Grant Richards, Author at Decoded Magazine

Why integrity means everything in the industry

Feature Articles Featured NewsDecember 11, 2020December 11, 2020

After celebrating his birthday earlier this year Skream tweeted “Been in the ‘industry’ since I was 14/15…fuck knows how I’ve lasted long…#alwaysbenice”. Just one look at the news and the…

When you reach for the prescriptions instead of the lasers, how old is too old to keep clubbing?

LifestyleApril 16, 2018April 17, 2018

A work mate joked to me the other day “Aren’t you a bit too old to be gallivanting around night clubs?” It was one of those comments that was said…

If you are after an album of huge chart hits and soundalike nonsense, then it’s best to look elsewhere – Defected Most Rated 2017

News ReviewsDecember 6, 2016December 6, 2016

I feel that approaching a review for a Defected Records album release would be to attempt to review for visiting aliens, as I would be under the assumption that anyone…

Dedicated to Dance Music: What motivates you to keep going?

Feature ArticlesNovember 15, 2016November 15, 2016

Over twenty years ago I used to go to a Wednesday night party at a local club in Essex. It was a very popular club at the time, often populated…

Roger Sanchez – It’s humbling to see that much of what I have done has influenced a new generation (or two) of new DJs in some small way.

House Interviews MixesNovember 4, 2016November 4, 2016

Roger Sanchez is, for many, the embodiment of House music. From humble beginnings in NYC to high profile residencies in Ibiza; from digging in dusty crates to headlining festival main-stages…

Just Be / Bushwacka – in a city like London, there are always new things opening, the illegal raves were amazing, but none of them bar a couple were really in London – not the big ones. Warehouse parties yes – but it’s a lot harder to get away with it now

Europe House Interviews MixesSeptember 28, 2016November 15, 2016

Matthew Benjamin has held many guises in his journey through electronic music. Launching his career as Matthew B in the midst of the UK acid house explosion, his identity and…

Eli Escobar revisits late 90s Mood II Swing vibes for new album Happiness

ReviewsSeptember 12, 2016

Artist: Eli Escobar Title: Happiness Label: Classic Release: Out Now Genre: House I think it’s fair to say that in my years of writing about all sorts of stuff within the industry,…

Exclusive interview with Ministry of Sound co-founder Justin Berkmann ahead of their 25th Birthday celebrations “London cannot survive on a handful of venues, our music scene is incredible and lives on the enormous choice of amazing spaces London has to offer.”

Feature Articles Interviews UKAugust 24, 2016November 15, 2016

Justin Berkmann started DJing after being schooled in the Family Funktion & Shake’n’Fingerpop warehouse parties in mid-eighties London. Then, after moving to New York City in 1986, he discovered the…

Danism – We both come from an era when producers focused on making the music and playing it out. To be honest, if I had it my own way, we wouldn’t even have Facebook and Twitter accounts.

House Interviews MixesAugust 17, 2016August 17, 2016

Dan Liquid and Dan Gresham are collectively known as Danism. Together they form a production team that is synonymous with a high a quality and innovative production sound. As a…

Depression and the Music Industry: the Elephant in the (main) room

Feature ArticlesAugust 4, 2016August 4, 2016

Ask anyone that’s rolled in at silly o’clock in the morning, whether they’ve just had the time of their life, listening to blissful beats, whilst being absorbed by some sort…

The rise and fall of UK Garage. The once troubled genre clawing a new path back into the clubs

Feature Articles UKMay 23, 2016November 15, 2016

If you have reached your mid-30s, dabbled in London life and been a clubber or DJ (or both), there is a high chance that your musical progression went something along…

Teenage Mutants – It’s a fast industry: one day you’re on top; one day you’re in Hell – like that guy who hates gay people from Lithuania… forgot his name…

House Interviews MixesMay 10, 2016May 10, 2016

While his name may evoke childhood memories, there’s nothing comic about his passion for music. Within the space of a few years, Teenage Mutants, the one-man show from Mainz (Germany),…

The magnificent return of Soulful House

Feature Articles WorldMarch 24, 2016November 15, 2016

If you were clubbing, listening to the radio, reading music magazines or even going to your local record store (don’t get all dewy eyed at those last two mentions) in…

Interview : Simon Dunmore – Creatives deserve to be rewarded for their creativity. Artists get paid for their paintings. Designers get paid for their clothes. I don’t understand why people feel they can have music for nothing?

Interviews UKMarch 14, 2016November 15, 2016

Recently, arguably one of the best and most prolific House music labels in the world, Defected Records, announced it was taking a year’s hiatus from Ibiza, having run their events…

Would you let your child pursue a full time career as a DJ or Singer in the dance music industry? Where is the line drawn when that parental support turns from encouragement to straight up delusion?

Feature ArticlesSeptember 11, 2015September 11, 2015

Every second of every day, a DJ, artist, musician, whatever, is pounding away at their Facebook messenger, plugging their next single, spamming their new mix, maybe even trying to genuinely…

Nowadays it’s not just music it’s the whole package, your DJing, your social presence, your branding. If you don’t want to work hard then this game probably isn’t for you. – Low Steppa

Interviews NewsAugust 27, 2015August 27, 2015

Low Steppa needs little introduction. Since the early years of this millennium he’s been producing some of the finest bass music around under various guises, whilst touring the globe and…

Smokin Jo – It is still hard for women to get in the so called big leagues, hard to say if now another female could achieve (DJ Mag Top 100) it as the top is all the EDM guys

Interviews NewsJuly 16, 2015July 16, 2015

Smokin Jo is one of the most talented DJs to emerge from the British dance music scene. Jo’s undeniably cutting edge sound has carved her a niche in clubland. She…