Loud&Unfiltered

1d ago

In this Inside the Industry edition of Loud & Unfiltered, we sits down with one of the most respected forces behind global club culture and festival programming: Jenni Cochrane. From selling tickets at Café Mambo, to programming the world’s biggest stages, to navigating political crises with EXIT Festival, Jenni’s 30-year journey in music is wild, unpredictable and packed with lessons for anyone building a career in nightlife, events or artist bookings. Jenni shares how she fell into the industry by accident, rose through the ranks in Ibiza during the late-90s hedonistic era, learned the craft at Renaissance and Ministry of Sound, booked global superstars long before they were household names, and eventually became the programmer for EXIT Festival’s mainstage - a bucket-list festival for artists around the world. This conversation goes deep into what the booking world really looks like: navigating agents, fee inflation, TikTok-driven breakout acts, political instability affecting festivals, and the pressure to build gender-balanced line-ups without compromising artistic or commercial integrity. Jenni also opens up about her wellbeing work through GetAhead, her experience working in Saudi Arabia with Middle Beast, and the evolving role of women in the global music industry. Subscribe to Loud&Unfiltered for more unfiltered conversations with music industry leaders, innovators, and cultural entrepreneurs and connect with us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jukeboxpr/ Key Moments: 0:00 – Introduction and Industry Background: From Clubbing in Glasgow to Ibiza 02:17 – From Fashion to Music: How Jenny Cochrane Entered the Industry 05:00 – Climbing the Ranks: Early Roles in Promotions and Renaissance 06:50 – Ibiza’s Golden Era: Legendary Clubs and Networking 09:10 – Breaking into London: Ministry of Sound, PR, and Booking 11:38 – Building Global Brands: Ministry of Sound’s Expansion and Team Growth 13:32 – Booking Superstar DJs: From Steve Angello to Calvin Harris 15:30 – Career Milestones: Major Gigs, The O2 Arena, and Festival Takeovers 20:39 – Going International: Booking in London, The Middle East, and the Balkans 21:25 – EXIT Festival: Booking Main Stage Acts, Genre Diversity, and Programming 25:00 – Saudi Arabia & Middle Beast: Market Evolution and Social Impact 41:31 – Gender Equality in the Music Industry: Mentorship and Representation 45:00 – Booking Headliners and Diversity: Challenges and Strategies 50:54 – Personal Stories: Fun with Artists Like Wu-Tang Clan and Skrillex 55:00 – The Reality of Booking: Processes, Crisis Management, and Hard Work 1:03:29 – Get Ahead and Mental Health: Wellbeing Initiatives in the Music Industry 1:09:10 – Work-Life Balance: Parenting, Career, and Advice for Women in Music 1:12:37 – Quickfire Questions: Dream Bookings and Career Highlights

3d ago

In this new series of Loud&Unfiltered, Inside The Industry, we have Jacob, better known online as Jakkob, who has lived one of the wildest, most unlikely journeys in UK club culture. From burning CDs on Numarks in his teens, to blagging his way into his first warm-up gig, to accidentally becoming the UK’s biggest “SeshTok” personality, to now selling out shows, releasing on major labels and having the biggest DJs in the world play his tracks… the story is outrageous, relatable, and full of proper rave folklore. In this unfiltered conversation, Alex and Josh dive deep into how Jacob built an audience of over one million followers, the moment he became “the Smash Guy”, why some venues refused to book him because of his comedy style, how he balances humour with credibility, and how he’s now carving out a serious path as a DJ and producer. Across the episode, Jacob speaks candidly about building community, getting taken seriously in the scene, content strategies, viral format creation, behind-the-scenes festival stories, insane afterparty invitations, playing Ibiza Rocks all summer, releasing on respected labels, getting support from huge names like Baker, Siragusa, Rossi, and why seeing your own tune go off in a club is still the biggest buzz on earth. Subscribe to Loud&Unfiltered for more unfiltered conversations with music industry leaders, innovators, and cultural entrepreneurs and connect with us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jukeboxpr/ Key Moments: 0:00 – Guest introduction, discussion about origin of the DJ name “Jakkob,” branding, and anecdotes about alternative nicknames. 02:00 – Early DJ Beginnings & First Gigs 6:00 – Touring with Regression Sessions & Unique Nightlife Stories 08:30 – Social Media & Viral TikTok Content Creation, “Smash Guy” persona, and strategies for viral music content. 10:15 – Navigating Comedy, Branding Risks & Club Bookings 13:00 – Best man experience at an Indian wedding, family reactions to career milestones, and the role of parents in supporting a creative journey. 16:20 – From DJ to Label Owner: Kitchen Club Records 18:50 – High-Profile Remixes & Streaming Success 20:50 – Changing Perceptions & Building a Community 22:20 – The Importance of Community & Sold Out Shows 23:40 – Afterparty Culture & Wild Tour Stories 26:45 – Gigs Abroad & Family Moments 29:00 – Industry Friends & Festival Highlights 31:40 – The DJ Rider, Promoter Tales & Funny Interactions 34:00 – Ibiza Adventures & International Gig Life 41:20 – Label Releases & Track Sampling Process 45:20 – Reflections, Fan Support & What’s Next

