This project is an exploration of the current state of music and the music industry—told through the voices of artists, producers, musicians, DJs, and insiders. By sharing their personal stories, insights, struggles, and successes, we aim to understand how they've shaped their unique corners of the music world.
It’s about uncovering the real journeys behind the sound—what drives them, what challenges they face, and what keeps them going. In doing so, I hope to inspire others—and myself—to keep pushing forward, especially during the tough times.
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Hey yo! I hope you are doing well, this week we are heading back to November 2020, which, I guess, was after the first lockdown, but with the impending second lockdown on the horizon. What an unusual time and I’m still speaking to people whose businesses, or lives for that matter, changed irrevocably at. that time.
My life feels like it has been in flux since about 2016, when I had a fairly certain idea of what was going to happen, or at least a plan. Since then I’ve been chasing avenues, trying to find my place in an increasingly unstable world. I’ve definitely had some wins, some real big ones and, if 30 year old me had looked at those wins, he’d be blown away. But, I don’t know, it feels like its getting harder and harder to chase those wins.
Maybe it’s the mood of the world right now, maybe it’s a stage in life. Is it a kind of caterpillar/butterfly metamorphosis thing? Where everything must die to be reborn?
Fuck knows.
What I do know is that music remains the constant and the gentle shoulder on which to lean, whether that is time in a quiet place listening to something like The Cinematic Orchestra, or singing along to Wet Leg in the car with my daughter, it is still the thing that can give me peace in the maelstrom of life and the world.
Making new, and revisiting old radio shows is something I am enjoying increasingly, although, as a DJ, and I was explaining this to Mr Scruff back in March, I’m playing less and less music to dance to, and more weaving different things together to create a place to rest a tired brain.
Again, an unusual place to be, but unsurprisingly where my brain is taking me.
It does mean that my record collection is getting increasingly odd. And you’ll have to end up listening to that. I’m sorry in advance in case its rubbish, but I don’t think it will be. I hope you think so too. x
Tracklist:
The Cinematic Orchestra - The Workers of Art (Kelly Moran Remix)
Radiohead - Glass Eyes
Shida Shahabi - Dawning and Wind
La Roux - In for the Kill (Skream’s Lets get Ravey Remix)
Goldie - Angel
LTJ Bukem - Music
Doves - Firesuite
Dmitry Evgrafov - Humble In Heart
Oliver Alary and Johannes Malfatti - Drifting
Gorillaz - Opium feat EARTHGANG
Kamasutra - Kamasutra Express
Avalon Emerson - The Frontier
Simian Mobile Disco - Staring At All This Handle
808 State - Pacific State
Rakim - It’s Been A Long Time
Pretty Lights - Around The Block feat Talib Kweli
Ishmael Ensemble - Search for Peace
RJD2 - Smoke and Mirrors
Gang Starr - Full Clip
London Posse and Rodney P - Future No. 1
De La Soul - The People feat Chuck D
Sun Ra Arkestra - Unmask The Batman
Freddie Hubbard - The 7th Day
Matthew Halsall and The Gondwana Orchestra - Only a Woman feat Josephine Oniyama
Hey! I hope you are doing ok this week, more heatwaves, which I think, most of the UK is done with. I’ve been trying to make the most of it by getting in the sea as much as possible, and it has been beautiful.
So, an eventful week in radio show land, I didn’t record a live show for TWR this week because I was gonna be live on 1BTN in my new monthly slot, which we broadcast live yesterday. It was a lot of fun, if a little rusty, getting used to doing it live outside of my studio set up. I had my eldest son in tow, and he took over the last half an hour, it was great to see him step up and quite naturally take to radio, given that he has never really listened to any radio, because of course not, he’s 15 and the channels for entertainment are so plentiful, listening to the radio must seem so old fashioned.
Well, even if it does sound old fashioned, I love live radio and I think it’s as important as ever.
If you want to listen back, you’ll have to go to 1BTN’s Mixcloud page. I know it would be easier for me to send it to your inbox, but they are bit controlling over their archive.
