Utah Saints join Dexter Jones for a candid, funny and insightful conversation about building one of the most recognisable names in dance music with absolutely no backup plan.
From pressing their first white labels and navigating the unpredictable world of music promotion, to surviving industry changes, technological revolutions and three decades of dance music culture, this episode explores how Utah Saints turned passion, persistence and a healthy disregard for conventional career advice into a remarkable success story.
Along the way, we discuss the realities of running events, why most people completely misunderstand what makes a great DJ, and the lessons they've learned from spending 35 years at the heart of club culture.
If you love rave history, dance music, DJ culture, festival stories and honest conversations about what it really takes to survive in the music industry, this episode is packed with wisdom, humour and nostalgia.
In this episode:
▪️ Why Utah Saints never had a Plan B
▪️ The business model that would make a bank manager laugh
▪️ How they built a career that wasn't supposed to work
▪️ Surviving 35 years in the music industry
▪️ The risks and realities of running festivals and events
▪️ Why track selection is more important than technology
▪️ The art of reading a crowd and taking people on a journey
▪️ How dance music culture has evolved over three decades
▪️ The challenges facing DJs, promoters and artists today
▪️ The stories behind the Utah Saints name
▪️ Lessons learned from a lifetime in club culture
▪️ Why they're still passionate about music after all these years
Chapters 📖
00:00:00 Why Utah Saints Had NO PLAN B
00:02:15 The Brutal Reality of Running Dance Music Events
00:08:35 Why Promoters Are Taking Huge Financial Risks Today
00:16:05 From White Labels to Worldwide Success
00:18:40 How Utah Saints Accidentally Became a Global Dance Act
00:22:20 The Surprising Story Behind the Utah Saints Name
00:27:10 Leeds, Rave Culture & The Birth of UK Dance Music
00:33:05 Why Utah Saints Walked Away from the Rave Circuit
00:37:45 The Biggest Risks That Changed Their Career Forever
00:44:50 Has Technology Made DJing Easier or Better?
00:47:15 The Most Important DJ Skill Nobody Talks About
00:49:50 Sampling Kate Bush, Metallica & Dance Music Innovation
00:55:00 The Worst Technical Disasters of Their Career
01:00:00 Are Festivals Killing Nightclubs?
01:03:40 What Utah Saints Would Do Differently Starting Today
01:04:40 The Legacy of Utah Saints & 35 Years in Dance Music
