No Tags

A stack of new interviews are coming down the No Tags pipes right now, but first we return to a conversation from our sold-out event at the ICA last month.If you couldn’t make it down, or if you were there but forgot to take notes, this episode is a keeper. London-based rave researcher Anjali Prashar-Savoie set out her vision of a ‘club commons’ – a radical, positive and participatory kind of nightlife, as inspired by her research into the history of queer scenes in the UK, from lesbian sound systems with a creche on the side to George Michael-themed free parties.The interview section begins at 41m. Before that we spend some time reporting on our New Year jollies, our seasonal “locking in” progress, and recent film-watching (Into The Abyss, Marty Supreme, The Smashing Machine).Then a conversation about the growing magnetism of Substack, a nine-year-old newsletter platform that’s suddenly having a moment with musicians and celebs. Does the Troye Sivan newsletter herald a new intimacy in fan-artist relations? Or is this just another example of Brands Saying Bae? (With apologies to Shawn Reynaldo, who wrote his own First Floor newsletter on this subject a few days after we recorded ours. Soz.)If you missed it, the ICA event was also a book launch for No Tags Vol 2: Conversations on underground music culture, featuring interviews from the last year of the podcast and four brand new essays. The book is available from our Shopify, and from select bookshops and record shops.In other news! Chal has written about Britney Spears and her memoir for the latest issue of the London Review of Books. (It also references Jeff Weiss’s 2024 book Waiting For Britney Spears, which we interviewed him about last summer.) And Tom has more dance music out on his label Local Action. Get full access to No Tags at notagspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Sneaking in at the last possible moment, it's the No Tags best of 2025 show! As is tradition, we’re joined by Henry Bruce-Jones to look back on the year in tunes and spotlight some lesser-feted records that you need to hear.We tried to avoid going over the same releases that we covered on the Best Music of 2025 So Far episode from July, so if you’re wondering where the love is for Smerz, aya, Jim Legxacy or numerous other albums from the first half of the year, we probably talked about them back then.Scroll down for a time-stamped rundown of the episode – the full version is available on Substack, along with our personal Best of 2025 lists. But we want to hear your highlights as well! Tell us your most loved (and hated) releases, films or trends of the year, and let us know if we missed anything crucial via the comments.In case you forgot, our second book is out now.We’ve been running No Tags for over two years now. We do it around other jobs, we have no corporate backing, no sponsorship and we don’t even run ads on the podcast. If you’d like to show your thanks, it really helps if you leave us a positive review over at Apple Podcasts. You can also like or share this post on Substack, which makes a big difference – and if you really love the pod, you can subscribe to our paid tier for £5 per month.Happy new year!Running order:People Making Music In A Room: feeo, The Necks, Water From Your Eyes, Kelela, Shell Company & Older Brother, Rat Heart, Blawan, DJ Travella, Dijon, Alex GDance Corner (33:16): Slikback - 'Data', Beatrice M - ‘Midnight Swim’, Facta - ‘Jets’, K-Lone - ‘Someone Else’, Anthony Naples - ‘Compact’, Efdemin - ‘Signal to Noise’, Car Culture - ‘Nothingburger’, Jump Source - ‘On’ (ft. Martyn Bootyspoon), Minor Science - ‘Mortals’, Ploy - ‘It’s Later Than You Think’, Hodge - ‘Tom’s Tweaks’, Nikki Nair - ‘Sheeps’, Slikback and Skrillex - ‘Kixa’, Debba - ‘Electrolyte’ (Wordcolour Remix)Rap Corner (1:09:18): EsDeeKid, Jawnino & Surf Gang, RoosterPop Corner (1:31:44) Lily Allen, Addison Rae, UnderscoresNo Rules! (1:42:12) Los Thuthanaka, Coldsteel, Camille Keller, ear, weed420, d.silvestre, Oli XL, Jennifer WaltonAmbient afters (2:00:03) Oneohtrix Point Never, Klein, 7038634357, Begena Songs from Ethiopia. Get full access to No Tags at notagspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

First off, we’re plugging.The second No Tags book is here – and it looks great. ‘Conversations on underground music culture, Volume 2’ compiles the best interviews and conversations we’ve had on the second year of No Tags, plus five exclusive pieces with Emma Garland, Shaad D’Souza, Mattie Colquhoun, Nono Gigsta and Yu Su. You can order it here, and it will ship from the 10th December.Speaking of plugging, No Tags live at the ICA on 11th December is almost sold out! There are around 25 tickets left. As well as live conversations with Djrum and Anjali Prashar-Savoie and a DJ set from Finn, we’ll have copies of the book on sale – plus some predictably stupid stickers. Keep honking!From plugging to yapping, there’s a pod this week. We compile some of our listeners’ best war stories from Bloc 2012 (who’d have thought so many future Taganistas were in attendance?), before getting into some big questions: is it too far for artists to market themselves via Black Friday sales? And has graffiti run its course?We also dig into the strange story of ‘I Run’, the dance mega-hit of the moment that has been accused of using AI to plagiarise Jorja Smith. Depending on what happens now, this could represent a line-in-the-sand moment for AI and copyright, so we get into the background of the track, where the case currently stands and what might happen from here.Also: what are your top five dancefloor bangers of the 21st century? Chal submitted hers to this rundown for The Quietus, but we’d like to know what our listeners would pick. Tell us in the comments! Get full access to No Tags at notagspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

