Loud&Unfiltered

In this powerful and unfiltered episode of Loud & Unfiltered, host AJosh Karpf sits down with Sam Divine, one of the most influential figures in UK dance music, for an honest conversation about longevity, reinvention, sobriety, and the future of the club scene.

With a career spanning over 25 years, Sam opens up about the realities of life on the road, burning out in an industry built on excess, and why choosing sobriety became a turning point not just personally, but creatively. From sleeping in her car for early gigs to headlining global festivals, this episode traces the full arc of a modern dance music career without filters.

Sam also dives deep into the launch of 555, her new label, tour and cultural movement built around grassroots venues, affordability, and artist freedom. She explains why five-hour sets, £5 tickets, and supporting emerging DJs are essential to preserving club culture — and why now is the moment to go back to the beginning.

The conversation also explores female representation in dance music, the pressure of social media, the myth of overnight success, and why authenticity matters more than ever in an algorithm-driven 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 – Welcome to LOUD & Unfiltered + Sam Divine Intro
01:32 – Life on Tour, Time Off & Miami Music Week Plans
02:13 – Shutting Down a Brooklyn Block with Joe’s Pizza Set
03:29 – Asia Tour, Burnout & Learning to Pace Herself
04:34 – One Year Clean & Sober: The Reality of a Sober DJ Rider
06:57 – What Is 555? The Story Behind the Angel Number Brand
07:28 – 555 UK Grassroots Tour: Cities, Venues & £5 Tickets
09:14 – Saving Grassroots Clubs & The Lost Art of the Warm-Up Set
11:15 – Five-Hour Sets & Relearning How to Play All Night Long
16:34 – From Divine Sounds to 555 Records: A New Label Era
21:39 – Meet Nessie: Building a New Wave of 555 Artists
22:39 – Championing Female DJs & Diversity on Lineups
28:33 – Hard House Beginnings, Soulful House Pivot & Defected Breakthrough
32:09 – Writing From Pain: Divorce, Rehab & ‘Scars’
38:04 – What’s Next: Ibiza, Croatia, 555 Expansion & New Artists
41:33 – Quickfire: Club, Albums & Influences That Shaped Sam Divine
43:21 – Playing After Kerri Chandler & Her All-Time DJ Hero
44:10 – Hot Artists to Watch: Nessie, Alisha, Olive F, Arielle Free
45:20 – Closing Thoughts: Gratitude, Sobriety & 555 Mission

In this episode of Loud & Unfiltered, we sit down with Phil Sales, one of the most respected figures in global electronic music management. From postering in Ibiza and flyering club nights to running Saturday programming at Ministry of Sound, Phil’s journey is a masterclass in earning your stripes — and understanding how the industry really works.

Phil shares his path from grassroots promotion to managing world-class artists including Sasha, Mark Knight, Sonny Fodera, Frankie Wah and others, before becoming a key partner at Three Six Zero Management, one of the most influential management companies in the world. Along the way, he breaks down what a music manager actually does, how artist strategy is built, and why long-term thinking always beats short-term money grabs.

The conversation dives deep into Ibiza residencies, why some artists burn out, how managers protect an artist’s status, the realities of working with agents and promoters, and why focusing on fundamentals will always matter more than chasing tech trends. Phil also reflects on unforgettable moments from Ministry of Sound, touring at the highest level, and why authenticity still wins in dance music.