I thought it might be nice to go back to one of my earliest shows, so here we are in November 2016, man, the world felt like a different place then, I guess it was. Soe cracking music though… just check the tracklist:
The Disposable Heros or Hiphoprisy - Television, the Drug of the Nation
Ebo Taylor and the Pelikans - Enye Nyame Nko
Count Ossie and the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari - Mabrat
Moses Boyd - Rye Lane Shuffle (played at wrong speed!)
Robert Pete Williams - So Much Is Happening in the News
Public Enemy - You’re Gonna Get Yours
DJ Punk Roc - Roc-in-It
Leo Kottke - Cripple Creek
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The Current State of Music Radio Show - Archive
Saturday, August 8, 2026 • Duration 01:55:54
Holla! I hope this finds you all well and surviving life (and the kids holidays)
I enjoyed last weeks live show, even though I was properly knackered, it seems I always record them at my lowest ebb with the battery light flashing, maybe that’s where I have to go to find the best music, who knows?
So, it’s quite a contrast listening back to this show, which it seems I recorded live at 1BTN, a mere 12 hours after being in the studio recording another show the night before. I think I generally had more energy 8 years ago, I think that’s something we can all recognise?
It could also be the fun of doing live shows, which I am going back to this week. On Friday I’ll be live on 1BTN in a new monthly slot, 10am to Midday and I’m very excited about what that is gonna look and feel like. For those of you who don’t know, I did a weekly show on 1BTN for about 6 years, and I very much enjoyed it. I kinda let internal politics ruin it for me and I eventually moved to Soho Radio and Totally Wired, both stations I love, but I would record shows remotely from the comfort (and isolation) of my own studio, which has it’s many pluses, not least being I have access to 3000 records at any time, but there is something in packing a bag with some tunes, and making a 2 hr show from those limitations. Something I very much enjoy.
Of course I’ll post that show on here too, if you can’t tune in live, but 1BTN has a shoutbox/forum you can find here:
You need to create an account (of course) but being able to chat with the listeners during a live show definitely has an impact on the direction and the vibe, so if you can tune in and message in, please do!
I’ll also be continuing my show for Totally Wired for now, there will probably some cross pollination along the way, but I’m really looking forward to doing something in my hometown, I’ll probably also use the opportunity to promote my work as a producer and mixing engineer, I mean, why wouldn’t I? I’m pretty rubbish at self promo, something I need to work on.
I find it fascinating listening back to my old shows, they come and go so frequently and I forget what music I have and how I put it together. It feels like familiar territory, so maybe I’ve got stuck in a rut, or shall we call it a style?
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The Current State of Music Radio Show - 01.08.26
Friday, July 31, 2026 • Duration 01:59:50
Man, this one was a struggle. Too many things to juggle so ended up recording quite late on a hot evening in a hotter studio.
I can’t wait for these heatwaves to subside, I love the sunshine, but it’s another thing sapping my energy, alongside the kids holidays, work, family life etc…
However, due to the lack of new releases coming over the summer, I decided just to comb my vinyl and pull out things that don’t get much airtime but are pretty interesting.
The first salvo hang together quite nicely, sharing the same DNA from the early 70’s, inspired by a record that had disappeared from my collection and I had bought again recently, Mandolin Man is delightfully wigged out and quite unlike anything else I’ve ever heard. The Incredible String Band into Nick Drake seems like an obvious connection, and it is, but the Anne Briggs track isn’t my go to on the album, but I’m glad I swerved my usual move, its quite a thing and I love her voice.
Its hard to give any meaning to the rest of the show, as most things were pulled quite randomly, but I did try to follow some sort of thread, but here are some highlights.
Bonobo has a new album incoming and this is a brand new track from it, so obviously I’m gonna play that. I haven’t played The Might Bop for years, and I love this track, there is an African sung sample in it which I think is so beautiful, it feels like somewhere I’d like to live, if you know what I mean?
Nina Maia is coming to Brighton this autumn, so thats a good reason to revisit this great album I’m only really getting to know.