Dec 11

In this episode, Alex sits down with Nikki Gordon and Tom Ranger: from Ministry of Sound and Oval Space to now their biggest project yet - Eutopia, a multi-space venue in Barking. Across nearly two decades, they’ve booked everyone from Weatherall and Harvey to Dixon, Tom Yorke, Nile Rodgers, Max Dean, and the new wave of collectives reshaping the scene. They’ve lived the Wild West years of London clubland, seen the era of monster DJ fees take over, handled artist chaos, navigated industry politics, launched festivals, survived takeover attempts, and rebuilt from scratch — all while carving out careers that defined entire eras of dance music. This episode goes deep into: • How Eutopia was built from a literal construction site into an industrial mega-venue • What today’s clubbers want (and why headliners matter less than ever) • The new era of queer collectives, community-led brands, and DIY promoters • Why big venues are moving East — and what it means for London • Insane promoter war stories you won’t hear anywhere else • Nikki’s powerful story of cancer diagnosis, sobriety and returning to the scene stronger Subscribe to Loud&Unfiltered for more unfiltered conversations with music industry leaders, innovators, and cultural entrepreneurs and connect with us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jukeboxpr/ Key Moments: 0:00 – Opening Stories & Podcast Welcome 0:31 – Introduction to Nikki & Tom: Early Careers and First Collaborations 01:44 – Tom’s Journey: Breaking Into Music PR and Club Promotion 05:22 – Nikki’s Beginnings: Throwing Parties and Building Reputation 08:08 – Booking Breakthroughs: The Power of Spotting Future Hits 11:10 – Reflections on London Venue Culture: Wild West Days & Growth 16:08 – Learning On The Job: Lessons in Club Management 18:22 – The Birth of Eutopia: Founding Stories, Team-Up, and Venue Build Process 22:25 – Location Strategy: Why Barking? Navigating London’s Changing Club Landscape 24:25 – Eutopia’s Unique Selling Points: Design, Production, and the Visitor Experience 26:32 – Launching and Promoting Eutopia: Community Reception & Upcoming Events 30:39 – Eutopia’s Place in Today’s Scene: Grassroots Spirit vs. Corporate Clubs 33:46 – The Changing Face of Clubbing: How the Scene Has Evolved 35:01 – The Rise of Communities and Collectives in London Nightlife 37:28 – Wild Stories & Industry Challenges: From Festivals to Business Betrayals 41:09 – Balancing Creativity and Commerce: Artist Booking and Club Marketing 47:25 – Personal Resilience: Nikki’s Story of Cancer & Transformation 53:05 – Favourite Bookings and Industry Legends: Iconic Artists and Moments 1:00:17 – Eutopia in 2026 and Beyond: Vision for the Future 1:01:47 – Why Experience Eutopia: What Sets The Club Apart 1:06:10 – Memorable DJ and Club Stories: Behind the Scenes Anecdotes

