Dexter Jones

Tenacious join Dexter Jones for a nostalgic, hilarious and inspiring conversation about the rollercoaster journey from passionate clubbers and bedroom producers to hearing their own music played on the biggest stage in dance music.

From losing an irreplaceable DAT tape in the post and painstakingly rebuilding tracks from memory, to the surreal moment they discovered their music had been championed by Judge Jules on BBC Radio 1, this episode is packed with the kind of stories that remind you just how different the dance music industry used to be.

We discuss white labels, record shops, mixtapes, taking chances, near disasters, and the persistence it takes to keep going when everything seems to be working against you. Through equal parts determination, talent and a bit of chaos, Tenacious prove that sometimes the craziest setbacks lead to the biggest breakthroughs.

If you love trance, club culture, behind-the-scenes music stories and hearing how some of the most memorable dance records came to life, this episode is full of humour, honesty and nostalgia.

In this episode:

▪️ How a lost DAT tape nearly destroyed everything

Chapters 📖

00:00 Judge Jules, Tiësto & The DAT Tape That Vanished

Chris Agnelli joins Dexter Jones once again for part two of an honest, hilarious and thought-provoking conversation about the changing face of dance music, the realities of life as a DJ and producer, and the stories that never make it into the headlines.

From the staggering fact that more tracks are now released on Beatport in a single week than were released in the whole of 1999, to his candid thoughts on ghost producers and authenticity in electronic music, Chris opens up like never before.

We discuss rebuilding El Niño from memory, rediscovering forgotten remixes, surviving a surreal gig in Beirut with armed guards, and the pressures of trying to maintain a career in an increasingly crowded industry.

Chris also reflects on streaming, social media, TikTok, podcasting, and what aspiring DJs and producers really need to understand if they want to stand out in today's landscape.

If you love trance, dance music, behind-the-scenes stories and hearing the unfiltered truth from artists who have lived through multiple eras of club culture, this episode is packed with insight, humour and nostalgia.

In this episode:

▪️ More tracks released on Beatport in a week than the whole of 1999

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Chapters 📖 

Chris Agnelli joins me for a fascinating deep dive into the story of Agnelli & Nelson, the creation of El Niño and Everyday (amongst others), the golden era of trance, and the wild reality of dance music during the 1990s and 2000s.

From growing up in Northern Ireland during the rave explosion to creating one of the most iconic trance records ever made, Chris shares the untold stories behind Agnelli & Nelson's rise, the birth of El Niño, signing to the legendary Extravaganza label, and the moment everything changed forever.

We discuss how El Niño was created, how the original file was lost and had to be rebuilt from scratch, the incredible story of the Spanish student who unknowingly became the voice of a trance anthem, and what it was like receiving support from Pete Tong, Judge Jules and Radio 1 at the height of trance culture.

Chris also reflects on Ibiza, Gatecrasher, Privilege, Eden, early DJ technology, vinyl culture, and how clubbing has evolved over the last three decades.

If you were there during the golden era of trance, Gatecrasher, Godskitchen, Cream, Radio 1 and Ibiza, this episode is packed with nostalgia, insider stories and moments you won't hear anywhere else.

In this episode:

▪️ The untold story behind El Niño

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

Mark Sherry joins me for a fascinating deep dive into the untold story behind Public Domain, Operation Blade, tech-trance, rave culture, and the realities of surviving decades in dance music.

From the explosive success of Operation Blade, chart success, and touring the world, to the harsh realities of the music industry and learning lessons the hard way, Mark opens up like never before.

We discuss how a scene-defining rave anthem was born after watching the film Blade, how Judge Jules championed the record on Radio 1, the rise of Public Domain, and what really happened behind the scenes.

Mark also reflects on his journey through club culture and how dance music has changed forever.

If you were there during the golden era of clubbing, trance, hard house, and rave culture, this episode is packed with nostalgia, insider stories, and moments you won’t hear anywhere else.

In this episode:

▪️ The true story behind Operation Blade

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Chapters:

00:00 Intro

🎧 Nick Rafferty: The Night Clubbing Changed Forever | Godskitchen, 90s Clubbing & The Golden Era

Nick Rafferty joins Dexter Jones for a deep dive into the madness, energy and reality of 90s clubbing culture.

From Godskitchen, Sundissential, Cream tours and Space Ibiza to Tony De Vit, vinyl culture, hard house, trance and the golden era of UK nightlife, Nick shares what life was really like during one of the most iconic periods in dance music history.

We discuss:

⚡ The night clubbing changed forever

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

👇 Do you agree with Nick? When did clubbing change forever in your opinion?

Nick Rafferty joins Dexter Jones for a deep dive into the madness, energy and reality of 90s club culture.

