Headliner Radio

Ofer Shabi (OJ), co-founder of London’s Soho Sonic Studios, explains why community and human connection remain at the heart of music-making at the studio. From working with A-list artists to embracing the versatility needed to survive a changing industry, OJ shares how the studio has evolved over 15 years. He also explores AI’s role in the creative process and how Steinberg's Cubase and Nuendo help his team capture performances, streamline workflows and keep emotion at the centre of every production.

London-based DJ and producer Harry Oliver discusses his journey from playing his first festival at just 14 to releasing his debut EP, This Feelin EP. The DJ delves into finding his own sound, drawing on melodic house and ’90s influences, and why trusting his instincts has become central to his production. He also shares how online tutorials and livestreams are helping him build a community around underground house, and reflects on how AlphaTheta equipment is helping him develop as a DJ, build confidence with club-standard setups and prepare for bigger gigs and festivals.

UK-based multi-instrumentalist, producer and DJ, Rules returns with his latest EP, As Soon As I Get Home, a six-track release that marks a defining step forward in his artistic progression. Rules discusses the making of his new EP, his approach to making timeless music, how his studio process connects to his DJ sets, getting his hands on a James Blake piano preset, and his thoughts on bringing the saxophone back.

Nothing But Thieves guitarist and producer Dom Craik takes us inside the making of the band’s new album, Stray Dogs – their rawest and most organic record yet. As the album’s sole producer, Craik discusses capturing the band’s live energy in the studio, how he records Conor’s dynamic vocals, returning to Angelic Studios where it all began for them, working with drums, vocals and analogue gear, taking full creative control for the first time, and what fans can expect from the new album

Manchester-based tech house DJ, Lily C-D discusses the journey that has led her to carve out her own lane, from spending hours digging for tracks people haven’t heard to developing a distinctly niche taste. She reflects on the importance of finding your own path rather than simply following what’s big, the role TikTok can play in helping emerging DJs build an audience, the gear that has shaped her DJing, her biggest career moments, and where she wants to take things next.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter, cellist, composer and MOBO-nominee Ayanna Witter-Johnson discusses her new album, New Roots, an intimate exploration of British-Caribbean identity, lineage, self-discovery and renewal. She reflects on the central role of the cello in her songwriting, the inspiration behind key tracks from the album, navigating the music industry as a multi-disciplinary artist, and what she hopes listeners take from New Roots.

Once a member of the ska band Reel Big Fish, two-time Grammy winner Carlos de la Garza pivoted into his true calling of engineering and mixing albums, racking up credits with the likes of Death Cab for Cutie, Jimmy Eat World, Wolf Alice, as well as his multiple award-winning collaborations with Paramore and Hayley Williams. He chats to Headliner about working with alt-J frontman Joe Newman and his new solo venture Jjerome87 on the debut album The Canyon.

Four years after joining forces, Kristian Smith and Curt Lopez have quietly positioned Sonata Collective as one of the UK's most exciting names in deep house. The duo discuss the momentum behind Sonata Collective, why consistency matters just as much as talent, what "making it" as a DJ really means, their must-have DJ gear, and why their biggest chapter is still to come. 

Producer Andrew DeRoberts, the creative force behind rising country star Alexandra Kay’s second album, Second Wind, discusses the making of the record and the collaboration that shaped its sound. Bringing a fresh, modern edge to Kay’s country style, DeRoberts helped craft an album that has made a strong impact on the charts, with lead single Straight For The Heart achieving one of the biggest first-week country radio debuts by a solo female artist. He discusses how he balanced country authenticity with pop influences, the studio techniques that helped define Second Wind, and what it takes to create a record that connects with both audiences and radio.

Manchester soul artist Mica Millar discusses the making of her new album, A Little Bit of Me – a self-written, self-produced statement recorded at the iconic Miraval Studios in the South of France, the residential studio owned by Brad Pitt. As she enters the next chapter of her career, including a major UK and European tour, Millar reflects on finding her voice, recording at Brad Pitt’s studio, the art of producing her own vocals, and the challenges of making the difficult second album.