We are getting deep in the independent music industry weeds on this week's episode...

To get started we must redirect you to episodes 91 and 92 of the podcast, which were a pair of deep solo dives into the world of direct-to-consumer music sales, Bandcamp in particular, and specifically the takeover of the platform by Songtradr that had just occurred. 

On those episodes I tried to debunk some of the wilder takes that had been circulating online and drill down into the platform and wider sector to establish what's so special about it and why it provokes such strong reactions. 

On this week's episode we welcome Aly Gillani, the European Label Representative at Bandcamp, to discuss all these issues in detail and get the insider take on the whole thing.

As you might expect, this is absolutely fascinating - if you're interested in the backend workings of the independent music industry that is... 

...and of course you are!

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 Not A Diving Podcast Spotify playlist

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

The Not A Diving Podcast 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!

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What is Hardgroove anyway? It's a genre of techno isn't it? A general sort of vibe? Maybe even a music trend that has saved techno as a whole from the encroachment of the execrable nonsense that really shouldn't be included in the genre in the first place?

Well actually Hardgroove is really just Ben Sims techno. It's a term that he coined in the mid 90s and the name of a label he's been running since not too long after that. But it's also become a kind of shorthand for a wave in the music whose renewed popularity in recent years has been a something of a lifeline for a corner of the scene that had got itself into a very bad spot indeed. 

So we talk about all that in this episode, as well as what it's like to be one of the biggest techno DJs on the planet, as well as his journey from being fascinated by early hip hop, through Acid House and onto the global techno circuit that he's inhabited for a good few decades now. 

This is a great conversation with a true legend of the scene... 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 Not A Diving Podcast Spotify playlist

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

How does a record collection reach an accumulation of 70,000 pieces of vinyl? I guess it must through a single-minded commitment to searching and buying over a long period of time?

That is the story of Mr G, a life-long digger who broke through as part of one of the biggest techno acts of the 90s - The Advent - before going solo and gradually carving a niche as one of the best proponents of pure house music on the global circuit.

We are here to talk about his new album though, The Fifth Chakra, which is neither house nor techno but an excursion into soundscapes and textures whose stylistic shifts are a statement of their own.

The discussion is of course wider than just the new music however, and we talk about his early years in the English midlands, childhood trips to Jamaica, his journey as a producer and engineer, and his approach to music generally.

This is a great conversation with a true original. 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 Not A Diving Podcast Spotify playlist

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

On the show today I lay out my plans for a hypothetical stint as editor of one of the big dance music media platforms. I spend enough time shitposting these guys, so given the opportunity what would I actually do?

Spoiler alert - it would be pretty sick.

Lester Bangs profile.

Barret Brown columns.

Clive Martin in Vice.

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 Not A Diving Podcast Spotify playlist

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

Steve Hillage is a founding member of System 7, one of the key proto-trance acts of the early 90s, and Mirror System whose latest album 'Route 77' is out now.

Prior to his involvement in dance music he had an extensive career as a guitarist in bands such as Gong, Decadence (with Kevin Ayers), Khan, and Uriel, formed with the members still at school. His solo career includes records produced by Nick Mason and Todd Rundgren, and his own production career includes records with Simple Minds and The Charlatans.

Additionally, that pretty stellar CV also includes a key contribution to the representation of dance music at Glastonbury with the establishment of the dance tent in 1995.

So clearly this is a good person to have on the show. We discuss the psychedelic rock scene in the 70s, the development of music tech in the 80s, and his eventual realisation that dance music was his musical home by the time of the first System 7 record in 1990.

And of course a lot of other stuff too... including some advice from Jimi Hendrix and the connection between Underground Resistance and George Clinton.

This is a great way to start 2025, 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 Not A Diving Podcast Spotify playlist

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

Into 2025! We will be back next Tuesday with a brand new episode, but in the meantime here is a re-run of one of our absolute favourites - discussing the merits of music theory knowledge and the legacy of UK Garage... it's MJ Cole!

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 Not A Diving Podcast Spotify playlist

Follow Scuba: twitter instagram bandcamp spotify apple music beatport

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

I recorded a solo holiday special episode for this week... but we have decided that it's far too depressing to come out this week, so instead we are returning to one of our favourite ever episodes.

Originally from all the way back on episode 50, we bring you an extended interview with a very interesting guy, a great producer and DJ from the US - it's Fred P.