I remember hearing a Thom Yorke mix on 6Music and he played this track ‘Marhaba’ which I had had on vinyl for some years and thinking how I might be as cool as Thom. I mean, clearly not, but I was hip to this track so that’s a start at least, right?
I really enjoy digging into my collection, I’m lucky to have been at this for such a long time that I have amassed a collection that gives to me as much as I have given to it. I worked out that I’ve had to buy 100 records a year for 30 years to get me where I am, that seems a lot, I guess it is. It holds many secrets which I don’t always know about and I’m looking forward, via this show, to finding more and sharing with you.
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The Current State of Music Radio Show - Archive
Friday, July 24, 2026 • Duration 02:00:00
Hey friends, here we are, its the summer holidays. For some its a great time to take the foot off the pedal a little, enjoy the sunshine and maybe get away. For others, it’s a time to juggle work and kids, feeling guilty about not doing enough and letting kids watch far too much TV.
I hope you are leaning towards the former, I’m certainly leaning toward the latter, but being a freelancer doesn’t really come with holidays so much, so we’ll try and snatch some time and prise our kids off their various brain melting devices. To be fair, they aren’t keen on going on holiday. so who knows what’s best? Hopefully there will be some sort of medieval joust on, we all love that…
Anyway, back to this archive show plucked entirely at random, from December 16, so pretty early in my broadcasting career, but sounding like I”m oversharing from the off.
Kicking off with a favourite Drum and Bass roller, the excellent Expressions by Dave Wallace, taking me back to driving around in my Mums red Corsa with my brother, a nice way to start any show. Then some LTJ Bukem and is anyone mixing that into Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi? No, I thought not.
Interesting to hear some Matthew Halsall, if the version of me in 2016 would have known that I’d have worked on music that appeared on his label, I’m not sure I would have believed me. Sometimes it’s good to look back to see how far you have come.
I struggle to listen to M83 these days, I absolutely love the album Hurry Up We’re Dreaming, but it was also playing the car the day I took my dog to be put to sleep, in 2020, and I’ve not been able to listen to it since. Sad times…
Wow, Kuiper from Floating Points. How can it be 10 years old and how fucking epic is it? A masterpiece for sure… sit back and wrap your brain around this one.
I really enjoyed listening to the mix that ends the show, some hip hop and then into the oddities. That is my kind of dancefloor, where you have no idea what’s coming next and the DJ has to be intentive, gaining your trust with every track and pushing it further into the corners. It’s getting harder and harder to find dancefloors that will let you do that, life has become so compartmentalised even though we access to more of everything of every genre. I’ll be waiting for my big comeback…
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The Current State of Music Radio Show - 18.07.26
Thursday, July 16, 2026 • Duration 02:00:01
Hey! Its like a furnace in my studio and I”m sure it has an effect on the show, but this one really travels some distance, digging into new (to me) vinyl, some new releases, well, actually only one (which incidentally is the only track not played off vinyl, for all you vinyl snobs out there) but I’m starting to realise I have so much music that I’ve not really dug into that I’m enjoying having an explore, and this show embodies that.
When I started this Substack I promised myself that my shows would reflect my life a little more, and although I’ve been doing that, and enjoying that side of it, it’s maybe felt a little uptight at times, but this one just hit the spot for me. The right amount of ridiculously good music, finding connections but also not over thinking it (I could overthink for England if it was an Olympic discipline)
So I hope you enjoy this one, as much as I did making it.
Tracklist:
Sault - Fulfil Your Spirit
Sixto Rodriguez — Sugarman
Johnny Jones and the King Casuals - Purple Haze
Ray Bryant - Up Above the Rock
Valentin Mehler’s - Herbstplatte ’69’
Ananda Shankar - Jumpin’ Jack FLash
Dave Pike Set - Mathar
Soyuz feat Asha Puthli and Sven Wunder - Spring Has Sprung
Asha Puthli - I”m Gonna Dance
Mac Mathunjwa - Give Us More Love
Barney Wilen - Zombizar
John Tchicai and Strange Brothers - I En Kaelder
Chris McGregors Brotherhood of Breath - MRA
Malcolm McLaren - Buffalo Girls
Propaganda - The 13th Life (12” Mix)
Burial - Dreamfear
Bonobo - Drift
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The Current State of Music Radio Show - 04.07.26
Friday, July 3, 2026 • Duration 01:59:53
Finally! I hear you all shout, a new live show from Chris…
Yep, I’m pretty much over whatever bug decided to kick my ass a couple of weeks ago, loaded with some new vinyl and some brand new music.
