Loud&Unfiltered

In this episode of Loud & Unfiltered, Josh Karpf sits down with rising house music artist Sian Owen for a candid conversation about breaking into the electronic music industry, finding your sound, and building a credible career in club culture from the ground up. From being scouted for The Circle and hosting a show on Flex FM, to learning to DJ during lockdown and going on to land releases on Defected’s D4 D4NCE imprint, Sian shares the real story behind her journey into house music. She opens up about the challenge of being taken seriously in the industry, why personality and relationships matter, and how she went from warm-up sets and brand gigs to becoming a full-time DJ and producer. The episode explores the craft of DJing in real depth — especially the underrated art of being a great warm-up DJ, reading a room, and building a dancefloor without chasing big moments too early. Sian also talks about the turning point when she realised house music was what she wanted to pursue fully, why some early opportunities did not align with her long-term sound, and how she is now focused on making more playable, authentic records for herself as an artist. She also breaks down the thinking behind launching Ryder Sounds, her own party brand and creative platform, designed to reflect her musical identity and champion artists she genuinely believes in. Along the way, the conversation touches on London club culture, grassroots venues, dream spaces like KOKO, the importance of keeping events rooted in the scene, and what it means to grow without losing authenticity. There is also plenty on Ibiza, including her newly announced Pacha shows, support from Sonny Fodera, her ambitions for a bigger international season, and how last year’s releases — including the viral “Bad Mama Jama” moment — helped raise her profile while also clarifying the direction she wants to take next as a producer. 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: From Reality TV to Rising House DJ” 01:39 – “Who Is Sian Owen? Moving from Hertfordshire to London” 02:40 – “From The Circle (Channel 4) to Flex FM Radio” 03:40 – “Learning to DJ During COVID: First Decks and Obsession” 04:55 – “First Gigs, Brand Work & Transition into House Music” 06:15 – “How Reality TV Found Her: Festivals, Instagram & The Circle” 09:43 – “Personality vs Looks: Playing the Plain Jane on The Circle” 13:24 – “From Influencer DJ Fears to Earning Respect in House Music” 14:55 – “The Art of the Warm-Up DJ: Reading the Room & Holding Back” 18:05 – “The Moment It Clicked: First House Festival Set at La Fiesta” 19:54 – “Finding Her Sound & Saying No to the Wrong Gigs” 20:48 – “Launching Ryder Sounds: Brand, Vision & Cowboy Aesthetic” 24:53 – “First Ryder Sounds Party: The Annex, Shoreditch & Lineup” 28:11 – “Club Culture, 77 London & Growing the Brand” 29:38 – “Pacha Ibiza & Sunny Fodera: Huge Residency Moment” 31:41 – “Signing with D4 DANCE: Studio Sessions & Perfectionism” 32:37 – “‘Bad Mamma Jamma’: Viral Success vs DJ Playability” 36:42 – “Evolving as a Producer & Making Playable DJ Tracks” 37:30 – “Upcoming Releases & Teasing New Music on TikTok” 38:18 – “Advice to Her Younger Self: Start Early, Trust the Journey” 40:06 – “Five-Year Vision: Ryder Sounds Label, Big Venues & Festivals” 41:46 – “Quick-Fire: Dancefloor Weapons, Favorite Brands & Albums” 44:41 – “Wildest Party Story (PG Version) & Closing Thoughts”

In this episode of Loud & Unfiltered, Josh Karpf sits down with two of the most recognisable figures in global nightlife and DJ culture — The Menendez Brothers. From selling out their first parties at 18 to running events, booking festivals and playing across the world, Deniz and Eniz share the real story behind their rise in the music industry — built on energy, instinct and an obsession with making people dance. Recorded live in London, this conversation dives into their journey through Ministry of Sound, Defected, Glitterbox, Fabric, Ibiza and global festival circuits, alongside the realities of building a career in nightlife and electronic music today. The episode explores how they developed their signature DJ style — rooted in versatility, crowd connection and reading the room — rather than sticking to one genre or trying to follow trends. From early days learning on vinyl to playing major stages like Glastonbury, Notting Hill