DjHistory

One of the first Dj's to dispense with the microphone and drag DJ culture kicking and screaming into the modern era, Mike Pickering has seen it all. From meeting most of his musical contemporaries via the terraces of Man Cities main road, and the away ends of division one. Through to forming a series of groups Quando Quango, through to M People.  Pickering stayed one step ahead of the DJ game all the way through the 1980s via his residency at the Hacienda, and then winning brit awards and a Mercury music Prize. We talked to Mike about the life on the terraces, his time in Rotterdam, the influence of Quando Quango, T-Coy and M People and guiding Calvin Harris into the pop charts.

Crazy P are a curious collective. Without ever having hits, they’ve become one of dance music’s most beloved outfits. As they enter their 30th year in the business, we reflected on a range of topics, from records that clear the floor, collaborating remotely, growing champion radishes and mourning the death of much-loved singer Danielle Moore.

Fish Go Deep is the pseudonym for Greg Dowling and Shane Johnson - their reputation in their hometown of Cork is already legendary - as long term residents in the cities Sir henrys nightclub. They transformed what was a largely rock venue into a citadel of modern electronic music, with a residency that lasted well over 10 years and cemented their reputation of two of the best DJs Ireland has ever produced. We chat about Corks varied musical history, the twisted tale of the cure on the cause and their studio working methods. Tune in!

Ruby Savage joins us on the DJHistory podcast - Amsterdam-raised selector, broadcaster and one of the most thoughtful voices in modern club culture.

She reflects on growing up in the Dutch capital, where open-ended nights and eclectic radio shaped her musical instincts early on, and traces the path from those formative dancefloors to becoming a respected presence behind the decks and on the airwaves. We also discuss her Don’t Be A Creep initiative - a grassroots push to challenge behaviour in nightlife and protect the spaces that club culture depends on - alongside a wider conversation on independence, responsibility, and what it means to contribute something lasting to the culture.

Having shamelessly befriended Jamz Supernova a few weeks back, we managed to coax her into the DJH studio with the promise of a season ticket to watch Grimsby Town. We chatted about her rise through the radio ranks from local station in Sydenham to the BBC, where she has presented shows for ten years. Have listen, this is a woman with a mission and purpose.