Rephonic
Artwork for How To DJ
Djing
Electronic Music
Ibiza
Acid House
Dance Music
Music
Manchester
Drum and Bass
Music Production
Live Music
DJ Culture
Mental Health
New Order
K-Klass
Groove Armada
Graham Massey
House Music
808 State
Music Industry
Rhythm Is a Mystery

From club to radio and every other music DJ in between; Chris warms up his guests before asking them to pick a set of 5 questions from a box of 45. There are anecdotes aplenty, essential do's & don'ts, as well as gear recommendations, PLUS there's always an apocalyptic set closer too!

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes144Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music InterviewsMusic

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for How To DJ

Latest Episodes

This previously unreleased episode of How To DJ is released in loving memory of William Orbit.

Recorded after William had returned from seeing Madonna perform in Paris, this wide-ranging conversation captures the Grammy-winning producer, musician an... more

In this episode, Chris Hawkins sits down with hard dance pioneer Rob Tissera to look back on more than 35 years behind the decks. Rob recalls arriving in Manchester at the height of the acid house explosion, practising in a tiny room in Chinatown and... more

Chris Hawkins sits down with one of the UK's most influential musical curators, DJs and record collectors for a conversation that goes far beyond the dancefloor, Andy Votel.

From building homemade DJ setups powered by Hornby train controllers to dis... more

Luke Una has spent four decades at the heart of Manchester's underground music scene.

In this episode, the co-founder of Electric Chair and founder of Homoelectric and Homobloc looks back on the clubs, record shops and communities that shaped him, f... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Andy Votel
DJ, founder of Twisted Nerve and Finders Keepers, graphic designer and label curator
Twisted Nerve, Finders Keepers
Episode: Andy Votel
Luke Una
DJ and founder of Homoelectric/Homoelectric, Electric Chair, Electric Elephant
DJ/Promoter/Entrepreneur
Episode: Luke Una
Tommy Smith
DJ and organizer who helped build the Blackburn rave scene
Independent scene facilitator
Episode: Tommy Smith
Graeme Park
DJ, Hacienda veteran, Hacienda Classical collaborator
Hacienda, Hacienda Classical
Episode: Graeme Park
Phil Kieran
DJ, producer, and film composer
Independent artist/producer
Episode: Phil Kieran
Brett Yules
Louis La Roche, house and disco producer, remixer and DJ
Louis La Roche project
Episode: Louis La Roche
Armand Jacobson
DJ Seinfeld, lo-fi house producer
Episode: DJ Seinfeld
Chris Hawkins
DJ, presenter, interviewer
Episode: HOW TO GIG: Chris Hawkins
Mike Pickering
Club pioneer, A&R at Factory, later M People and Deconstruction
Manchester music scene / Haçienda / Factory Records / M People / Deconstruction
Episode: Mike Pickering

Host

Chris Hawkins
DJ, presenter and interviewer with long-standing experience in live music and dance scenes; known for guiding conversations, sharing anecdotes, and conducting 5-question rapid-fire segments.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 129 ratings
  • Almost great

    Love listening to the life and experiences of DJs. Chris as the host is spot on. Show is only marred by the infomercial that takes up too much of the conversation.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    HowlingTerror
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Listening Dog(‘s Dinner) Media of a podcast.

    What a weird podcast. The guest generally are good. Some of their answers are interesting. However it’s ridiculously corporate. The product placement ad from Flare audio is the most cringe thing you will ever hear. Clearly noone cares about the “ear trumpets” they are flogging. Embarrassing. Despite sounding like the most BBC radio presenter you can ever imagine, the audio is terribly balanced with the hosts mic frequently far too quiet. Also, the host is a rock DJ and heems totally out of place... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    firefighter us
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Incredible!

    Can’t believe I’ve just found this, what a podcast! Had to leave a review after listening to my first show -

    Fabio & Grooverider. There hasn’t been any podcast since ‘Gilles Petersons Worldwide Podcast’ that really hits the mark. Well done Chris Hawkins!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Garvey1972
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Always great listening!

