In this episode, I sit down with RayJuss — a seasoned digger, DJ, and former pirate radio regular who now calls Cheltenham home. We talk about his journey through London’s underground music scenes, his time running the vinyl-only night Off The Record, and how his relationship with music continues to evolve.
Ray reflects on the unique rhythms that inspire him — from deep house and broken beat to UKG and beyond — and shares some powerful stories about the search for lost tracks, the thrill of finding long-forgotten gems, and the ongoing drive to keep the culture alive.
Topics we cover include:
Growing up with pirate radio and cassette culture
Rebuilding his music memory using old tapes and Shazam
The joys and challenges of promoting your own night
Making the leap from bedroom DJ to community builder
The importance of reaching out, connecting, and sharing
Music moments from the episode include:
A track he searched for since he was 16:
Collective Effort – (It’s Just) A Feeling (Rhodes 2 Dub Mix)
Discogs link
From this classic pirate tape
A raw, modern rap release he’s vibing with:
Al.divino & Estee Nack – Curbcandypt.2
Discogs link
A random, algorithm-served jam:
TheAdult – Fugubalung
Watch on YouTube
Advice for new DJs, straight from RayJuss:
Make contact. Message people, ask questions, share love. You never know who’ll respond or what it could lead to.
Use your old mixes. Shazam and revisit your tape archive — there are always hidden gems waiting to be rediscovered.
Do your own thing. Putting on your own nights is a wild ride — some flops, some magic — but it’s where you truly learn what matters.
Dive deeper:
Off The Record blog
Off The Record Interview Sessions on Apple Podcasts
Listen to the full conversation now on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud and Mixcloud
This episode is part of a series of artist interviews in the lead-up to Ngoma, happening 18 July at Stroud Brewery.
General entry tickets are available via Skiddle.com www.skiddle.com/e/40878734
and the Stroud Brewery website stroudbrewery.com/pages/events
#UKG #RayJuss #deephouse #DJIneterviews