Greg Newton
What motivated you to start DJing/presenting?
Growing up in Sheffield, I stumbled into Gatecrasher one Saturday night and was instantly transported into a world I knew I wanted to be part of. From that moment, I was hooked. I got my first decks for my 20th birthday in 1999 and locked myself away for weeks, practising obsessively and making mixtapes. I’d drop them off at bars around the city, hoping for a shot.
Fast forward a year, and that shot came—I picked up some gigs, and before I knew it, things snowballed. Working at Coolwax Records in Sheffield only fuelled my obsession, and co-promoting a night that really took off led to even bigger bookings. I warmed up for some of the biggest names in house, headlined UK gigs, and rode the wave for years.
I jumped on radio during COVID and loved it. The team at Dance Radio UK brought me on in 2021 for a Thursday night show (9–11 PM), and I ran that for two years. But 2023 was a year of big changes behind the scenes, so I decided to take a break. Now, two years later, I’m back with a brand-new show—‘SONORA’ (which, across a few languages, translates to ‘sound’).
What styles do you play?
I stay within the wide lane of house—but I’m always testing the edges. My sets are funky, soulful, and upbeat 90% of the time, but I’m not afraid to drift into something a little different when the moment calls for it.
Do you mix or scratch or both? Or are you more of a presenter?
I mix live—sometimes even throwing in some vinyl gems—but most of the time, you’ll catch me on CDJ2000s or my DDJ-FLX10 controller. I love a bit of banter, so expect me to be dipping in and out on the mic too.
Do you play on just one of danceradiouk.com’s stations or both?
Just Dance, although I once (half-seriously) threatened to do an ‘80s Guilty Pleasures’ show on Box.
Outside of danceradiouk.com, who are your favourite DJ’s, bands or music artists and how have they influenced your style (if they have)?
I don’t really do ‘favourites’—it all depends on the mood. Louie Vega is a legend, though. Not many DJs have stayed as relevant as he has, all while staying true to their sound.
Other than that, I listen to everything—except very, very heavy metal.
What other interests do you have besides DJing/presenting on the radio?
I’m big on the outdoors—hiking, camping, and generally disappearing up or down large hills. I travel a lot, and when I’m not doing that, I’m usually mucking around with my little family.
Favourite things?
• Gadgets, tech, and books—if I’m not buying them, I’m reading about them.
• Headphones—I have an unhealthy obsession with them.
• A little wooden pier in Cyprus—at 7 PM, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. It’s peaceful, spiritual, and just… perfect.
Sum yourself up in a sentence?
A creative, wacky brain trapped in a body that still thinks it’s 20.
Your desert island discs?
A free CD from Mixmag circa 2000—Jon Sa Trincha – Naked Ibiza: The Salinas Beach Mix. Still unbeatable.
Anything else?
Nope!
