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Artwork for No Tags
Underground Music Culture
Rave Culture
Dance Music
London Nightlife
Music Journalism
UK Nightlife Taskforce
London
Corsica Studios
UK Festivals
Indie Sleaze
Green Party Party
Soundcloud
Taylor Swift
Hip Hop Culture
Nostalgia
Gentrification
London Nightlife Commission
Billie Eilish
Electronic Music
Covid-19

No Tags is a podcast and newsletter from Chal Ravens and Tom Lea chronicling underground music culture. notagspodcast.substack.com

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes75Founded3 years ago
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MusicSociety & Culture

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Artwork for No Tags

Latest Episodes

'The big beat defenders are incoming'. An ominous text message to receive moments before meeting Octo Octa and Eris Drew in the flesh, but a sure sign that this would be a very special No Tags conversation.

As DJs and life partners, Eris and Maya ar... more

For 20 years, Mantra and Double O have been running Rupture, the London-based party that’s become guiding light for 160-inclined ravers. As any promoter will tell you, that’s a damn good shift.

Next month they celebrate two decades with a book – We ... more

We need to talk about this event flyer, and not just because of how Big Beat Cinema-coded it is.

Prospa, Josh Baker and Kettama have worked their way into the uppermost stratum of dance music – a rarefied zone which might seem a million miles away t... more

Is this the way they say the future’s meant to feel? Or just 20,000 people milling about at the White Claw gazebo?

This summer Tom and Chal attended a LOT of different festivals, which got us thinking about not just what makes a festival good, but w... more

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Recent Guests

Octo Octa
DJ and electronic music producer, also known as Maya, and half of Alchemical Sisters.
Alchemical Sisters
Episode: 75: Octo Octa and Eris Drew are better living through alchemy
Eris Drew
DJ and electronic music producer, and half of Alchemical Sisters.
Alchemical Sisters
Episode: 75: Octo Octa and Eris Drew are better living through alchemy
Double O
DJ and Rupture co-founder with a history playing Detroit techno and jungle.
Rupture
Episode: 74: What does it take to run a clubnight for 20 years?
Henry Bruce-Jones
Music journalist and critic; guest on the episode
Independent/No Tags contributor
Episode: 71: Second quarter report – the best music of 2026 so far
Lauren Martin
Author of Aftershock: The Seismic Impact of Dubstep
Velocity Press (publisher)
Episode: 70: The true story of real dubstep
Daniel Dylan Wray
Author of Groovy, Laidback and Nasty, Sheffield music historian
White Rabbit/Merit Journalistic Platforms (as author)
Episode: 67: Sheffield, Synth City
Damon Krukowski
Writer and musician, author of Why Sound Matters; former drummer of Galaxie 500; member of Damon and Naomi; UMAW activist
Author, musician, UMAW member
Episode: 65: The indies fight back! Damon Krukowski on the value of sound
Jay (Big J) / Jialing
Baltimore-based artist, part of the duo Big J + Jialing
Baltimore scene, Big J
Episode: 63: ⁠Baltimore is still the engine room of US club music
Kade Young
Baltimore-based artist from the Baltimore Club scene
Baltimore Club
Episode: 63: ⁠Baltimore is still the engine room of US club music

Hosts

Chal Ravens
Co-host and producer; long-time journalist and author focused on underground music culture.
Tom Lea
Co-host and editor; journalist covering underground music and culture, with a focus on analysis and interviews.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 419 ratings
  • Solid.

    No frills, honest, essential podcast for anyone who really, really cares about underground dance music and their communities.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OurTimeIsNow
    Netherlands2 months ago
  • Wicked pod friends. Keep up the good work!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    OhGee
    6 months ago
  • Out of touch

    Any podcast that tries to bill itself as chronicling ‘underground culture’ & has hosts that think graffiti has no purpose (as they discussed in the latest episode, displaying a total lack of engagement with subcultural rave communities in London) is inherently politically inconsistent. It’s even more frustrating when they regularly try to present themselves as ‘rave goers’, and make sweeping statements from that position.

