Tenacious on Judge Jules Picking Our First-Ever Track

Tenacious join Dexter Jones for a nostalgic, hilarious and inspiring conversation about the rollercoaster journey from passionate clubbers and bedroom producers to hearing their own music played on the biggest stage in dance music. From losing an irreplaceable DAT tape in the post and painstakingly rebuilding tracks from memory, to the surreal moment they discovered their music had been championed by Judge Jules on BBC Radio 1, this episode is packed with the kind of stories that remind you just how different the dance music industry used to be. We discuss white labels, record shops, mixtapes, taking chances, near disasters, and the persistence it takes to keep going when everything seems to be working against you. Through equal parts determination, talent and a bit of chaos, Tenacious prove that sometimes the craziest setbacks lead to the biggest breakthroughs. If you love trance, club culture, behind-the-scenes music stories and hearing how some of the most memorable dance records came to life, this episode is full of humour, honesty and nostalgia. In this episode: ▪️ How a lost DAT tape nearly destroyed everything ▪️ Rebuilding an entire track from memory ▪️ The moment Judge Jules played their track on BBC Radio 1 ▪️ Receiving 98 missed calls after the broadcast ▪️ The power of white labels and record shop culture ▪️ Sampling, creativity and making something from almost nothing ▪️ The realities of breaking through in the pre-social media era ▪️ Why persistence mattered more than perfection ▪️ Hilarious stories from life on the dance music circuit ▪️ The highs, lows and near misses behind the scenes ▪️ What today's producers can learn from the old-school approach ▪️ Lessons from decades spent in dance music Chapters 📖 00:00 Judge Jules, Tiësto & The DAT Tape That Vanished 01:07 Introduction: Meet Tenacious 05:50 World Dance, Seduction & The Early Rave Scene 10:00 Learning To DJ: Weddings, Mobile Discos & First Gigs 14:15 Under-18 Clubs, Jungle & Drum & Bass Beginnings 18:45 The Birth Of Tenacious & Early Studio Experiments 23:30 The First Tracks: Learning Production The Hard Way 28:15 The Trance Explosion & Falling In Love With Ibiza 33:20 Cream Ibiza, Radio 1 Weekenders & Clubland's Golden Era 38:10 The Story Behind Their Biggest Breakthrough 43:50 Judge Jules Made Our Track 'Tried & Tested' 49:20 Touring, DJ Life & How The Industry Has Changed 54:15 New Releases, Summer Plans & Ibiza 2026 59:45 Slip Back In Time, Community & Staying Grounded 01:06:40 The Ultimate Closing Track & Final Thoughts