Carnival and Outlook Festival, they break down what it really takes to move a dancefloor. They also share honest insight into the business side of nightlife — running events, building brands like So Fresh So Clean and Feelings, and navigating the changing landscape of London club culture post-COVID. Along the way, there are stories from across their careers — from wild festival moments and global touring to the lessons they’ve learned working with some of the biggest names and venues in the 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: 00:00 – Trailer 00:33 – Podcast Intro & Menendez Brothers Overview 02:38 – Inside Club 77: Sound System & Tech Setup 03:46 – Who Are the Menendez Brothers? Early Events & Ministry of Sound 05:51 – From Homeless Outreach to Full-Time Music Career 07:35 – First DJ Moments: Vinyl, Cheap Decks & Controlling a Dancefloor 09:28 – Genre Hopping & Mashups: Hip Hop Vocals on Drum & Bass 10:00 – Growing Up as Twins: Parents, Vinyl & Musical Education 15:00 – Leeds, Outlook Festival & The Sunshine Bus Era 16:19 – Twin Swap Chaos at Outlook & The ‘Deniz’ Cocktail 17:24 – Why Deniz & Eniz? Name Story & Twin Identity 18:10 – Ministry of Sound Golden Era & Core Crew 21:59 – Building Iconic Parties: Feelings, Dan Shake & DJ Alfredo 24:08 – State of Clubbing Post-Covid: London Nightlife & Youth Culture 25:00 – Alcohol Decline, Weed Culture & Changing Uni Nights Out 27:00 – Leaving Defected, New ANR Role & Ibiza Season with ANTS 30:00 – Skepta’s Mas Tiempo: From Grime Icon to House Party Brand 31:19 – Booking Strategy, Talent-Led Events & Temple Raves 31:49 – First Big Booking Fanboy Moments: DJ Hype & Fabric 33:10 – Embarrassing Fan Moments: Kaytranada in the Toilets 34:26 – Touring with Wu-Tang & Airport Encounter with RZA 37:39 – How the Menendez Brothers Read a Crowd & Fill Any Dancefloor 39:21 – Glastonbury, Wishing Well Stage & Rebuilding a Crowd from Zero 42:36 – So Fresh So Clean, Feelings & Their Own Party Brands 44:27 – Hip Hop Karaoke at Queen of Hoxton & Miss Dynamite Booty 46:06 – Future Plans: South of France, Family-Friendly Festivals & Ibiza 46:52 – Closing Thoughts: Community, Kindness & Supporting the Scene

For the 50th episode of Loud & Unfiltered, we step inside one of the most iconic institutions in global dance music, Ministry of Sound. Recorded live from the heart of the club, this special episode brings together the voices shaping the next era of Ministry, unpacking how a legendary brand evolves in a rapidly changing music, nightlife and cultural landscape. From underground beginnings to global dominance, Ministry of Sound has been a cornerstone of club culture for decades and now it’s entering a new chapter. For the 50th episode of Loud & Unfiltered, we step inside one of the most iconic institutions in global dance music — Ministry of Sound. Recorded live from the heart of the club, this special episode brings together the voices shaping the next era of Ministry, unpacking how a legendary brand evolves in a rapidly changing music, nightlife and cultural landscape. From underground beginnings to global dominance, Ministry of Sound has been a cornerstone of club culture for decades — and now it’s entering a new chapter. 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: 00:00 – Ministry of Sound: Career Launchpad & Industry Impact 01:15 – History of the Box: Iconic DJs & Dance Music Legacy 01:55 – Meet Matt & Joe: From Leeds, Festivals & E1 to Ministry of Sound 03:30 – Ministry of Sound at 35: Heritage, Emotion & Personal History 04:50 – Why Refurbish the Box? Reconnecting DJ & Dancefloor 05:10 – New Sound & Visual Design: Lucid, Patchwork and the Diamond Structure 06:35 – Farewell to the Stacks: Sound Testing, Anxiety & Capacity Boost 08:10 – 360 Crowd Experience: Boiler Room Influence & Multi-Level Club Design 10:50 – First Reactions: Walking into the New Box for the First Time 12:40 – First Ministry Memories: Gallery, Trance & Secret Sundays 18:40 – Building New In-House Brands & Repositioning the Club 24:40 – Marketing After the Sony Sale: From Compilations to Community 29:00 – Post-Covid Club Culture: New Venues, Occasions & London’s Ecosystem 32:10 – Why Ministry Creates Industry Leaders: Culture, Standards & Legacy 35:40 – Lohan’s Origin Stories: How Ministry Instills Brand Pride 39:25 – Where Ministry Sits in London, UK and Global Clubbing 43:55 – Reaching Gen Z: Targeting, Community & Changing Drinking Habits 47:05 – No & Low Alcohol in Clubland + Sober & Fitness Raving 51:40 – 35th Anniversary Masterplan: Refurbs, Tours, Merch & Book 54:50 – The Big 35th Birthday Weekend: October 3–5 56:00 – Office & Staff Stories: Culture, Chaos and Content Disasters 59:45 – Legendary Staff Parties & Photocopier Mayhem 1:04:10 – Will Ministry of Sound Still Exist in 35 Years? 1:06:05 – Life-Changing Clubs: Robert Johnson, Amnesia, Watergate & The End 1:07:45 – Dream Bookings in the New Box: DJ Harvey, Fatboy Slim & More 1:09:40 – Closing: Tribute to Ministry & Hype for the Future