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 – Intro & Guest Bio
01:53 – Ibiza 2000: Poster Boys & First Season in Dance Music
03:23 – Ultra Vegas, Godskitchen & Quitting Commission-Only Promo
07:22 – Breaking Into Ministry of Sound
10:42 – Ministry as an Industry “Academy” & Alumni
12:18 – Superclub Era: Rebranding Saturday Nights at Ministry
15:08 – Transition Into Artist Management & First Client Mark Knight
17:02 – What Does a Music Manager Actually Do?
18:06 – Best Part of the Job: Touring, Live Shows & Seeing Plans Pay Off
19:52 – Long-Term Strategy: Planning Artist Careers to 2028
23:06 – Managing Legends: Repositioning Sasha for a New Generation
26:30 – Picking Gigs: Money vs Long-Term Brand & The Fatboy Slim “Checklist”
28:55 – Why Artists Change Managers & When You Should Get One
30:17 – Advice for Emerging Artists on Management & Work Ethic
31:52 – Discovering New Acts: Agent Tips, Triple ism & Breakout Records
32:07 – How Do Music Managers Get Paid?
34:43 – Tech, VR, AI & Why Fundamentals Still Matter Most
36:59 – Joining Three Six Zero: Structure and Collective Leverage
40:38 – Ibiza Residencies: Sunny Fodera at Pacha & Frankie Wah at Club Chinois
46:01 – Attention to Detail: Club Standards, Postering & Reading a Room
46:52 – Skills of a Great Manager: Communication, Authenticity & Not Being an Asshole
49:30 – The P Diddy Story: Standing Your Ground at Ministry of Sound
52:16 – Quickfire: Club, Record & DJ That Changed Phil’s Life
55:29 – Best Club in the World Right Now
57:02 – Who to Watch Next: Indo Warehouse & South Asian Dance Music

In this episode of Loud & Unfiltered, Josh sits down with Johnno Burgess, co-founder of Bugged Out and one of the most influential tastemakers in British club culture. From producing the legendary Jockey Slut fanzine in early-90s Manchester to launching Bugged Out at Sankeys, booking Daft Punk unmasked, supporting The Chemical Brothers from their earliest DJ sets, and building one of the most enduring club and festival brands in the world — this is electronic music history told by someone who was there.

Johnno shares unheard stories from the golden era of clubbing: Daft Punk DJing for expenses, Thomas Bangalter playing live before global fame, hearing Roger Sanchez’s Another Chance for the first time in the booth, and how Bugged Out became a gathering point for techno heads, students, LGBTQ+ ravers and future industry leaders alike.

The conversation traces Bugged Out’s evolution from underground Manchester nights to Liverpool superclubs, Fabric residencies, electroclash moments, and the rebirth of the Bugged Out Weekender, now celebrating over 30 years as a cultural institution. Along the way, Johnno reflects on community, musical cycles, the power of instinct over hype, and why underground culture continues to matter more than ever.

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 – Iconic DJ Booth Memories & Roger Sanchez’s “Another Chance”
0:33 – Origins: Johnno Burgess, Jockey Slut, and the Manchester Scene
04:36 – How “Jockey Slut” Shaped Club Culture
07:00 – Daft Punk’s First Interviews, Early Connections, and Club Evolution
10:08 – Fanzines, Magazines, and Launching Bugged Out
13:58 – Growing a Dance Community and Sound Evolution (Techno, House)
18:03 – Liverpool: Moving to larger venues, booking legendary DJs like Daft Punk and Fatboy Slim, and achieving mainstream recognition.
24:14 – Electroclash, New Sounds, and Shaping Music Trends
27:28 – Bugged Out at Fabric and London’s Club Scene
30:36 – Launching the Weekender: Festival Culture & New Generations
38:54 – Adaptation and Longevity: The Secret to 30 Years of Bugged Out
41:44 – Legendary Moments: Daft Punk, Thomas Bangalter, and Clubland Stories
44:34 – Influence and Inspiration: Bugged Out’s Place in UK Club History
45:44 – The Future of Bugged Out: Weekender 2026 & New Horizons
47:13 – Print, Publishing, and Preserving Club Memories
49:44 – Legacy Reflections and Continuing the Journey

In this episode of Loud & Unfiltered, we sit down with Quentin Chambers, one of the UK’s original acid house promoters and a central figure behind some of the most legendary illegal raves of the late 80s and early 90s. From warehouse parties and motorway shutdowns to evading police surveillance, fake decoy convoys and 25,000-strong outdoor raves, Quentin shares the unfiltered truth about how the UK rave scene was really built.