Dec 4

In this Inside London episode of Loud&Unfiltered, Alex Jukes sits down with DJ programmer, event builder and long-standing heartbeat of Sunday’s at Fabric, Jacob Husley. This is a conversation about more than DJ bookings. It’s about scene DNA. From feeding crowds out of Brick Lane, to merging minimal heads with Club Kids, to co-founding a movement-style Sunday party that eventually landed a 17-year home at fabric, Jacob walks us through the moments London couldn’t package into a press release if it tried. They get into: The evolution of the Sunday rave culture scene Partying in The Shard and Museum Of London 80+ year-old couple flying from Poland to visit Fabric Building nights that are free, meaningful, multi-cultural, community-led The importance of having a loyal team around you From promoting at Fabric, to running restaurants Subscribe to Loud&Unfiltered for more unfiltered conversations with music industry leaders, innovators, and cultural entrepreneurs and connect with us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jukeboxpr/ KEY MOMENTS: 0:00 – Introduction 01:16 – Jacob’s History with Fabric and “Wet Yourself” 04:10 – Building London’s Sunday Club Scene 08:48 – From Local Success to Fabric Residency 15:32 – Modernising & Adapting Sunday Parties 19:00 – “Come As You Are” Relaunch & Free Tickets Model 23:37 – The Viral Story of the Elderly Polish Couple 30:03 – Expanding Fabric’s Brand: World Tours & Unique Venues 43:21 – Fabric’s Enduring Community and Legacy 50:13 – Gastronomy Meets Music: Jacob’s Restaurant Ventures 55:22 – The State of London’s Nightlife 59:04 – Favourite Clubs Worldwide & Standout Bookings

Dec 2

In this episode of Loud&Unfiltered, Inside London, Alex Jukes catches up with promoter, festival gambler, pub-rave architect, and general scene instigator Rob Star. Rob takes it from the beginning: first raves at Fantasia events at Castle Donington, Leicestershire, UK, and why he built his own path outside clubs, outside social media, outside the predictable. Expect: The rise of London’s illegal rave and squat-party culture Moving 10,000+ people without a venue or a licence How Rob used temporary event notices before it was the norm Fabric London politics, DJ booking blocks, and ego-free alliances Community over trending audio Why festivals are a professional gamble, and promoters are the house’s biggest punters How his pub at the time accidentally became a rave venue because he couldn’t afford furniture From Shoreditch warehouses to rave pubs, to festivals like Eastern Electrics, Rob lives the ethos of building culture from the ground up, keeping it loud, honest and impact-driven, without falling into the hype vortex. Subscribe to Loud&Unfiltered for more unfiltered conversations with music industry leaders, innovators, and cultural entrepreneurs and connect with us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jukeboxpr/ Key Moments: 0:00 – Introduction & Early Rave Culture 04:19 – Building a Party Brand: Early Promoting & The Birth of Mullet Over 07:13 – The Warehouse Revolution & London’s Underground Scene How London’s party landscape shifted, finding warehouse spaces, and the intersection with squatters and illegal raves. 14:25 – Legalizing the Underground: The Power of Temporary Event Notices (TENs) 19:19 – Growing a Scene: Music Programming, Community, and Competition 25:02 – Reinventing the London Pub: From Nightlife to Hospitality The decision to open Star Bethnal Green, evolving pub culture, and adapting for modern audiences. 34:12 – Eastern Electrics: From Warehouse Party to Iconic Festival Origins, early struggles, and the unique ethos behind building the Eastern Electrics Festival. 39:32 – Stories of memorable campaigns, viral videos, and creative festival promotions. 46:21 – How lineup curation changed, community connection, and the festival's evolution post-pandemic pause. 50:17 – Diversifying: Restaurants & Future Hospitality Ventures Launching a restaurant, challenges in the food industry, and plans for a new multi-purpose venue. 54:32 – Rob Star’s picks for best restaurants, bars, and clubs in London. 56:44 – Final thoughts on passion in business, future ambitions, and gratitude for collaborations.