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know about my love for Lemon Jelly, how I worked with Nick Franglen for a couple of years. I’ve interviewed Fred for this podcast (you’ll find it if you go back far enough) and I generally love everything they have done, either separately or as Lemon Jelly. So, a reissue of a coveted and highly sought-after album, .KY, is no small news in my world. Of course I own an original copy, and I’m not one for collection for completeness sake, except in this case. The reissue has been lovingly repressed on beautiful coloured vinyl and it might be the only time I play it, but all records in my collection are there to be played, so I’ve started the show with the classic The Staunton Lick and Come.
I’ve been listening to a lot of acoustic music recently, as I’ve been actively looking for new artists to work with in my role as producer and mixing engineer, so, inspired by the new track by Jim, on my friend Damians’ recrd label, I went down a bit of a, rather pleasing, acoustic hole.
However, there has been a few good new releases since we last spoke, so I couldn’t stay in acoustic world too long, so I put the guitars away and headed off into some unknown territory. firstly with Momoko Gill who had a live session with Gilles Peterson recently, the first track from the new Bonobo album, and some more head nodders which all seemed to fit together, although my mixing wasn’t great, apologies…
I stumbled upon a version of Massive Attacks Teardrop I produced for a play a few years ago, so I thought I would give that an airing to see if that has aged, I talk about why I made it, and in classic me style, I totally over delivered on the project. In the reviews it didn’t even get mentioned…
Toward the end we headed into some cuts from the new Mr Bongo Record Club Vol 8, which is an example of a series that didn’t get shit (unlike the Police Academy films) I think that comes from how far the guys and girls at Bongos are willing to dig to find amazing music you’ve never heard before and this album doesn’t disappoint, which led me to finish the show with a recommendation from Lady Jane Bongo, Musclecars remix of Kokoros’ I Just Can’t Wait, which is a fine way to sign off.
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The Current State of Music Radio Show - Archive
Monday, June 29, 2026 • Duration 03:56:45
Hey! I always seem to open these missives with an apology, and yes, I usually drop one of these on a Friday or Saturday, so the apology is sorry f you were left adrift without my dolcet tones, or, more like, some wonderful tunes over the weekend.
If you were in the UK last week, you’ll know all plans, work and sanity were off the table as we were gripped by an epic heatwave. Schools were closing early, or not opening at all. Chillers in supermarkets were breaking down, and all anyone could say was ‘I’m so hot’
But, the world didn’t end, although we maybe moving toward that at an increasing rate, so lets jump back to 2018 and a show from 1BTN, which, NEWS FLASH, I am going back to with a monthly show, broadcast live from the bunker and I’m very excited to be doing a ‘live’ show rather than a live prerecord. There is an element of jeopardy involved and also, having a limited selection of tunes, really sharpens the mind and forces me to think ahead of the overall curve of the show, which I enjoy.
Back to this show, a 4hr dive into all sorts, lets go…
Tracklist:
Kamasi Washington - Leroy and Lenesha
The Sons and Daughters of Light - Let The Sun Shine In
Lorez Alexandria - Morning
Copeland Davis - Morning Spring
Gloria Ann Taylor - Love is a Hurtin’ Thing
Visioneers - Ikes Mood I
DJ Shadow - Bergshrund
Radiohead - Present Tense
Rival Consoles - Be Kind
Nils Frahm - Tristana
Rooting For You (Accapella) - London Grammar
Rodney P - Untitles feat Lanre Sulola
Khalab - Chitita
Shabaka Hutchings - Black Skin, Black Masks
Koichi Matsukaze - Under Construction
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The Current State of Music - Archive show
Friday, June 19, 2026 • Duration 02:00:00
Hey, how are you doing? I apologise firstly, for no new show this week. I’ve been knocked flat out by gastric flu and I’m still in a bit of a fever and have to be within running distance of a toilet, but I’m getting better, alas, I didn’t feel up to a show, , maybe I’ll do you lovely subscribers and special one just for you next week…
So, here’s a show from a few years ago, opening with the incredible Melanie De Biasio, whom, when I ordered the album, a few days later she sent me a postcard to say thanks for the support over the years. I don’t have big expensive hobbies (my wife would say my record collection is big and expensive)and I’m not one for trinkets, but little things like this are my treasured possessions.
