Lisa Lashes on 30 years at the top of dance music

Lisa Lashes is one of the most iconic and influential DJs in the history of UK dance music. In this episode of The Dexter Jones Podcast, I sit down with Lisa Lashes to trace an extraordinary 30-year journey through club culture, from working at Marks & Spencer to breaking into DJ Mag Top 100, headlining superclubs, producing era-defining records, and founding the Lisa Lashes School of Music. Lisa takes us back to her earliest nights at Miss Moneypenny’s and the Birmingham club scene, the moment her career began to accelerate, and what it really took to earn global recognition in a male-dominated industry. We talk about the Euphoria compilation era, joining the Tidy Girls, and playing festivals and clubs across the world, from Global Gathering to South Africa. The conversation also moves beyond the booth. Lisa opens up about life behind the scenes, working alongside Carl Cox, unforgettable Ibiza moments, managing long-term health challenges, and why giving back through music education has become such a central part of her mission. This is not a victory lap. It’s an honest reflection on resilience, reinvention, and what it takes to stay relevant while building something that lasts. If you care about hard house, trance, techno, Ibiza culture, or the real stories behind the golden era of UK clubbing, this episode delivers. 🎧 Take your time with this one. We talk about: 🎶 Early nights at Miss Moneypenny’s and Birmingham club culture 💿 Breaking into the DJ Mag Top 100 and global recognition 📀 The Euphoria compilation era and joining the Tidy Girls 🌍 Touring worldwide and major festivals 🎧 Ibiza memories and surreal backstage moments 🧠 Balancing health, life, and a long career in music 🏫 Founding the Lisa Lashes School of Music 🚨 Reducing youth violence through creativity and education 📱 Social media, modern DJ life, and today’s challenges Chapters: 00:00 Breaking the DJ Mag Top 100 03:43 First night at Miss Moneypenny’s 07:37 First gig: boat party 11:41 Early clubbing stories and inspiration 15:31 From Marks & Spencer to DJ 19:53 The Euphoria album era 23:55 Joining the Tidy Girls 28:38 Carl Cox playing her tracks 32:52 Surreal backstage moments 36:00 The festival boom and Global Gathering 40:43 Ibiza memories and Café del Mar 43:58 Producing vs DJing 47:39 Living with Type 1 diabetes 52:25 Founding the Lisa Lashes School of Music 55:38 Reducing youth violence through music 01:00:02 Funding challenges and government support 01:04:12 Social media and DJ life today 01:08:56 One More Tune For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter: [email protected]