    Even though they’re clearly very educated on music, sadly you can tell th... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    sonyawould
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • <3

    Decided to lock in at the start of the year, zero regrets. love the longer dissections of trends, love the left turns and the regular diversions out of music and into other artforms/social phenomena, love the tone of the discussions… just really great stuff guys, thanks a lot.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hughmorris98
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Less politics

    More music

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Mr Majestik
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are consistently diverse, with a high level of insider knowledge.
Some critics feel coverage can be insular or echo-chamber oriented.
Listeners appreciate the rigorous yet personable host dynamic and long-form interviews.
Shows strong depth on underground music culture and intellectual takes on nightlife.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#164
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#103
Italy/Music
Apple Podcasts
#97
New Zealand/Music
Apple Podcasts
#170
Spain/Music
Apple Podcasts
#208
Saudi Arabia/Music
Apple Podcasts
#231
Poland/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

75: Octo Octa and Eris Drew are better living through alchemy
Q: Could you tell us a little bit about System Activate, what it is, why you came up with it, and what you want to create in people who come to it?
System Activate is a three-day rave on private land in Vermont, organized by Drew, Octo Octa and friends. They describe it as a rave rather than a festival, with one sound system, no alcohol, harm-reduction support, a no-trace approach and a community led largely by trans people. They created it to build a more autonomous, welcoming space for dancing and shared experience.
75: Octo Octa and Eris Drew are better living through alchemy
Q: Could you give us a little bit of an idea of some of the more technical things that you're doing in that situation?
They use a designated section of their record bags for scratch records, acapellas, loops and other sampled material. While one DJ blends records, the other may pull a phrase or sound from a track and layer it into the mix using scratches or effects. Their combinations are mostly spontaneous rather than practiced routines.
74: What does it take to run a clubnight for 20 years?
Q: When you've done a project like this for 20 years, what do you do when it becomes a pain in the ass, and were there points when you thought you couldn't keep going?
Mantra says she regularly feels overwhelmed by the pressure of promoting while raising children, while Double O stays more relaxed. She says they keep going because they care about the night and the community, and their children understand that the work matters to them.
74: What does it take to run a clubnight for 20 years?
Q: Is the energy at Rupture partly a drum and bass thing, or is it a Rupture-specific thing, and how have you cultivated it?
Mantra credits inclusive lineups, a community that recognizes itself in the artists, support for new talent and a focus on music and dancing rather than hierarchy. She says that approach helps create a welcoming atmosphere where people feel safe and free to let loose.
70: The true story of real dubstep
Q: What inspired the oral history approach for Aftershock?
Lauren explains that the format allows the subjects to speak candidly and preserves the texture of their experiences, offering a more nuanced view than a single-author thesis could provide.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About No Tags

What is No Tags about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, culture-forward show that foregrounds underground music scenes, club culture, and the intersecting politics, economics, and technology shaping contemporary sounds. Episodes mix deep-dive histories, interviews with scene-makers, and critique of industry structures, branding, and media coverage. Notable strengths include a consistent duo of hosts who balance rigorous reportage with accessible conversation, a willingness to cover niche subcultures, and guests ranging from historians and authors to musicians and DJs who illuminate both the sound and the systems that sustain it.

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Which podcasts are similar to No Tags?

These podcasts share a similar audience with No Tags:

1. Novara Media
2. Novara Live
3. If I Speak
4. Tape Notes
5. Macrodose

How many episodes of No Tags are there?

No Tags launched 3 years ago and published 75 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 No Tags?

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.

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What guests have appeared on No Tags?

Recent guests on No Tags include:

1. Octo Octa
2. Eris Drew
3. Double O
4. Henry Bruce-Jones
5. Lauren Martin
6. Daniel Dylan Wray
7. Damon Krukowski
8. Jay (Big J) / Jialing

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.

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