It’s quite a thoughtful start to the show, I’m guessing it was recorded late and I was recalibrating my brain from the day, regular listeners will know that I usually record my shows quite late at night and you can tell what sort of day I’ve had by how space I need at the start, to gather my thoughts and energy. Must have been a tough day…
As usual, music does it’s thing and will return me to an inspired state, reading to share music with you. Starting with the prolific Sault, whose output is quite astounding, with a new album just recently.
Asha Puthli is an amazing human being, I was lucky to grab a few words with her at We Out Here a couple of years ago, and she will be in Brighton next Friday at Mr Bongos, which will be epic, it will be great to say hi to her.
If you missed DJ Formats’ The Devils Workshop from a few years ago, I’d say you missed his masterpiece. Another lovely soul who makes the world a better place. If you see him DJ live, you are in for a lesson. Its funny that Cut Chemist pops up in this show too, there was a podcast out this week where Cut Chemist was shouting out DJ Format…
I quite enjoyed listening to the hip hop in this show, I don’t go back to hip hop very often these days and it’s a treat when I do.
Well, I haven’t got much chat in the back and am having a full on hot flush, so I need to bail and get some water.
I hope you enjoy this one, and I’ll see you next week, fighting fit with some new/old music for you. x
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The Current State of Music Radio Show - Archive
Friday, June 12, 2026 • Duration 01:55:32
Hey, how are you doing? Another week has flown by, I’m not sure I’ve achieved anything this week, apart from staying alive, and for some, that is enough.
This archive show is from 1BTN and I must have been standing in for someone as it was broadcast live on a Sunday evening, so it will be interesting to see how the vibe of this one plays out. I was standing in for a reggae/roots show, I wonder if I venture down that way? I mean, I don’t really play that sort of thing, so it was probably a disappointment to anyone tuning in to hear that genre.
Kicking off with Alice Coltrane would certainly send the message that it’s probably not going to be what they wanted to hear, ah well, hopefully I bought a few new listeners over my way.
What I love about doing shows live, is the commitment, you have a limited selection of music, and you have to make sense of it, and make it work. I miss that. To blow my own trumpet, I think I am pretty good at that aspect in particular, building a narrative with what I have to hand and committing to tunes even though they might be a stretch for the casual listener, but by committing, you lead the listener to believe in the tune and to find something in it too.
With that in mind, this track by Moses Boyd is hard, but totally brilliant. I should play this more. I’d like a regular night where I can play this stuff out to a crowd…
I’m really enjoying the jazz selection here, in particular The Madison Time, a track I first heard on on of Lemon Jelly’s Breezeblock mixes for Mary Anne Hobbs on Radio 1 (at the time) which are some of the most mental dj mixes you’ll ever hear, once you’re done here, then go check at least one out here: Lemon Jelly Breezeblock May 2000
This track by Khalab is an all time favourite and what led me to getting Tenesha The Wordsmith on an, as yet, unreleased track with Chip Wickham. I hope that sees the light of day some time, its rather great.
What is interesting (I’ll be the judge of that) is that I’ve been playing new releases by a few of the artists I’ve played on this show, so either something is happening in cycles, or I’m slowly drifting into nostalgia and not doing enough work to find new artists. Or maybe both things are true?