We talk about his roots in New York City, the different approaches to owning and distributing your own music these days, and overcoming life's challenges to reach a place where you can express yourself fully.

Have a good holiday and we'll be back on New Year's Eve!

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 Not A Diving Podcast Spotify playlist

Follow Scuba: twitter instagram bandcamp spotify apple music beatport

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

The 2024 Not A Diving Podcast Pledge Drive is now live!

Sign up to the Musicality Tier on Patreon by Monday 23 Dec and receive a Not A Diving Club t-shirt!

Thank you for your support, it makes this podcast possible.

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The last year of the show has been more squarely focused on musicians than the first two. We've talked about general issues in the industry, but the expertise has mostly been from the artist side. This week we widen the net.

Darren Hemmings is the Managing Director of Motive Unknown, a music-focused strategic marketing agency based in the UK. He's a previous Head Of Digital Marketing at PIAS and various other jobs at majors and independents across the industry. He's also the author of the Network Notes letter on Substack, in which he discusses trends and big stories in the industry.

We discuss the state of the industry today, the health of the streaming platforms and their changing approach to payment models and staffing, and the independent sector with its challenges and potential for a future breakout against the ongoing encroachment of the majors.

We also discuss a&r strategy, why dance music doesn't stream well, and the comparison between music companies and the decline of Nike.

This is a detailed excursion into the music business today... 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 Not A Diving Podcast Spotify playlist

Follow Scuba: twitter instagram bandcamp spotify apple music beatport

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

The 2024 Not A Diving Podcast Pledge Drive is now live!

Sign up to the Musicality Tier on Patreon by Monday 23 Dec and receive a Not A Diving Club t-shirt!

Thank you for your support, it makes this podcast possible.

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What happens when your DJ set bears very little resemblance to your much-loved output as a producer? And what happens when your production output doesn't seem to entirely tally with your rapturously-received turns as a DJ?

This week's guest has both of those problems, which should probably be categorised as first-world in nature. Equally loved for his high impact DJ sets and hauntingly beautiful studio output, DjRUM has over a long period established discrete reputations in both fields while successfully avoiding the beartraps offered by success in either one.

In this conversation we mostly focus on the DJ side, digging into the philosophy of big tempo jumps, turntablism, musical influences, and technology. But of course production can't escape entirely, and we cover Ai, new developments, and whether having loads of terrible music in the world can really be a positive thing.

Strap in, 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 Not A Diving Podcast Spotify playlist

Follow Scuba: twitter instagram bandcamp spotify apple music beatport

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

The 2024 Not A Diving Podcast Pledge Drive is now live!

Sign up to the Musicality Tier on Patreon by Monday 23 Dec and receive a Not A Diving Club t-shirt!

Thank you for your support, it makes this podcast possible.

---

We've had a few legends of dance music on the show, but this week we welcome our first member of the Belleville Three.

Along with Juan Atkins and Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson crested the first wave of Detroit Techno and birthed a global movement that persists to this day. Under his own name as well as a plethora of alias and groups including Inner City and E Dancer, Kevin made some of the most important tracks of any era of dance music.

So of course this is an exciting episode. We talk about the forthcoming E Dancer record, working with his son who is now a member of that group as well as Inner City, as well as getting deep into the early era as well as his breakout success with Inner City.

This is a great episode, you're going to love 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 Not A Diving Podcast Spotify playlist

Follow Scuba: twitter instagram bandcamp spotify apple music beatport

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

Back with a guest! After last week's solo pod we welcome an extremely important figure in dance music broadcasting, BBC Radio 1's Sarah Story.

Last week we talked about alternative media - of course BBC Radio is as legacy as it gets, but particularly in dance music there really isn't anything to rival Radio 1. It's notionally British public radio but the global influence is huge and the degree to which new presenters gain an instant profile hasn't really diminished.

A relatively new addition to the roster, Sarah Story and her Future Dance show is now firmly established as one of the most important cornerstones of dance music radio. So of course she's a great person to have on the show.

We dig into her journey to Radio 1, via Capital FM, seasons as a worker in Ibiza, and running the breakfast show on regional radio.

And we also get into the workings of Radio 1 shows, how playlisting works, the role of pluggers, the wider perception of the station and the BBC... and a lot more.

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 Not A Diving Podcast Spotify playlist

Follow Scuba: twitter instagram bandcamp spotify apple music beatport

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