Aug. 13, 2026

Do You Actually Need to Chase Bigger Rooms? ft. Deeper Purpose | EF EP 164

Do You Actually Need to Chase Bigger Rooms? ft. Deeper Purpose | EF EP 164

This episode is sponsored by Trackstack: the operating system built for music professionals who invest in each other. Trackstack Pro gives you access to a network of labels, curators, and artists where every connection you make is yours to keep. No algorithms, no platform holding your contacts hostage. Just real professional relationships that can turn into collaborations, bookings, and opportunities that can change the trajectory of your career.


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Every artist gets told the same thing: get bigger. Bigger rooms, bigger festivals, bigger numbers. But do you actually need any of it to be happy, or even to call it success?


Deeper Purpose isn't sure you do. The Croydon-born house DJ and producer — championed early by Jamie Jones and Lee Foss — walked away from a management team that only wanted him to scale, and realized he was happiest playing 200-capacity, dark and dingy clubs. In this episode, he sits down with Olivia Mancuso to talk about figuring out what you actually want from a career, and building one, along with his label, In 2 Deep, entirely on his own terms.


What you'll take away:

  • How to figure out what you actually want from your career before you chase someone else's version of success
  • The power of saying no, and the six-month check-in he uses to course-correct
  • Why becoming a great DJ - not just a producer - is what actually builds a career
  • The honest, unglamorous truth about running your own record label
  • How getting burned on money at 19 taught him to watch the business side early
  • Building a career you can sustain and be happy in, instead of chasing scale

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth:
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

00:00 - — Why Chasing Bigger Never Felt Right

02:24 - — Growing Up Between City Life and the Farm

04:05 - — Real Farm Work and Country Roots

08:22 - — Sneaking Into a Club at 17

09:51 - — Learning to DJ on Weekly Club Nights

11:10 - — Early Lessons in Shady Payouts

13:07 - — Becoming a Dad at 19

16:06 - — Discovering House Music

17:02 - — Dubstep Roots and the UK Scene

22:22 - — Jamie Jones, Hot Natured, and the Bridge Into House

24:04 - — Why DJing Matters Before Producing

26:11 - — The Value of Open Format Skills

30:55 - — What a Record Label Does for an Artist

33:48 - — Why Originality Matters in Music

37:24 - — Why Smaller Rooms Feel Better

40:49 - — Knowing When an Opportunity Is Wrong