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Eric B and Rakim - Know the Ledge
DJ Spinna - Rock
Ahmed Jamal - Misdemeanor
Foster Sylvers - Misdemeanor
Marc Mac - Come and Play in the Milky Night
Air - Modular Mix
Grey Reverend - Regen
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Distant Sky feat Else Torp
Nils Frahm - Nue
James Blake - Radio Silence
Bonobo - Kerala
Radiohead - Everything In Its Right Place
Chicago - Surfjan Stevens
Kate Simko and The London Electric Orchestra - Schubert:Schwanengesang
More recently I’m trying to evolve that style though, I guess as I work more and more as a producer, I’m finding interest in more and more music of differing styles, and I find that exciting. I also think my kids are having an influence on my musical taste, which is fascinating, how they listen to and absorb what they are finding. I guess I;ve tried to teach the to keep as open a mind with music as possible, because connections and emotions are everywhere, sometimes when you least expect it.
Speaking of which, I found I got quite emtional and Abba Voyage in London last weekend. I took my daughter and it was simply the best thing ever, both of us singing and dancing and smiling. But revisiting (or really visiting for the first time( those songs live, and, in effect, performed by the original members, with their thoughts looking back, hosted by younger, holographic, version of themselves, was both quite weird and quite wonderful.
Even if you aren’t a fan of Abba, you need to see this. The whole thing is insane, and then add the original music, the songwriting, the production, the arrangements, the engineering, the mixing and mastering, there have never been many bands with the legacy that Abba have. Essential.
Back to this show, I’m really enjoying how deep I went, there are some tracks I can’t find or remember, which is always a good thing, and I think that speaks again to having to throw some records in a bag and hot foot it to the studio, something I’m very much looking forward to doing again.
So, please join me on Friday 10am UK time, and I’ll send you another show next week.
Cx
Tracklist:
Lemon Jelly - Soft
St Etienne - Only Love Will Break Your Heart (Richard X Remix)
Sebastian Tellier - La Riournelle
Moses Boyd - Sirens
DJ Shadow - Ashes to Ashes feat Matthew Halsall
Stefano Torossi - Loving Tenderly
The Free Design - Nobody (Mars Volta Remix)
Nils Frahm - Colliderscope
Calibre - Samurai
Ben Lucas Boysen - Golden Times 1 (Max Cooper Remix)
Cotton - Dreaming of Another Place
Anouar Brahem - La Nuit
Bill Evans - Skating in Central Park
Joe Harriott and Amancio D’Silva Quartet - Stephano’s Dance
Marcel Louis Joseph - Priere au Soleil
Bossa Trio - Tema Em Do
Barbosa - Seara De Oxala
Wan Trio - Selvagem
Fruko y Sus Tesos - No Estas en Nada
Juan Pablo Torres y Algo Nuevo - Pastel en Descarga
Roots Manuva is still, in my opnion, the best MC of all time, and this track Crying from the album Bleeds is as heavy as it comes, definitely Grime inspired. Which leads me to a great doc on Grime on the iplayer, which is worth a watch
It’s also worth noting how I”m taking the chance to play some hip hop, because the show went out after 9pm so swearing is OK. My usual show used to go out on a Tuesday morning, so I either edited out swearing, or I didn’t bother playing any.
You’ll recognise the drums from the Skull Snaps track, which has been sampled hundreds of times, but this is the OG track.
Do you want to smash shit up every time you listen to Sabotage by the Beastie Boys? Me too…
I have no idea how I got from Nightmares on Wax to Blondie , but fair play to me for trying, if I was out at a bar and the DJ pulled this I would have bought him/her a pint, then ending with Superkat, well, thats a show. I hope you’ve enjoyed this one. See you soon. Love x
Tracklist:
Alice Coltrane - Improvisation
Elysian Quartet and Kae Tempest - Where The Heart Is
Moses Boyd - After Tomorrow
Luke Vibert - Doozit
Gogo Penguin - Ocean in a Drop
Adele Sebastian - Day Dream
Ray Bryant Combo - The Madison Time Pt1
Khalab - Blacknoise 2084 feat Tenesha the Wordsmith
