Commissions
Distorted produces commissioned radio programmes and audio/visual content for broadcasters and brands around the world. We specialise in the areas of regular music strands, LGBTQ+ issues, health and music documentaries. If you would like to view some of our speech-based content please head over to the Podcast side of the website
Here is some of our recently commissioned music work...
About
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The Dance Music Archive: Radio Show, online culture library, social community, events and clothing.
In the lockdowns of 2020 we began an extensive passion project. We began building the world's biggest archive of electronic music and culture. 18 months later we launched the website, which continues to grow into the definitive history of the scene.
The Dance Music Archive brings together 30 years of electronic music history through DJ mixes, radio shows, live sets, festival broadcasts, lost tapes, blogs, artwork, magazines and forgotten recordings. It is a time machine for our scene, containing an ever-growing library, collected and curated by our community from around the world.
It is a truely multi-media project, encompassing a website, extensive database, journalism, research, social media and a hugely successful national radio show.
In 2024 we are holding our first sell-out event, and launching a range of clothing and merchendise. The Dance Music Archive has just been shortlisted for Best Music Programme at the prestigious New York Festival Awards.
A Little Respect
with Andy Bell
Virgin Radio
Virgin were launching a digital pop-up Pride station to celebrate LGBTQ+ culture over a 3 month period. They asked us to create a flagship documentary series that could serve as an anchor point for their Pride station, but also be aired on the main Virgin Radio UK station.
As passionate fans of electronic music and nightlife history, we'd wanted to create something to tell the origin story of the scene for a long time, so it was a perfect opportunity to write a series that shines a light on the incredible legacy that queer culture and gay people have had on the music that’s made us dance for the last 50 years.
Over 180 minutes we tell the story of how dance music came from the decadent discos of New York in the 1970s, the flamboyant electronic pioneers of the 80s, the explosion of house music and acid house in the 90s, right through to the modern day scene.
From Studio 54 and The Loft, to Trade and Heaven in London, Frankie Knuckles, Canal Street, Larry Levan, Voguing, The Hacienda, Tony De Vit, Horse Meat Disco, Glitterbox, The AIDs epidemic, The Blitz Kids and much more.
It’s hosted by Andy Bell - singer, songwriter, gay icon and one half of Erasure who have sold over 28 million albums and had 24 UK top 40 hits, and features contributions from dance music legends like Roger Sanchez, Sister Bliss and Crystal Waters, and some amazing people who were there to witness some of the most important moments of the culture.
Distorted researched, wrote, scripted and recorded the entire series. We delivered ready for brodcast on Virgin in August 2021.
Dance Britannia
with Sister Bliss
Kiss Network
Distorted collaborated with Sister Bliss in 2022, to produce an in-depth documentary series celebrating the history of British dance music for Kisstory.
Dance Britannia, funded by the Audio Content Fund, was a six-part series presented by founder member of faithless Sister Bliss.
The series was a one-of-a kind behind the scenes journey into some of the biggest British dance artists and albums of the last 30 years.
Across six hours of music and intimate one-to-one interviews, Bliss sat down and talked candidly to her fellow UK dance icons about their incredible careers, influences, highlights, lowlights and origin stories. Guests included Paul Oakenfold, Fatboy Slim, Groove Armada, Chicane, Orbital and K-Klass
Alongside her music and DJ work, she’s also a passionate radio presenter and a natural behind the mic – having presented her internationally syndicated show “In Session” every week since 2010.
Rebecca Frank, Content Director for the KISS Network added: “We’re proud to be part of this exciting adventure into Dance Music royalty and foundation music! We’re all about old skool and anthems at KISSTORY, so to hear stories and revelations from the people who were there and made the tunes we all know and love will be so special. A must listen!
“Dance Britannia is a real celebration of the pure joy of dance music, told through the eyes of the people who have made the scene what it is today.”
