When I Grow Up

About When I Grow Up

Welcome to Hard House History, formerly known as When I Grow Up, hosted by Hard House icon Paul Glazby. This podcast dives deep into the evolution of the Hard House movement, exploring the music, the culture, and the unforgettable nights that defined an era. Join Paul as he reconnects with the DJs, producers, promoters, and fans who built the scene from the underground up. Whether you lived it or are discovering it for the first time, Hard House History is your front-row seat to the beats, stories, and energy that still move dancefloors today.

Publisher

Paul Glazby

Category

music · music

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

13 Dec 2024

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

99 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026

   Tom Muir from Insomniacz: Is Hard House Bigger Now Than in 1999?

   Hard House History celebrates one year since its rebrand with a return guest who helped shape Paul Glazby's career. Insomniacz promoter Tom Muir joins Paul for an honest, hilarious conversation about the scene's resurgence, the realities of running events and why their story is still being written. Tom helped establish Paul as a hard house DJ back in 2000. Now, decades later, they're watching familiar faces return to the dance floor alongside a younger generation discovering the music for themselves. From growing friendship groups to the appeal of daytime parties, Tom explains why today's atmosphere feels special, and why he believes Insomniacz is bigger now than it was in its early years. One of the episode's standout stories is Lost in the Woods, an event that sold out without announcing a single DJ. Tom shares why he backed the experience over the headline names, before opening up about booking fees, rising expectations and the financial risks promoters carry behind the scenes. They laugh as they revisit This Is Hard House, Lisa and Fergie's face-to-face set, and the afterparty that got Paul onto the dance floor. Then comes the story of Fergie rejecting Paul's headphones, a reminder that even veteran DJs aren't safe from a little humiliation. The conversation also explores Leonie's progress, the importance of learning to beatmatch by ear, and Paul's frustration with poorly positioned monitors. Looking ahead, Tom discusses taking Halloween into castle courtyards, the return of Glazby Time, New Year's Day with Bryan Kearney and plans to bring Insomniacz back to Magna with Paul van Dyk. Underneath the banter is a shared appreciation for the people keeping this music alive, including Vicky, the returning ravers and the next generation stepping into the scene. Got an Insomniacz memory you'll never forget? Tell us your favourite night, venue, or Glazby moment in the comments, and share this episode with the mate you were there with. Subscribe to Hard House History, then join the YouTube members area or Patreon for bonus conversations, exclusive Paul Glazby mixes, and more from the people behind the music. #HardHouseHistory #PaulGlazby #TomMuir #Insomniacz #HardHouse #HardHouseRevival #UKClubCulture #RaveCommunity #GlazbyTime #LostInTheWoods

2. 

   12 Oct 2026

   Matt Smallwood: A Life in Dance Music

   One Sunday morning, one DJ booth and one encounter with Tony De Vit changed everything. In this episode of Hard House History, Paul Glazby sits down with Matt Smallwood to trace a life in dance music, from teenage obsession and London club nights to producing hard house and helping shape releases for global artists. Matt takes us back to Sunnyside Up, where a sixteen-year-old newcomer found himself beside Tony De Vit, watching records being selected and learning how a master controlled the energy of a dancefloor. His account of Tony's mixing technique captures the excitement of discovering something that would become much more than a weekend interest. Then come the belt-drive decks, handwritten demo tapes and nervous first opportunities. Matt recalls landing an unexpected set at Trinity at the Chunnel Club when Tony Price was delayed, turning a last-minute favour into a regular opportunity. Along the way, Steve Thomas, Trade, and London's underground scene helped him understand what makes a set connect. The conversation moves into his creative partnership with Ali Wilson, making music in the Blue Room Studio and releasing tracks including Let the Games Begin, Just Listen, Devastation and Give Me All You Got. Paul and Matt revisit their shared Vicious Circle connections, friendships that have lasted decades, and the possibility of returning to the studio. Beyond the booth, Matt explains how Trackitdown opened the door to a different side of the industry. He spent 13 years at Toolroom, moving from licensing and compilations to leading A&R and label management. He also reflects on signing Feel My Need and the difficult decision to leave a team that felt like family. Now working at Club Class, Matt shares the realities of managing labels, developing The Cross and overseeing music releases connected to James Hype and Meduza. It's a conversation about opportunity, relationships and keeping that original musical spark alive. Listen now, then tell us which DJ, track or club night first got you hooked. Share this episode with the mate who was there, and follow Hard House History for stories from the people behind the scenes. #HardHouseHistory #MattSmallwood #PaulGlazby #TonyDeVit #HardHouse #AliWilson #ViciousCircle #ToolroomRecords #DanceMusicHistory #UKClubCulture

3. 

   5 Oct 2026

   General Bounce: 25 Years Behind the Decks

   General Bounce joins Paul Glazby on the Hard House History Podcast for a candid, funny and opinionated conversation about 25 years behind the decks. From his first club gigs in August 2001 to running Cheeky Tracks and finding an audience through video, this episode explores a career built on energy, individuality and a genuine love of dance music. Before the clubs came the influences: Culture Club, Pet Shop Boys, A-ha and a school trip to Germany that introduced him to clubbing at just 15. Jimmy Somerville also comes up, whose moves might help explain General Bounce's unmistakable dancing. The conversation moves into Cheeky Tracks, the label he took ownership of in 2015. With the catalogue approaching 800 releases, he explains why musical variety matters, how he has maintained a weekly release schedule, and what streaming has changed for artists and labels. His LDC Radio show provides another window into life behind the music, from juggling mixing and microphone duties to discovering unexpected swearing in tracks. Paul contributes a pirate radio story that proves checking the broadcast is actually working can be rather important. Then comes the debate: are modern hard house tracks too short, or do longer records need to earn their running time? Paul and General Bounce discuss mixing, dancefloor journeys, and why cramming more tracks into a set doesn't automatically make it better. General Bounce also champions the younger producers rediscovering the genre's roots, including Kyle Starkey, and questions the criticism they receive from established fans. Alongside reflections on BK and Tony De Vit's influence, it becomes a conversation about giving hard house room to evolve. There is plenty of personality too, as he explains recording sets around caring for his mum, turning footage into reels, and poking fun at promotional trends through his Content Cringe videos. He also discusses returning to production with Pump Fiction on a remix of The Shrink's Wicked. Listen now, then tell us: do you prefer long blends or shorter tracks? Share your favourite General Bounce moment, send this episode to your clubbing crew, and follow Hard House History. #HardHouseHistory #GeneralBounce #PaulGlazby #CheekyTracks #HardHouse #UKHardHouse #HardDance #DJCulture #DanceMusicPodcast #ClubCulture

Who has been a guest on When I Grow Up

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• DJ Micky D
• Andy Pickles
• Amadeus Mozart
• Lee Haslam
• Ian M

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

34,804

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

32 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 23 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

15

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

0

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