Nov 25

In this unfiltered Loud&Unfiltered episode, Alex Jukes sits down with Dutch & Graft - better known as The Manor - to talk all things South London, music, and madness. From early days freestyling in Bromley pubs to performing alongside The Streets and planning new headline shows, this conversation is packed with raw honesty, chaotic stories, and genuine creative insight. The duo break down their journey from pirate-radio inspired rap on house beats, their relationship with Defected Records, the wild reality of filming in Ibiza, and how Paul Weller became an unlikely mentor. Expect talk of independence vs major labels, the cost of staying creative, viral freestyles, and how they’re building their own movement with a loyal South London community behind them. What You’ll Hear: How The Manor built a cult following across South London Why independence matters more than ever in 2025 How to blend rap, house, and storytelling authentically Behind-the-scenes of their Ibiza video and touring with The Streets Lessons on community, culture, and staying grounded in the music industry Subscribe to Loud&Unfiltered for more unfiltered conversations with music industry leaders, innovators, and cultural entrepreneurs and connect with us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jukeboxpr/ Key Moments: 0:00 – South London Roots: Music, Community & Artist Origins 02:50 – Musical Style & Early Success: South London Influence and Genre Fusion 06:00 – Creative Process & Collaboration: How Dutch & Graft Make Magic 09:49 – Overcoming Challenges in the Music Industry & Going Independent 15:16 – Memorable Ibiza Adventures & Behind the Scenes of Hit Tracks 21:31 – Live Performances & Touring: Energy, Fans & Unforgettable Gigs 29:28 – Collaborations & Career Milestones: Working with Paul Weller 35:09 – Building Community: Event Planning and Fostering Local Fanbase 41:17 – Quickfire Questions: Favorite Clubs, Takeaways, Artists & Annoyances 46:05 – Passion, Staying Power & What’s Next for Dutch & Graft

Nov 18

In this Inside London edition of Loud & Unfiltered, we sit down with Mak 10 - DJ, producer, and member of the legendary Nasty Crew to talk about how grime culture was born from the streets, pirate radio, and pure rebellion. From early drum & bass and garage roots to the explosive rise of grime MCs like Dizzee Rascal, D Double E, and Kano, Mak 10 takes us deep into the origins of a genre that reshaped UK music forever. He shares untold stories of Deja Vu FM, rival crews like Roll Deep, and the DIY spirit that drove a generation to create their own sound when no one would play them on legal radio. Mak 10 also reveals the story behind his viral series The Essence, why his Dizzee Rascal rooftop session broke the internet, and how he accidentally reunited Dizzee and Wiley for the first time in years. What You’ll Learn: How pirate radio shaped London’s underground music scene The rise of Nasty Crew and the rivalry with Roll Deep Why grime was born from garage, rebellion, and youth culture How Mak 10 pioneered content creation through The Essence series The story behind Dizzee Rascal and Wiley’s viral reunion How streaming and social media transformed the grime scene The next wave of grime, hybrid genres, and UK club innovation Subscribe to Loud&Unfiltered for more unfiltered conversations with music industry leaders, innovators, and cultural entrepreneurs and connect with us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jukeboxpr/ Key Moments: 0:00 Introduction: Mak 10’s Journey in Grime and Garage 01:09 Mak 10’s Early Influences: From Drum & Bass to Grime 02:42 Garage to Grime: Cultural and Generational Shifts 03:31 The Power of Pirate Radio in London’s Grime Scene 04:42 Going Mainstream: Pirate Radio to Legal Stations and Streaming 05:13 The Nasty Crew Era: Growth, Rivalries, and Roll Deep 07:22 Memorable Sets and Viral Grime Moments: Deja Vu and Beyond 08:35 DIY Spirit: Pirate Radio Attitude and Innovation 09:08 Behind the Scenes: Booking Grime and Drum & Bass Events 11:41 Grime Goes Mainstream: Roots, Growth, and Authenticity 13:16 Legendary Collaborations: Nasty Crew’s Lasting Influence 14:43 Passing the Torch: New Producers and Grime’s Evolution 15:06 The Essence Series: Creative Content and Streaming Innovations 16:56 Content Creation: Live Streaming vs. Pre-Recording in Grime 17:46 Favourite Guests: Dizzee Rascal, Viral Moments, and Rooftop Sessions 19:51 Off-the-Cuff Creativity and Viral Content Stories 23:41 Grime Meets Drum & Bass: Genre Crossovers and Scene Evolution 26:08 Iconic Collaborations: The Dizzee & Wiley Reunion Story 28:47 Dream Ciphers: Mak 10’s Ideal Grime and International Lineups 30:35 Social Media Strategy: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Monetization 32:02 Pushing Boundaries: Creative Aspirations and Future Goals 33:18 Full Takeover: Ministry of Sound Multi-Genre Event Recap 35:42 Musical Diversity: Embracing Multiple Genres in Live Sets 36:44 Creative Drive: Staying Motivated and Innovative in Music 37:53 Building Legacy: Influence, Inspiration, and Advice for the Next Generation 40:32 What’s Next: New Music, Label Projects, and Fashion Brand Launch 41:47 The Future of Grime: Outlook, Global Reach, and Legacy

