With a career spanning over 30 years across DJing, producing, promoting, and managing, CASH ONLY is a true veteran of the music scene. After a decade-long hiatus dedicated to leading a groundbreaking social care and education project for disadvantaged youth, he returned to the studio with renewed passion and fresh creative energy. From his roots in Jungle and UK Garage to exploring contemporary Afro-inspired sounds, CASH ONLY’s music reflects a rich tapestry of influences and experiences.
In this interview, we dive into his artistic vision, his inspiring work with UNITY – a multi-million-pound initiative that transformed countless lives – and his exciting plans for the future. Get to know the man behind the music as he shares stories of perseverance, community impact, and what Ibiza means to him today.
Welcome to Ibiza Music Charts.
Can you give us a quick intro to who you are?
I’ve been involved in music for the past 30 years in many guises – DJ, producer, promoter, tour manager, label manager – and after a ten-year break (while I was running a large creative group of companies for disadvantaged children), I got back into the studio two years ago and haven’t looked back since.
Your efforts in unity, education, and social impact are a striking part of your identity. How does this connect to your music and artistic vision?
As a child, I was never the most academic – in fact, mainstream education just didn’t work for me – but in my early teens, music was something that always inspired and motivated me to do my best. When I began DJing full-time in my 20s, I wanted to support other kids who were creatively talented. So I started running community projects that engaged the hardest-to-reach and most disadvantaged groups, providing them opportunities to explore their aspirations that they might not otherwise have access to.
You mention that your recent release, “No Way,” went through several versions. What inspired the concept behind the track, and what makes this final version stand out?
Since I’ve been back in the studio, I’ve spent a lot of time experimenting with sounds influenced by everything from my roots in Jungle and UK Garage to modern Afro-inspired styles. Alongside that, my DJ sets have evolved, and it’s important for me to play my own music. This track took a while to get to a place where I could do that. There’s also a really cool downtempo version I like a lot, which I might release as a remix later this year.
Your journey has spanned over 30 years with roles including DJ, producer, promoter, tour manager, and creative youth project director. How did you balance and transition between such diverse roles?
I didn’t really manage to balance it all, which is why I had to take a 10-year break from being an artist in my own right! As the creative projects for children got busier, I had to step back from the music industry to focus on that. At its peak, we ran the biggest independent provider of social care and education for children in the West Midlands, employing nearly 200 people and providing opportunities for literally thousands of kids. One of the kids we worked with is now part of Gentleman’s Club, who are huge on the dubstep scene and touring worldwide.
You stepped away from music for 10 years to build UNITY – a multi-million-pound education and social care project. What inspired such a major pivot?
UNITY (named after the record shop in London) started as something to fill my time during the day while I was DJing five nights a week in the Midlands. I wanted to do something for local children inspired by my own experiences growing up. We managed to achieve what local councils couldn’t – engaging the hardest-to-reach, most disadvantaged kids and giving them a safe space to build self-esteem, confidence, and guidance on how to lead productive adult lives. We did a lot of work on community cohesion with Love Music Hate Racism, national summer arts projects with young offenders, and ran an Ofsted-registered school, 14 children’s homes, and a youth club funded by Robbie Williams, who is from Stoke-on-Trent, where we were based.
What first interested you in music, and how did you get started?
My first memories of music were inspired by Nirvana and Metallica – I used to have long hair and wore a lot of black! I had a band when I was about 14, then when I was 15 or 16 I discovered Jungle and UK Garage, which blew my mind. I spent a lot of weekends in record shops and eventually bought my first set of decks. One of the most iconic CDs I bought was Underground Frequencies by Tuff Jam in 1997 – that CD inspired me more than anything I’d heard before.
Tell us your current favourite song and why.
Right now, my favourite music is coming from Barcelona. Pretty much anything from Piem or Nesi features in my sets. The tune of last summer was “Boy Don’t” by Piem, and anything those guys send me is always fire!
What does Ibiza mean to you?
I’ve been going to Ibiza for 20 years. I usually stay at Pikes and don’t venture out much since it has its own club – and as most people know, you’re never short of a party at Pikes! Until a few years ago, the only other club I’d been to on the island was Pacha, and that was because we knew the guys who ran it – they’re also from Stoke-on-Trent, where I spent most of my adult life – and they had some drink tickets!
I think venues like Hi and UNVRS are pushing boundaries with the whole experience for partygoers – from production and sound to lighting and even putting a nightclub in a toilet. I’m excited to visit UNVRS when my wife, Sam Divine, plays Elrow there later this summer – that show will be incredible!
Give us some insight into your most memorable moment in your music career so far.
Last summer, on the August bank holiday, I played a festival in Amsterdam called Valtifest, which was the best show I’ve ever played. The mad thing was the festival was fancy dress – you literally can’t get in unless you dress up. I was in Las Vegas two days before and totally forgot, and the only thing I could get delivered in time was a Cinderella dress, so I went as a princess! Then, just when I thought the weekend couldn’t get any better, I flew in to play Reading Festival the next day for the Jägermeister crew – and that was just as good.
If you could collaborate with any legendary artist, who would it be and why?
My favourite film is The Blues Brothers, and James Brown would have been an iconic artist to collaborate with – one of my biggest regrets is never seeing him live; his energy was insane.
Another artist I really love is Casisdead, who has a cult following and a unique style of delivery and branding that resonates with me. He’s done cool stuff with Goldie and Conducta, so who knows – we might one day see a Cash Only x Casisdead collab.
What challenges have you encountered in the industry, and how have they helped you grow?
The music industry is in a difficult place for many artists right now, with more people judging by visuals rather than sound. I’ve almost given up numerous times over the past year, but I’m really starting to get somewhere now and excited about what the rest of the year brings.
If music stops being fun, people need to stop.
What advice would you give to new artists wanting to break through?
You need consistency and patience. I remember this time last year I only had about 10k streams on Spotify and never thought I could push it higher, but I just hit 1 million! Don’t give up, don’t compare yourself to others, and do it because you love music – not because you think it looks cool to be a DJ!
What’s your favourite piece of equipment (hardware or software) in the studio or DJ booth?
I love a V10 mixer. I find it crazy when some artists (and there are really big names) don’t know how to use it and want it swapped out. I’ve literally been on stage, ducked down behind the decks, giving tutorials to artists at festivals before!
How do you balance health and well-being in a demanding industry?
I’m a workaholic and find it hard to say no to shows. With a stacked schedule, running two labels, and keeping a steady flow of music coming, I really need to plan my time better as I’m definitely starting to feel the impact after hectic weekends. I try to play as much golf and padel as I can to relax and stay fit, and I drink plenty of electrolytes, especially after heavy nights – it makes a massive difference, especially if I have to catch a flight the next day!
What can we expect this year from CASH ONLY & Famous When Dead Records?
I’ve got a strong release schedule running through the end of the year, continuing my exploration across the house and electronic music spectrum on Famous When Dead and other labels. I’m finishing off the year with a mini-album that pays homage to my UK Garage roots and will feature collaborations with legends like Danny J Lewis, Scott Garcia, and DJ Fen, alongside modern innovators like Matt Gillespie.
DJ-wise, my diary is slammed with upcoming shows at Parklife, Glastonbury, Ministry of Sound, and Reading Festival, to name just a few. I’m also launching my own night with the label, continuing to blend art and music together, and I want to grow my merchandise line, which I started dropping about 18 months ago!