    Addicted to this podcast series. Always a great range of guests and love hearing about how they became the DJs they are today and all their anecdotes and DJ tips. Definitely recommend!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    James G234
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Fantastic

    An absolute pleasure listening to the Utah Saints pod. The Utah’s are obviously top fellas with countless tales of their antics over the years… and the Hawk doing his usual great stuff in bringing it all together. Great stuff.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mik.e.
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are varied and the conversations feel authentic and music-focused.
Some listeners note promotional segments and audio balance could be improved.
Consistently engaging with a mix of historical context and modern perspectives.
Hosts bring insightful, behind-the-scenes storytelling and strong guest curation.
The show is recommended for true fans of dance music and DJ culture.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#2
United Kingdom/Music/Music Interviews
Apple Podcasts
#25
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#32
Germany/Music/Music Interviews
Apple Podcasts
#53
Australia/Music/Music Interviews
Apple Podcasts
#183
Australia/Music
Apple Podcasts
#229
Germany/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Andy Votel
Q: What were the early gigs like in Manchester and how did those environments shape your approach?
He describes early Manchester gigs as pivotal in expanding his networks and shaping his improvisational approach, highlighting venues like Dry Bar and Night and Day, and noting how these spaces fostered collaborations and a DIY, experimental ethos that informed later label work.
Andy Votel
Q: So which came first for you, Andy? Was it being a DJ or being in a band?
He explains that he has always been involved in music in various forms, with a strong focus on DJing as a natural progression from his earlier involvement in rap and graffiti culture, driven by a desire to deconstruct and recontextualize music rather than pursue conventional band roles.
Luke Una
Q: What was the last gig you went to?
Bon Iver at Glastonbury, described as a phenomenal performance with a moonglow moment, though he also enjoys intimate, dark-room sets with Theo Parrish and a red light ambience.
Luke Una
Q: What's the best party you've ever been to?
One of the most magical moments was during illegal Electric Esoles in Manchester, with various venues and a big double-decker bus transporting attendees to a secret venue, forming a highly memorable experience.
Luke Una
Q: What's the best and worst crowd you've ever played?
The best crowd was a Sydney legal party at Cobock Studios, with many memorable moments, while the worst involved a festival where someone headbutted him for not playing England songs, though he was generally lucky with gigs.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About How To DJ

What is How To DJ about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program centers around deep-dive conversations with prominent DJs, producers, and industry insiders who share career-defining stories, technical insights, and practical tips for navigating the dance music world. Episodes often feature long-form narratives about early scenes, pivotal gigs, and the evolution of club culture, with a signature format that includes a rapid-fire 5-question segment from a box of 45 questions. Noteworthy threads include resilience and reinvention, behind-the-scenes moments from legendary venues, and thoughtful takes on production, touring, and the business side of music. The show often blends historical context with fresh perspectives from current scene leaders, making it a valuable listen for aspiring guests ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for How To DJ?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for How To DJ. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to How To DJ and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does How To DJ get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for How To DJ, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for How To DJ?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for How To DJ, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does How To DJ have?

To see how many followers or subscribers How To DJ has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to How To DJ?

These podcasts share a similar audience with How To DJ:

1. THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST
2. Talk ’90s to me
3. The Harry Hill Show
4. Full Disclosure with James O'Brien
5. RA Exchange

How many episodes of How To DJ are there?

How To DJ launched 5 years ago and published 144 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact How To DJ?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for How To DJ?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for How To DJ from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for How To DJ?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of How To DJ. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on How To DJ?

Recent guests on How To DJ include:

1. Andy Votel
2. Luke Una
3. Tommy Smith
4. Graeme Park
5. Phil Kieran
6. Brett Yules
7. Armand Jacobson
8. Chris Hawkins

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days