Ian M – The Originator of Hard Dance
Episode description
In this special episode of When I Grow Up, Paul Glazby is joined by the man who helped define an entire genre, Ian M. Widely credited as the Godfather of UK hard house and hard dance, Ian shares the incredible story of how his career shaped, and was shaped by, the movement that followed.
From his early days as a resident at Trade, the legendary London after-hours club, Ian gives us a front-row seat to the rise of a sound that would dominate dancefloors for a generation. He reflects on iconic sets, the evolution of the UK club scene, and his influential work with labels like Tidy and Tripoli Trax.
Paul and Ian discuss the highs, the creative challenges, the shifts in clubbing culture, and what it’s like to pioneer a sound only to watch it grow, mutate, and circle back again. For anyone who lived through the golden era of hard house or wants to understand where it all began, this episode is essential listening.
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