Steve Mac on Rhythm Masters, studio craft, and 30+ years in electronic music

In this episode of The Dexter Jones Podcast, I sit down with Steve Mac — producer, DJ, remixer, and one half of Rhythm Masters — for a deep dive into an extraordinary career spanning more than three decades. Recorded inside Steve’s now-famous Brighton studio bunker, this conversation traces his journey from DJing at just 11 years old to becoming one of the most trusted names in house music production. We explore his work remixing and collaborating with artists including Michael Jackson, INXS, Marshall Jefferson, Robert Owens, and Todd Terry. Steve opens up about his early years in Luton, the evolution of studio gear from Akai samplers to modern AI-assisted tools, and why he still prefers hardware, tape, and hands-on process over shortcuts. We also talk candidly about the Rhythm Masters era, the realities of long-term relevance, and how a devastating studio fire nearly wiped out everything — and what it took to rebuild from scratch. The conversation moves into current projects too, including his work with Irvine Welsh on the upcoming Trainspotting: The Musical, reflections on the saturation of modern music, and why musicality sometimes gets lost in today’s house and techno landscape. This is not a nostalgia piece. It’s a masterclass in craft, resilience, and staying creatively honest across generations. If you’re a producer, DJ, engineer, or simply someone who loves dance music at its deepest level, this episode delivers rare insight from someone who has truly seen it all — and is still pushing forward. 🎧 Take your time with this one. We talk about: 🎶 DJing at 11 and early studio experiments 🎛️ From Akai samplers to AI-assisted production 👑 Working with house and pop music legends 🔥 The Rhythm Masters era and defining records 🚒 A studio fire and rebuilding everything from scratch 🚝 Trainspotting: The Musical with Irvine Welsh 📼 Why Steve still mixes down to tape and favours hardware 🕺🏻 Music saturation and the loss of musicality 🎙 Staying relevant in a fast-changing industry 📦 Studio stories, lost vinyl, Strawberry Sundaes, and advice for new producers Chapters: 00:00 Intro and Brighton bunker banter 03:20 DJing at 11 and early studio days 10:45 Working with house legends and remix royalty 18:00 The Rhythm Masters era 24:15 AI, music saturation, and the future of production 32:00 Studio fire and rebuilding from scratch 40:50 Trainspotting: The Musical 47:10 Vinyl, nostalgia, and rave memories 55:00 Final thoughts, legacy, and One More Tune For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter: [email protected]