In this episode of Loud & Unfiltered, Josh Karpf sits down with one of the music industry’s most influential behind-the-scenes figures — Rick Blaskey. A veteran of the global music business, Rick has worked with some of the biggest artists, labels and campaigns in modern music history. From shaping global marketing strategies for superstar acts to navigating the inner workings of record labels and artist management, Rick offers a rare insider’s view into how the music industry really works. Across the conversation, Rick shares stories from decades inside the business — including early campaigns for Whitney Houston, insights into artist development, the role of luck and timing in music success, and how record labels identify and build global stars. The episode explores the evolution of the music industry, the realities of artist marketing, and the complex relationship between creativity, commerce and cultural moments that shape the biggest music careers. For anyone interested in music business, artist management, record label strategy, or the history of global music marketing, this is a fascinating deep dive with one of the industry’s most experienced operators. 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: 00:00 – Trailer 00:46 – Host Intro: Rick Blaskey’s Legendary Music Career Overview 02:09 – How Rick Got Started: From Opportunity Knocks to Polygram 07:18 – Breaking Artists at Polygram: Million-Selling Records from TV 08:53 – Moving to Arista: Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin & Adult Pop 12:22 – First Week in New York: Discovering Whitney Houston in a Club 17:14 – Building Whitney Houston: Singles Strategy & Global Breakthrough 19:27 – Cracking France: Whitney Houston, Serge Gainsbourg & Viral TV Moment 28:13 – How Ghostbusters Happened: Film Meeting, Huey Lewis & Theme Song Battle 35:44 – Golden Age of Music: Why 70s–90s Artists Are Timeless 44:41 – Meeting Aretha Franklin: Detroit Supper Club & Dressing Room Piano 51:30 – Leaving Major Labels: From EMI Frustrations to The Music & Media Partnership 57:21 – Inventing Brand–Music Partnerships: Pepsi, Tina Turner & Rod Stewart 1:07:01 – Branded Compilations & Comedy Albums: Doc Martens, Milktray & Holsten Pils 1:11:49 – World in Union: Rugby World Cup Theme & Classical Crossover 1:17:48 – Creating Three Lions: How England’s Football Anthem Was Born 1:23:25 – Scotland, Missed Penalty & the Moment Three Lions Took Off 1:25:23 – From Football to World Cups: Ricky Martin, Russell Watson & Stadium Voices 1:28:35 – David Garrett & Classical Rock: Turning Violin into Pop Spectacle 1:30:32 – New Musical ‘Soul Sisters’: Aretha, Tina, Whitney & Nile Rodgers 1:35:22 – Rick’s Favourite Role: Songwriting, Bocelli & Reimagining Classics 1:39:43 – Final Reflections: Audiences, Lyrics & Why Great Songs Last

In this episode of Loud & Unfiltered, Josh Karpf sits down with one of the music industry’s most influential behind-the-scenes figures — Rick Blaskey. A veteran of the global music business, Rick has worked with some of the biggest artists, labels and campaigns in modern music history. From shaping global marketing strategies for superstar acts to navigating the inner workings of record labels and artist management, Rick offers a rare insider’s view into how the music industry really works. Across the conversation, Rick shares stories from decades inside the business — including early campaigns for Whitney Houston, insights into artist development, the role of luck and timing in music success, and how record labels identify and build global stars. The episode explores the evolution of the music industry, the realities of artist marketing, and the complex relationship between creativity, commerce and cultural moments that shape the biggest music careers. For anyone interested in music business, artist management, record label strategy, or the history of global music marketing, this is a fascinating deep dive with one of the industry’s most experienced operators. 