…And we’re back!Yes, first episode of No Tags for a few weeks, and while we do appreciate the concern, it’s just the two of us running this show, we both have jobs that we do it around, and sometimes we get really busy. Also Tom was in Asia for three weeks and most importantly, we were making a book.That’s right: the second No Tags book is here! Titled ‘Conversations on underground music culture, Volume 2’, it’s essentially a sequel to our first book: a compendium of the best interviews and conversations we’ve had on the second year of No Tags, with five exclusive pieces to boot. You can order it now over on our Shopify store! We’ll be launching the book on 11th December at the ICA, where we’ll be joined by Djrum, Anjali Prashar-Savoie and Finn. We’re down to the last 50 tickets for the show, and we’ll have the new book on sale on the night plus some other treats. We’re excited to see you there – get your tickets from the ICA website. Finally, there’s a pod this week!We’ve spent the last month sucking up culture like the sponges we are – and we’re not just talking about Tom’s late night ramen adventures in Tokyo. We debrief recent trips to Bang Face Weekender and Simple Things, as well as live shows from Smerz and Model/Actriz. We also share our memories (not to mention some potentially spurious speculation) about the great Bloc Weekend debacle of 2012. If you know you know.It’s a loose episode that’s heavy on the yapping, but hey – we were making a book! It’s good to be back. See you at the ICA. Get full access to No Tags at notagspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Dan Hancox, a journalist and author known for his insights on grime and public spaces, joins the conversation. He shares the excitement behind releasing a long-lost interview with Burial, exploring the artist's unique anonymity in today's social media landscape. Hancox reflects on the nostalgic reunion of Dizzee Rascal and Wiley, the power of crowds, and their historical significance. He also dives into the Notting Hill Carnival's rich roots and its cultural challenges, while scrutinizing the evolution of sodcasting and public behavior. A mix of music, culture, and insightful commentary awaits!

First, a plug: tickets are now on general sale for No Tags live at the ICA in London on 11th December! There will be special guests, and there will be a new book for sale: Vol 2 is in production now.On this week’s episode we drive headfirst – Modelos in hand – into the discourse around One Battle After Another, the designated cinema event of the year. Is it PTA’s masterpiece, or has he bitten off more than he can chew?OBAA’s ubiquity got us thinking: what was the last album that felt like a monocultural event? Do albums have the power to do this anymore, or were the early 2010s our last hurrah?Finally we debrief on the news that Corsica Studios – the club that Chal and Tom have spent more time in than any other – is closing. We share some Corsica memories but also wonder: should great clubs stay open forever?If you’re a longtime enjoyer No Tags, perhaps you'd consider subscribing to our paid tier for £5 per month. Thanks to everyone who’s signed up so far. Get full access to No Tags at notagspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

The hosts dive into the resurgence of flags and football shirts in pop culture, exploring the concept of ‘Britcore’ nostalgia. They question the politics behind waving the England flag and discuss the Irish flag's role in indie culture. Highlighting a collaboration between Fontaines D.C. and Bohemians FC, they delve into the Irish-Palestinian symbolism found in sports. The conversation extends to food trends and cultural identity, unraveling how these elements reflect deeper social issues. Plus, entertaining insights on musical rediscovery and escapism!

Holly Dicker, a music journalist and author of 'Dance or Die: A History of Hardcore,' delves into the vibrant world of hardcore music, sharing her extensive knowledge from 15 years in the scene. She explores the genre's rich history, from Frankfurt's pioneering sound to Rotterdam's gabber culture. Holly discusses the cultural significance of hardcore, the impact of the pandemic, and the evolution of rave culture as a form of political expression. Her personal anecdotes bring the raw energy of the dance floors to life, offering a captivating insight into the essence of hardcore.

Dive into the chaotic world of AI-generated music, where slopwave threatens to dilute authenticity. The hosts delve into its effects on genres like country and lo-fi, questioning whether AI can truly create meaningful art. They humorously reflect on the cultural implications of hyperpop and Will Smith’s career, while examining the struggles of artists amidst a landscape increasingly driven by technology. With a new AI-generated theme song, they explore opportunities and pitfalls in this evolving musical realm.

Joining the discussion is Henry Bruce-Jones, a music aficionado known for his insights into underground scenes. They dive into the best music of 2025 so far, shedding light on the rise of quirky UK rappers and how mainstream pop is evolving. The conversation explores the refreshing sound of surveillance electro and the resurgence of minimal techno while recommending exciting new albums. Listeners will appreciate the deep dive into contemporary trends and unique artists shaping this vibrant musical landscape.