quite like this on the show before, and Paul does not disappoint! -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:00 Paul Ćinske 04:22 That classic Berlin cliche 08:22 Future Music and the Melbourne scene 09:00 Berlin’s clubbing landscape 11:48 First impressions of Berlin 14:45 Berlin = Techno city 17:25 Small venues and the ecosystem 21:50 Has raving in a dark room become less attractive? 25:00 Less stigma with older ravers 31:10 Ticketing culture vs. Berlin’s door policy 35:05 If FWD was down to ticket figures… 38:30 Working as Tresor’s booker 46:00 OM is the great humbler 47:30 Tresor’s reopening & post-pandemic recovery 54:02 Creative direction of Tresor 01:04:00 Legacy, identity & the future 01:09:30 Büro Siebzig Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 23, 2025 · 1 hr 13 min
#021 Darren Hemmings: Music marketing expert on how to get your music heard in 2025
Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving Returning guest Darren Hemmings is a music marketing expert and the founder of a creative marketing agency specialising in music called Motive Unknown. He's also the author of the excellent Network Notes Substack. How do you break through in 2025? How do you even get your music heard? These problems are as pertinent for acts signed to big labels as it is for people just starting out. Is streaming a problem? And what is the role of labels today? We address all these things and much more besides in a vital conversation for anyone with even a passing interest in music, the industry, and the development of culture in today’s big tech- dominated world. This is a great conversation with a returning guest who will definitely be on the show again! -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 02:41 Intro 04:34 Music marketing: constantly changing… or just copycatting? 07:59 The Death of Monoculture 12:30 Why do labels exist anymore? 14:35 Labels as a nexus point 18:05 Big Tech hates teenage girls 20:07 Music is worth… nothing 22:07 Flood the market with crap 26:10 Sorry, but not everyone’s an artist 27:13 Raves without phones 29:55 The “S” word 35:53 The importance of local scenes 39:20 What does change look like 44:46 Déjà Vu: The next music industry collapse 48:23 Oasis, K-Pop, and the price of nostalgia 55:00 Did Indie labels blow their shot? 56:05 Private equity, KKR and boycotting 01:04:21 The role of journalism and criticism 01:08:14 Is Gen Z missing out? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 16, 2025 · 1 hr 28 min
#020 Jamz Supernova on BBC radio, the Mercury Prize, and the genius of Dizzee Rascal
Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving Jamz Supernova is one of the UK’s most respected DJs and broadcasters. Best known for her shows on BBC Radio 1Xtra and BBC 6 Music, she's built a reputation as a champion of forward-thinking sounds, spanning R&B, future soul, club music, and the global underground. Beyond her broadcasting career, Jamz is also the founder of Future Bounce, the label and club brand that has become a platform for innovative new talent. From curating radio shows and festival stages to running her own imprint, she has established herself as a key voice shaping the conversation around contemporary music in the UK and beyond. We discuss her experiences in broadcasting, the various ways people find their way in music careers, and what it's like being a judge on the Mercury Music Prize. Get involved! -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 00:00 Intro 03:10 Podcast vs. Radio 06:30 Getting into the industry 09:52 Influences and aspirations 12:03 Deptford, Millwall and gentrification 13:48 Radio does nothing for kids 18:20 The biggest challenge for artists 18:44 2008 Financial crash and DIY Hustle 19:57 Starting at 1Xtra 26:40 Black British Music in the mainstream 30:02 “You shouldn’t like everything I play” 34:26 Brit School 40:35 UK Funky, Dubstep and Rinse 44:44 Traumatic first DJ gig 49:14 “I’m never mixing RnB and Hip-Hop” 53:17 Gilles Peterson 56:00 Being a multi-genre DJ 59:03 Bridging Radio and Club audiences 01:03:40 The homogenisation of production 01:07:50 Being a Mercury Prize judge 01:13:50 The genius of Dizzee Rascal 01:15:42 Artistic freedom 01:16:55 Predjudice and Radio 6 01:20:08 3 Biggest tunes of the Summer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 9, 2025 · 1 hr 14 min
#019 El Hornet on influencing Skrillex, Glasto with Beyoncé, and the new Pendulum album
Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving Pendulum are the biggest Drum n Bass act of all time. A controversial statement perhaps but one that ChatGPT agrees with. El Hornet is the band's DJ, a member since day 1 of Pendulum in Perth, Australia, and a man who has been on every step of the journey along with Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen. They have a new album out called Inertia, and it's their first one since 2010. It's both very modern and very recognisable as a Pendulum record, which might say as much about their wider influence on dance music as anything else. We discuss the scene in 90s Perth, playing in punk bands, moving to the UK in 2003, taking over the scene and ultimately outgrowing it. Oh and playing before Beyoncé at Glastonbury. Some mad stuff in this one - you're gonna enjoy it! -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 00:00 Join Acid Nation 00:59 Intro 02:43 El Hornet 03:14 The new album 06:40 The influence on Skrillex 08:00 Breaking the DnB mould 08:57 Knife Party and being competitive 09:52 DJing after Andy C 11:09 Lightening up 13:03 “You blink and you’re a legacy act’ 19:03 Genres are important 20:50 Dubstep in the US 26:07 Perth, Australia 35:14 Mining and meth 39:15 Moving to the UK 51:10 Breaking through 57:15 The new record 01:03:00 The DnB ethos 01:05:28 Singing over Drum n Bass 01:08:06 Current state of the scene 01:11:00 Beyoncé at Glastonbury Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 2, 2025 · 1 hr 25 min