Nov 11

In this ADE special of Loud & Unfiltered, Doc Martin sits down with Alex Jukes and Grego O’Halloran for an unfiltered conversation about the evolution of house music, club culture, and staying true to the craft over three decades. A true pioneer of US underground house, Doc reflects on his journey from 1980s record shops in California to Fabric London residencies, Back to Basics, and DC10 Ibiza. He shares stories from touring with legends like Terry Farley, Andrew Weatherall, and DJ Harvey, the rise of the UK scene, and why he’s still excited about music after 30 years behind the decks. From the diesel truck raves of Leeds to Fabric’s iconic mix series, Doc opens up about building community, working with new artists, and how to keep music real in a social media world. This episode is a rare insight into the mindset of a DJ’s DJ - a storyteller, mentor, and lifelong advocate for underground music. What You’ll Hear: The early days of Doc Martin’s career and record store culture His time as a Fabric London resident and creating the Fabric 10 mix CD Wild stories from Back to Basics, Cream, and DC10 Ibiza The UK vs US club scene and what makes each unique Why vinyl culture still matters in a digital world His thoughts on social media and DJ authenticity How to stay passionate and relevant after 30+ years in music The next wave of underground artists shaping the global scene Subscribe to Loud&Unfiltered for more unfiltered conversations with music industry leaders, innovators, and cultural entrepreneurs and connect with us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jukeboxpr/ Key Moments: 0:00 - Introduction & Doc Martin’s Veteran DJ Insights 00:33 - Welcome to the Podcast: Show Format and ADE Context 01:17 - Doc Martin’s ADE Experience & Amsterdam DJ Scene 04:03 - Doc Martin’s Early UK Touring Stories 06:31 - Playing Iconic UK Cities: Cream, Ministry of Sound, Back to Basics 08:30 - Residency at Fabric London & Life in the UK 09:21 - UK Music Scene Influence on US House Music 11:09 - Doc Martin’s Signature Festival Gigs and Fabric Memories 12:19 - Adapting to Today’s House Music Scene & Connecting with New Generations 15:19 - Comparing UK and US Crowds: Differences and Energy 17:26 - The Evolution of Dance Music: Classics, Tech House, and New Talent 21:57 - Mixing Methods: Live Sets vs. Computer Mixes and Studio Life 23:19 - Releasing New Music and Supporting Up-and-Coming Artists 25:51 - Social Media in DJ Culture: Promotion and Authentic Connections 27:08 - Giving Opportunities to Young DJs: Label and Mentorship 29:03 - ADE: Networking, Meetings, and The Business Side of DJing 30:38 - Record Store and Club Culture: The Heartbeat of the Scene 32:23 - Early Days in Ibiza & Building Lasting Musical Friendships 34:28 - Advice for Young DJs: Staying True and Showing Personality 35:46 - Favorite Clubs: Amsterdam’s Trouw and Club Culture Reflections