This week on Hard House History, Paul Glazby sits down with producer, DJ and underground dance music chameleon Jon Doe for a journey through one of the most fascinating careers to emerge from the UK's hard dance scene.
Jon's story does not follow a conventional path. From discovering energetic electronic music through artists including KLF, to buying records with money earned washing dishes as a teenager, DJing school discos and eventually sending out his first demo tapes, his obsession with music quickly became something much bigger.
The conversation takes us deep into the world of Alpha Magic, where Jon produced records at an extraordinary rate during one of the most exciting periods in hard house. He recalls working alongside names including Chris C, Billy Bunter and Madame Zu, the rise of the Mohawk releases, the beginnings of Honeypot and the sheer volume of music coming out of the studio.
Jon also explains how leaving Alpha Magic opened another chapter. Working through Infectious Distribution, producing the Chunk and Toast releases and creating faster, rave-influenced hard house for Billy Bunter eventually helped lead to D Records.
But this episode is about much more than individual releases.
Jon and Paul revisit a completely different era of dance music, when independent record shops were meeting places for DJs, producers, and promoters; demos could genuinely find their way from the counter to a record label; and scenes were built through physical records and personal connections. Jon even recalls a young Craig David visiting Movement Records before his breakthrough.
The story eventually moves into Jon's return to hardcore through CLSM, his attempts to push harder underground music into the mainstream and a career that has repeatedly crossed the boundaries between hardcore, hard house, breaks and beyond.
There are stories, tangents, forgotten records, industry madness and enough unfinished business that Paul is already talking about a Part Two.
Join the History
Hit play and join Paul Glazby and Jon Doe for a proper trip through the record shops, studios, labels and characters that helped shape UK hard dance.
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What is Hard House History?
Welcome to Hard House History, formerly known as When I Grow Up, hosted by Hard House icon Paul Glazby. This podcast dives deep into the evolution of the Hard House movement, exploring the music, the culture, and the unforgettable nights that defined an era. Join Paul as he reconnects with the DJs, producers, promoters, and fans who built the scene from the underground up. Whether you lived it or are discovering it for the first time, Hard House History is your front-row seat to the beats, stories, and energy that still move dancefloors today.