Breakbeat music and DJ culture meet in this deep conversation with Steve Raskin of Fort Knox Five. DJ Deckard hosts one-half of the legendary DC-based duo to explore breakbeat origins, the funk-fueled DC scene, life as a touring DJ, and the story behind Fort Knox Recordings. Whether you’re a DJ, a music lover, or just curious how the greats built their careers — this one’s for you.​

In this episode of A DJ’s Journey, Deckard and Steve dive into how Fort Knox Five helped shape modern funk and breakbeat, what it takes to run an independent label, and how to build a long-term career in underground music. You’ll hear stories from the studio, the road, and iconic events like Shambhala and Burning Man, plus insight into carrying on the Fort Knox Five legacy after the loss of Jon Horvath.​

Topics: Breakbeat origins · DJ culture · Fort Knox Five · Funk music · Independent music · DC music scene · DJ history · Touring DJ life · Burning Man & Shambhala · Fort Knox Recordings​

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How Steve Raskin’s early bands and influences evolved into Thunderball and Fort Knox Five

• The role DC’s funk and go-go scene played in shaping the Fort Knox sound

• What it’s really like to tour the world as a breakbeat/funk DJ

• How Fort Knox Recordings was built as a home for funk, breaks, and party-starting bass music

• How the crew has navigated change, loss, and legacy while keeping the dancefloor energy alive​

Keywords: breakbeat DJ, Fort Knox Five interview, funk DJ podcast, DC funk scene, DJ history podcast, DJ culture podcast, Burning Man DJ, Shambhala DJ, independent label, Fort Knox Recordings, touring DJ, Steve Raskin

About the guest: Steve Raskin is a producer, DJ, and visual artist best known as one-half of Fort Knox Five, the DC-based funk and breakbeat outfit behind Fort Knox Recordings and a long list of festival-tested anthems. From early band days through major label deals, Thunderball, and the rise of Fort Knox Five, Steve has helped shape the sound of modern party-funk and breaks.​

About the host: Deckard is a San Francisco Bay Area DJ and host of A DJ’s Journey, a podcast exploring the stories, struggles, and creative processes behind DJs and producers who have dedicated their lives to the craft.

Timestamps:

00:00 The Funky Roots of Steve Raskin06:17 Musical Beginnings and Early Instruments09:11 Education and the Art-Music Connection12:11 The Rise of Edsull and Major Label Experiences14:59 Transition to Electronic Music and Thunderball17:56 Fort Knox Five: Formation and Vision20:50 The Evolution of Sound and Collaboration23:51 The Breakthrough of Fort Knox Five26:50 Creative Process and Musical Philosophy30:46 The Creative Process and Collaboration33:05 Evolution of Fort Knox 5's Sound35:36 Establishing Fort Knox Recordings36:12 Blending Genres and Influences37:40 Early Shows and Canadian Connections39:08 Impact on the BC Music Scene40:36 Experiences at Shambhala40:56 The Release of Radio Free DC44:37 Balancing Thunderball and Fort Knox 546:06 John as the Brand Ambassador48:04 Burning Man and Legacy54:08 Bringing John's Spirit to Burning Man59:13 The Healing Power of Music01:01:22 Navigating Change and Loss01:03:36 The Evolution of Fort Knox Five01:07:37 The Joy of DJing and Being a Fan01:08:45 Curating Funk: The Label's Journey01:12:27 The Magic of Burning Man01:15:44 A New Chapter in Whistler01:19:19 Memorable Moments from Festivals

A DJ's Journey Ep 13 Fort Knox Five

In this clip as told by Steve Raskin - John H handed out Fort Knox 5 mixtapes everywhere. Every club, every city, every person he met. One of them ended up with Gwen Stefani's manager. Her first solo tour was being planned and they wanted exactly what Fort Knox 5 were doing. There was just one problem — only room for one on the tour bus. Steve Raskin made a decision that said everything about their partnership. Episode 13 drops Wednesday. Link in bio.

#ADJsJourney #FortKnoxFive #FortKnoxRecordings #Breakbeat #NuFunk #BreaksMusic #DJLife #MusicPodcast #DJPodcast #ElectronicMusic

A DJ’s Journey Ep. 12 drops now — featuring the legendary Sporty-O (@sportyowingman), the international wingman himself.