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: 00:00 – Trailer 00:46 – Host Intro: Rick Blaskey’s Legendary Music Career Overview 02:09 – How Rick Got Started: From Opportunity Knocks to Polygram 07:18 – Breaking Artists at Polygram: Million-Selling Records from TV 08:53 – Moving to Arista: Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin & Adult Pop 12:22 – First Week in New York: Discovering Whitney Houston in a Club 17:14 – Building Whitney Houston: Singles Strategy & Global Breakthrough 19:27 – Cracking France: Whitney Houston, Serge Gainsbourg & Viral TV Moment 28:13 – How Ghostbusters Happened: Film Meeting, Huey Lewis & Theme Song Battle 35:44 – Golden Age of Music: Why 70s–90s Artists Are Timeless 44:41 – Meeting Aretha Franklin: Detroit Supper Club & Dressing Room Piano 51:30 – Leaving Major Labels: From EMI Frustrations to The Music & Media Partnership 57:21 – Inventing Brand–Music Partnerships: Pepsi, Tina Turner & Rod Stewart 1:07:01 – Branded Compilations & Comedy Albums: Doc Martens, Milktray & Holsten Pils 1:11:49 – World in Union: Rugby World Cup Theme & Classical Crossover 1:17:48 – Creating Three Lions: How England’s Football Anthem Was Born 1:23:25 – Scotland, Missed Penalty & the Moment Three Lions Took Off 1:25:23 – From Football to World Cups: Ricky Martin, Russell Watson & Stadium Voices 1:28:35 – David Garrett & Classical Rock: Turning Violin into Pop Spectacle 1:30:32 – New Musical ‘Soul Sisters’: Aretha, Tina, Whitney & Nile Rodgers 1:35:22 – Rick’s Favourite Role: Songwriting, Bocelli & Reimagining Classics 1:39:43 – Final Reflections: Audiences, Lyrics & Why Great Songs Last

In this episode of Loud & Unfiltered, Josh Karpf sits down with internationally renowned techno DJ and producer Alan Fitzpatrick to explore the realities of building a long-term career in the electronic music scene. From early beginnings in the UK underground to performing at some of the world’s biggest clubs and festivals, Alan has become one of the most respected names in modern techno and house music. Alan reflects on the evolution of the dance music industry, the pressures of international touring, and what it really takes to stay relevant in a rapidly changing global music landscape. We dive into the journey behind his releases on Drumcode, Cocoon and other iconic techno labels, his experiences playing in Ibiza and across global festival stages, and the mindset required to keep evolving as both an artist and performer. Along the way, Alan shares honest insights about the music industry — from the grind of early DJ life to the challenges of maintaining creativity while touring the world. 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 – Cartel Afterparties & Armed Police Stop in Mexico 0:31 – Intro to Loaded Unfiltered & Guest: Alan Fitzpatrick 01:35 – Tobacco Dock Drumcode Set & Early Impressions 02:16 – 10 Years of “We Do What We Want” & We Are The Brave 04:18 – Building We Are The Brave & A&R Philosophy 06:30 – Standout Releases: Scream, Sasha & Seminal Tracks 08:20 – Collaborations & New Club Track with Carl Cox 10:09 – Early Influences: Slinky, 90s Clubbing & Genre-Blending Lineups 11:48 – Escaping the ‘Techno Only’ Box & Reviving Apex Faction 13:42 – New Talent on Apex & Balancing a Heavy Release Schedule 14:17 – Family Roots: Northern Soul, Motown, Prince & Bowie 17:31 – Live Music Regrets & the Power of Seeing Legends 21:26 – Can Electronic Music Match Rock Concert Emotion? 24:02 – Alan’s Hybrid Live / DJ Shows & AV Experience 27:08 – Visual-Heavy Shows, Anima & The Las Vegas Sphere 32:32 – Tour Chaos: Police, Crimean Roadside & Cartel Parties 36:41 – Malaysia Airlines MH370 Near-Miss & Perspective on Flying 39:30 – Worst Turbulence Stories & Thinking ‘This Is It’ 42:52 – Best Crowds: Chile, Argentina, Ireland & UK Culture 44:57 – How Club Culture Has Changed in 10 Years 48:40 – Staying Relevant After 20+ Years in Electronic Music 50:14 – Upcoming Releases, Collabs & 10-Year ‘We Do What We Want’ Edition 51:10 – Quickfire Round: Clubs, Festivals, Albums & DJs 52:02 – Closing Thoughts & Outro