In this landmark episode of Hardhouse History, Paul Glazby sits down with Tall Paul, one of the most important and often misunderstood figures in the story of UK hard house and late-night club culture.

While Tall Paul may not always be labelled a "Hard House DJ" by today's definitions, his role in shaping the sound, space, and spirit that allowed hard house to exist is undeniable. As the resident DJ at Trade, held at Turnmills, the club owned by his father, Tall Paul was there at the very beginning, watching underground dance culture transform from a local bar crowd into a movement that redefined nightlife.

Paul and Tall Paul rewind to the late 80s, from pirate radio and record digging to the groundbreaking 24-hour licence that gave birth to Trade. They unpack how that Sunday morning energy, the crowd, the fashion, the lasers, and the music all collided to create something genuinely new. Tall Paul shares rare behind-the-scenes insight into building sets for Trade, the pressure of following DJs like Trevor Rockcliffe and Tony De Vit, and how his own sound helped bridge rave, techno, and what would become hard house.

The conversation also travels far beyond London. Tall Paul reflects on early international touring across Japan, the US, Ireland, and Scotland, the realities of long tours, border issues, and the mental and physical toll of life on the road. There’s honest discussion about burnout, stepping away from DJing, family priorities, and returning on his own terms as a new generation rediscovers the music.

This episode also touches on vinyl versus digital, the evolution of DJ technology, the return of physical releases, and the idea that rave culture, for many, was a form of therapy during a tense and divided era.

This is not just club history; it is cultural history.

• Was Trade the true birthplace of hard house?
• Vinyl or USB, what defines a real DJ set for you?
• Which Tall Paul era stands out the most?

Listen now and step back inside the foundations.

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