From hustling mixtapes in Atlanta to performing on the main stage at EDC, Sporty-O’s story is one of hustle, reinvention, and relentless love for music. We talk about his early days as a hip-hop MC, his move to LA and writing music for TV, connecting with Keith MacKenzie through MySpace, and finding his true voice in electronic music.

Now stepping into DJing while still producing and performing, Sporty-O reflects on evolution, staying creative, and how dance music opened up a global world of sound and possibility.

🎧 Available on all platforms
🔊 Hosted by Deckard
🔥 Full episode out now

ShowNotes

00:00 The Musical Roots of Sporty-O

13:06 From Hip-Hop to Dance Music

24:37 Navigating the Music Business

31:48 Opportunities in Los Angeles

32:34 The Breakbeat Scene and Guest List's Impact

34:50 Transitioning from Hip Hop to Dance Music

38:02 The Moment of Realization in Dance Music

41:2 Unique Contributions to Electronic Music

44:26 Navigating Production in Dance Music

48:59 Collaborations and Touring with Keith

53:31 The Birth of Tequila Rageface

01:00:23 Returning to Atlanta and Building Community

01:02:32 The Journey of Music and Community

01:06:42 Evolving as an Artist in Dance Music

01:14:12 Navigating Challenges in DJing

01:22:45 The Future of Performance and Collaboration

#ADJsJourney #SportyO #ElectronicMusic #PodcastInterview #DanceMusicScene #HipHopInfluence #DeckardPodcast

📣 New Episode Drop: Krafty Kuts on A DJ’s Journey

From bingo caller and car boot crate-digger to breakbeat icon, Martin Reeves aka Krafty Kuts shares the wild ride that took him from the UK’s underground scene to world tours and legendary festival sets like Shambhala 🌍🎶

We talk:

🔊 His musical roots in ska, funk & electro

🎧 How a Beastie Boys record named him “Krafty Kuts”

📀 The moment Fatboy Slim walked into his shop

🔥 Touring with Rage Against the Machine, playing to 40k

🎤 Raising Future Flex & streaming during lockdown

💥 And why BREAKBEAT. IS. BACK.

Full episode up July 9. You know what to do 🎙️

Follow Krafty Kuts:

🎚️ @KraftyKutsOfficial on Facebook

🎶 Bandcamp | Patreon

📷 Threads | TikTok

🎵 SoundCloud | Mixcloud

🟢 Spotify | Twitch

🎧 Beatport | X/Twitter

00:00 The Musical Roots of Crafty Cuts

03:07 The Evolution of DJing and Breakdancing

05:58 From Record Collector to DJ

09:08 The Journey into Production

12:20 The Rise of Crafty Cuts

15:13 Influences and Inspirations

18:08 The Impact of Live Performances

21:23 The Transition to Music Production

24:19 The Breakthrough Moment

27:10 The Whirlwind of Success

32:41 The Journey to Recognition

36:04 Building a Breakbeat Scene

39:51 Mastering the Craft of DJing

45:23 The Importance of Supportive Relationships

49:59 Navigating the Music Industry

56:07 The Evolution of Breakbeat and EDM

01:00:39 The Melting Pot of Genres

01:01:48 Heartfelt Moments in Music

01:02:55 Collaboration and DJing Dynamics

01:04:07 The Art of DJing and Musical Expression

01:07:01 Influences and Musical Journey

01:09:04 Family Legacy in DJing

01:11:02 The Festival Experience and Community

01:13:00 The Power of Streaming and Connection

01:17:51 Advice for Aspiring DJs

01:21:38 Upcoming Projects and Future Directions

01:25:27 Outro Music

From early breakbeat bangers to classic electro and modern productions, Lee Coombs walks us through 9 pivotal tracks that shaped his career. From The Invisible Men to Break Free, this deep dive is packed with moments in time and stories from a legend.The Invisible Men - Self Indulge • The Invisible Men - Self Indulge Exodus to Paradise - Rock It (Exodus to Paradise Remix) • Exodus To Paradise - Rock It (Exodus To Pa... The Freakazoids - @tic Futura • The Freakazoids - @tic Futura (1998) Lee Coombs - The Future Sound of Retro • Future Sound of Retro (Remix) New Order - Crystal (Lee Coombs Remix) • New Order ‎– Crystal (Lee Coombs Remix) [HD] Lee Coombs - Breakfast of Champions • Lee Coombs - Breakfast Of Champions (2004)... Lee Coombs & Uberzone - Right Now • Lee Coombs & Uberzone "Right now" The Freakazoids - Freak Jam • Freak Jam Lee Coombs - Break Free • Break Free Lee Coombs Music & Socialshttps://thrustrecordings.bandcamp.com/ / leecoombs1 / leecoombsofficial #ADJsJourney #CrateDigging #LeeCoombs #Breakbeat #FingerLickinRecords #VinylCulture #DJPodcast #ElectronicMusic #90sBreaks #ProducerLife #DJDeckard #MusicDocumentary #ThrustRecordings #NewOrder