The conversation traces the rise of Energy, the infamous M25 raves, moral panic headlines, arrests, police infiltration and how early acid house events broke down barriers of class, race and culture. Quentin also reflects on why those moments can never be recreated, how underground culture continues to evolve, and what today’s promoters can still learn from the chaos and creativity of that era.

Beyond raves, the episode explores Quentin’s later work as a DJ, producer, music tech pioneer and his role in early digital radio, online music platforms and the relaunch of OpenLab, founded by the late Robert Miles.

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 & Podcast Overview
01:05 – Guest Introduction: Quentin Chambers, UK’s OG Rave Promoter
02:19 – Early Musical Influences and Discovery of Electro
03:28 – The Birth of Acid House & London’s Club Culture Shift
06:24 – The Acid House Explosion: Community and Social Barriers Broken
10:11 – From Dancefloor to Event Promoter
12:40 – Organising Massive Raves: Logistics, Sound, and Police Evasion
19:22 – Ticketing, Promotion, and Party Operations
22:12 – Police, Law Evasion Tactics, and Decoy Trucks
28:22 – Health, Safety, and Law: Production and Party Experiences
29:09 – Media Sensation, Public Perception & Moral Panic
35:04 – Legalisation of Raves and Venue Evolution
44:39 – DJ, Producer, Groove Tech & The Dawn of Online Radio
49:46 – Open Lab and Honouring Robert Miles’ Legacy
00:53:34 – Expanding Open Lab: Future Plans & Growth
54:36 – Quickfire Q&A: Influential Clubs, Records, DJs
58:07 – Closing Thoughts & Final Reflections

In this episode of Loud & Unfiltered, Josh sits down with Johnno Burgess, co-founder of Bugged Out and one of the most influential tastemakers in British club culture. From producing the legendary Jockey Slut fanzine in early-90s Manchester to launching Bugged Out at Sankeys, booking Daft Punk unmasked, supporting The Chemical Brothers from their earliest DJ sets, and building one of the most enduring club and festival brands in the world — this is electronic music history told by someone who was there.

Johnno shares unheard stories from the golden era of clubbing: Daft Punk DJing for expenses, Thomas Bangalter playing live before global fame, hearing Roger Sanchez’s Another Chance for the first time in the booth, and how Bugged Out became a gathering point for techno heads, students, LGBTQ+ ravers and future industry leaders alike.

The conversation traces Bugged Out’s evolution from underground Manchester nights to Liverpool superclubs, Fabric residencies, electroclash moments, and the rebirth of the Bugged Out Weekender, now celebrating over 30 years as a cultural institution. Along the way, Johnno reflects on community, musical cycles, the power of instinct over hype, and why underground culture continues to matter more than ever.

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 – Iconic DJ Booth Memories & Roger Sanchez’s “Another Chance”
0:33 – Origins: Johnno Burgess, Jockey Slut, and the Manchester Scene
04:36 – How “Jockey Slut” Shaped Club Culture
07:00 – Daft Punk’s First Interviews, Early Connections, and Club Evolution
10:08 – Fanzines, Magazines, and Launching Bugged Out
13:58 – Growing a Dance Community and Sound Evolution (Techno, House)
18:03 – Liverpool: Moving to larger venues, booking legendary DJs like Daft Punk and Fatboy Slim, and achieving mainstream recognition.
24:14 – Electroclash, New Sounds, and Shaping Music Trends
27:28 – Bugged Out at Fabric and London’s Club Scene
30:36 – Launching the Weekender: Festival Culture & New Generations
38:54 – Adaptation and Longevity: The Secret to 30 Years of Bugged Out
41:44 – Legendary Moments: Daft Punk, Thomas Bangalter, and Clubland Stories
44:34 – Influence and Inspiration: Bugged Out’s Place in UK Club History
45:44 – The Future of Bugged Out: Weekender 2026 & New Horizons
47:13 – Print, Publishing, and Preserving Club Memories
49:44 – Legacy Reflections and Continuing the Journey