#018 Kelly Lee Owens on haunted hotels, tiny venues, and the value of music
Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving We are finally back with a brand new episode! Kelly Lee Owens is one of the most notable UK electronic musicians to emerge over the last decade. An album artist, she released her first LP back in 2017 and the most recent, Dreamstate was released on dh2 in 2024. We discuss her past as a Taekwondo black belt, experiences with the supernatural, making music without knowledge of theory, the mechanics of releasing music today, as well as the challenges facing musicians and the scene more widely. This is a good one! -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 00:00 Intro 03:18 Episode starts 03:43 Wrestling stan 06:13 The 5 tenets needed for Taekwondo and Music 07:30 Haunted hotels 10:35 Welsh folklore and wizardry 17:40 Music theory and the decline of music education 27:45 Waiting for the magic to happen 28:54 The importance of collaboration 32:42 "The weight of an album will never change'' 39:10 The creative process shouldn't be easy 43:30 Making the first album 49:55 The album campaign lifecycle 54:58 The rise in marketing and branding 58:40 Flogging artists and mental health 01:04:16 Working as a nurse 01:05:22 Ozzy Osbourne 01:07:24 The importance of a manager 01:09:45 Getting into Dance music 01:12:58 Decline of small venues and culture 01:18:23 The rise in touring costs 01:20:24 The Festivalisation of Dance Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 19, 2025 · 2 hr
Classic Episode: Skream on flaming tour buses, stage invasions, and being marketed as a hellraiser
Music Not Diving is supported by AC55ID... head over to www.ac55id.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the full video version of this episode over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving Skream was the poster boy for the early dubstep scene, then made the charts as part of Magnetic Man, and since then forged a unique path through different areas of dance music while always maintaining the personality that made him a star in the first place. This conversation was first broadcast in September 2023, episode 85 of our previous incarnation, the Not A Diving Podcast. And more people have listened to it than any of our other 200-odd episodes. We discuss what the very early years of dubstep were really like, and what happened when the Americans got involved. What it was like being marketed as an old fashioned rock n roll hellraiser, the fun that was had and the pressure that came with it. And we get into how the music and the scene has changed along the way. This is a great chat with a legend of UK music - worth a re-spin even if you listened the first time round, and absolutely essential listening if you missed it! -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:45 Skreamizm 8 08:12 Lockdown Tunes & Addictive Process 20:40 Staying True, Not Conforming 30:48 Different Definitions of Success 34:15 Transition to House 43:46 Autonomic Influence 50:32 Stories Before the Sober Journey 1:00:41 Generational Marketability 1:07:54 Upbringing, Escapism, Maturing 1:15:55 How Magnetic Man’s Pop Sound Influenced American Dubstep 1:23:33 Genre Gatekeeping in DNB, Jungle, and Garage 1:28:40 (Big) Apple Records 1:39:10 Scene Development Differences 1:47:33 Panorama Bar & DoLab Experiences Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 12, 2025 · 44 min
Classic Episode: thoughts on Bandcamp and the D2C model
Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 00:00 Intro and Bandcamp alternatives 07:50 What is Bandcamp and D2C? 15:45 Bandcamp vs the whole industry 19:00 Growth, efficiency, takeovers 26:00 Single point of failure? 36:00 Are dance music fans stingy? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 29, 2025 · 1 hr 33 min
#017 Slam on Techno, Daft Punk, and why Glasgow is the best place to DJ
Music Not Diving is supported by Acid Nation (formerly AC55ID)... head over to www.acidnation.com to check out the fastest growing electronic music marketplace, a central hub for music discovery, streaming and purchasing! -- Watch the video episodes of Music Not Diving over at youtube.com/@WeNotDiving Stuart McMillan is half of Slam, one of the most important UK techno acts in history and absolute key players in the world of Scottish electronic music. The new Slam album, Dark Channel is out now on their own Soma imprint - one of the most important UK techno labels and a conversation in itself. We discuss the story of Slam from the mid 80s onwards, traversing the Acid House experience in Glasgow into the 90s rave era and beyond. We talk about Daft Punk releasing their early singles on Soma and the history of the label more generally. And we discuss the modern techno scene in Scotland and across the world. Another point of conversation is the 2018 Slam album Athenaeum 101 - a really great piece of work which very much deserves another look and listen. Scotland has been criminally neglected on the podcast up til now so this is a great way to start addressing the balance! -- If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else. You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support. Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels. Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:54 Glasgow techno scene 12:20 New Slam album - Dark Channel 21:50 Divisions in society and music 28:45 Is techno political? 34:10 Early years in music 40:40 Acid House and rave in Glasgow 01:01:50 Early Slam productions 01:15:30 The label - Soma 01:18:30 Discovering Daft Punk 01:27:55 The best club in the world Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.