A DJ’s Journey - Ep. 9 Jem "Stone" Panufnik In this conversation Deckard speaks with Jem Stone, co-founder of Finger Lickin' Records, who shares his unique journey through the music industry, from his unconventional musical upbringing to the birth of his record label. He discusses his early influences, the evolution of the breaks scene, and the importance of collaboration and community in music. Jem also reflects on the relationship between his art and music, his experiences as a DJ, and the changes he has witnessed in the music scene over the years. Jem reflects on his journey through the music industry, discussing his disillusionment with evolving music trends, the challenges of maintaining artistic identity, and the importance of collaboration. He shares insights into his involvement with producing, art and DJing, the revival of Finger Lickin' Records, and the creation of his new project, Kaptain Karnival, which combines music and storytelling. Throughout, he emphasizes the need for creativity and the joy of making art that resonates with personal experiences.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Gemstone05:57 First Musical Loves and Inspirations11:50 The Birth of Fingerlickin' Records18:11 The Evolution of Fingerlickin' and Its Roster24:12 The Big Beat Era and Its Impact29:30 The Journey of an Artist37:38 Art and Music: A Creative Synergy43:33 The Evolution of DJing48:39 The Shift in Musical Tastes59:17 Reflections on Music Production01:08:57 Reviving Finger Lickin' Records01:21:55 Creative Fuel and Aging GracefullyIG https://www.instagram.com/jem_stone_panufnik/

🎨 Jem’s Gallery: ⁠https://jempanufnikart.com

Jem Stone Art FB https://www.facebook.com/jempanufnikart/Jem Stone Music FB https://www.facebook.com/jemstonemusic/ 🪩 The Legend of Kaptain Karnival: https://kaptainkarnival.com

Kaptain Karnival FB https://www.facebook.com/kaptainkarnival/

Kaptain Karnival IG https://www.instagram.com/kaptainkarnival/

Finger Lickin’ Records https://www.instagram.com/finger_lickin_records/

#ADJsJourney #JemPanufnik #FingerLickinRecords #Breakbeat #UKBreaks #FatboySlim #DJPodcast #funkybreaks #renniepilgrem #DJCulture #ElectronicMusic #kaptainkarnival

In Episode 8 of A DJ’s Journey, Canadian producer and DJ Myagi (Andrew Mavor) joins me for an expansive conversation about artistic evolution, the breakbeat era, touring the world, and why Burning Man marked a turning point in how he saw music, purpose, and success. We cover everything, from the remix that ties Myagi and I together to his new album The World of Tomorrow and how his love of sound, food, and fire shaped the next chapter of his journey.

Check out Myagi's outstanding new album The World of Tomorrow on Myagi's Bandcamp

IG @andrewmavor

Threads @andrewmavor

FB @myagimusic

🎧 Full Episode out now — June 18

🔥 Like & Subscribe to catch the full journey.

#ADJsJourney #Myagi #AndrewMavor #BreakbeatHistory #DJLife #BurningMan #ElectronicMusicPodcast #DJProducerLife #ArtistJourney #Ableton #DJInterview #CanadianDJ #UndergroundSound

🎧 A DJ’s Journey – Episode 7: Simon Shackleton

Hosted by Deckard

Simon Shackleton joins Deckard for a deep dive into a life shaped by music — from acid house and warehouse parties to global tours and reinvention. They cover his early days as a classically trained pianist, forming Lunatic Calm, defining breakbeat as Elite Force, and his most recent work, The Shadowmaker.

Listen now on Spotify and all major podcast platforms.

#ADJsJourney #DJLife #MusicProduction #SimonShackleton #ElectronicMusic #Breakbeat #TheShadowmaker #DJPodcast #EliteForce