This episode of Hardhouse History is about far more than records, DJs and dancefloors. Paul Glazby sits down with 19-year-old Hugo from The Test Lounge for a deeply personal conversation about family, loss, musical discovery, and carrying forward something his dad, Chris, started purely for the love of music.
The Test Lounge began with a simple idea. Chris wanted to dig into his incredible record collection, play the music he loved and share it with anyone who wanted to listen. It wasn't about followers or creating content. It was about spreading happiness and excitement through music.
Following Chris's sudden passing, Hugo found himself surrounded by thousands of records, a DJ setup and an extraordinary musical legacy.
Despite an unsuccessful attempt to learn to DJ with his dad when he was younger, Hugo decided to try again. Hours of practice eventually produced that first proper mix, almost perfectly timed with Fergie walking through the door. With encouragement from Fergie and two close friends, Hugo eventually decided to bring The Test Lounge back, this time putting his own personality in front of the camera.
Paul and Hugo talk about the staggering breadth of Chris's collection, from hard house, Trippy Traxx, Positiva and Defected through to Michael Jackson, Prince, Elvis, NWA, Beastie Boys and Frank Sinatra. For Hugo, exploring those thousands of records has become a musical education in itself.
There's also plenty of talk about Fergie's influence and support, Hugo's love of the harder sounds, his first vinyl DJ set at the Spin reunion in Birmingham and the unforgettable feeling of watching a dancefloor actually dance.
That experience also brought home one of his Dad's strongest beliefs: put the phones away, forget about the DJ and enjoy the music. For Hugo, that philosophy is now at the heart of what comes next.
The Test Lounge started with Chris. Hugo isn't trying to replace that story. He's carrying it forward while beginning one of his own.
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Discover the story behind The Test Lounge, hear Hugo's journey into DJing and celebrate a musical legacy being passed from one generation to the next.
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