From Sundissential, Godskitchen and Cream… to three gigs a night, vinyl culture, Tony De Vit, severe anxiety, beta blockers and the rise and fall of the golden era of clubbing.

Nick opens up about what life was really like behind the packed dancefloors and iconic nights that shaped a generation.

Topics include:

• Sundays Central & Birmingham club culture

“You’d turn up at the club like a Cheshire cat with a bag full of records thinking… nobody else has got this little beauty.”

A raw, funny, nostalgic and honest conversation with one of the true figures from the golden era of UK clubbing.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Nick Rafferty

This week I sit down with Utah Saints, true pioneers of UK electronic music, to break down one of the most important topics in dance music history… sampling.

From making tracks in their bedrooms on Atari computers and Akai samplers, to landing on Top of the Pops six times, Utah Saints share the real story behind how sampling changed music forever.

We go deep into the early 90s rave scene, white labels, Leeds club culture, and the moment electronic music broke into the mainstream. They also open up about the pressure from the industry, the controversy around sampling, and why today’s music landscape feels completely different.

If you’re into dance music, DJ culture, music production, or the history of rave, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.ž

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

🎯 THINGS WE TALK ABOUT

How Utah Saints got started in 1991

🚀 ABOUT UTAH SAINTS

Utah Saints are one of the UK’s most influential electronic acts, known for blending sampling, house, and rave culture into mainstream success. With multiple Top of the Pops appearances and iconic releases, they helped shape the sound of 90s dance music.

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Danny Whittle joins The Dexter Jones Podcast,  the man behind the evolution of Ibiza club culture.

From serving in the Royal Navy during the Falklands War, to becoming a firefighter, to ultimately shaping the global dance music industry… Danny’s journey is unlike anything you’ve heard before.

In this episode, we go deep into the real story behind Ibiza’s transformation. From Renaissance to Pacha, the rise of superstar DJs, building one of the most iconic nightclub brands in the world, and launching IMS Ibiza — the event that changed the business of electronic music forever.

Danny breaks down how Ibiza went from a party island to a global music powerhouse, the realities of running clubs at the highest level, and why the industry today is more complex,  and more competitive, than ever.

This is a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the decisions, risks, and moments that helped shape modern club culture.

If you’re into Ibiza, dance music, DJ culture, or the business behind it all — this is a must-watch.

Chapters:

0:00 The Danny Whittle Story 

• Growing up in Stoke and early music influences

DJ CASH ONLY joins the Dexter Jones Podcast to break down the real story behind the name, and why it has absolutely nothing to do with money.

From starting out in the underground putting on small community parties, to building a multi-million pound social enterprise that empowered young people, stepping away from music completely, and then returning to play 60+ shows worldwide,  all without a manager or agent, this is a very different kind of DJ journey.

We start with the meaning behind “CASH ONLY”, inspired by art and identity rather than money, and how that idea reflects a deeper mindset around music, culture, and not chasing the obvious.

From there, we get into the early days,  raving at 16, discovering the scene, putting on local events in community centres, and building something from the ground up before things ever scaled.

#DexterJones  #clubculture  #djpodcast 

Chapters 

We also get into:

• the reality behind the name “CASH ONLY” and why it’s misunderstood

This is a proper behind-the-scenes conversation with someone who’s taken a completely different path through dance music — from grassroots community work to global DJing.

If you’re into DJ culture, underground music, house music, independent artists, or real stories behind the industry, this one will land.

The Dexter Jones Podcast explores the stories, people and realities behind dance music, Ibiza culture, production, DJing and the electronic music industry.

If you enjoy the episode, drop a comment with your take:

Paul Maddox, known for his work across Tidy Trax, hard house, hard dance and studio engineering, joins me for a deep conversation about music production, ghost production, sound engineers, AI, the changing club scene, and why so many roles in electronic music are misunderstood.

We start with one of the biggest misconceptions in dance music: ghost producers and engineers are not the same thing. Paul explains where the confusion comes from, why people get defensive about it, and how professional records are often made through collaboration, technical support, and very different skill sets.

From there, we go deep into Paul’s own story. We talk about starting out as a producer before DJing, learning the craft in the late 90s, working with basic gear, discovering dance music through Radio 1, handing demo CDs to DJs, and eventually breaking through with the Tidy Boys and landing an in-house engineering role.

We also get into:

• the difference between engineering, co-production and ghost production

00:00 Intro: The Maddox & Glazby Connection

This is a proper behind-the-scenes conversation with someone who has lived it from the inside. If you are into hard house, dance music production, club culture, studio work, or the real mechanics of how tracks get made, this one will land.

The Dexter Jones Podcast explores the stories, people and realities behind dance music, Ibiza culture, production, DJing and the electronic music industry.