Chris Agnelli joins me for a fascinating deep dive into the story of Agnelli & Nelson, the creation of El Niño and Everyday (amongst others), the golden era of trance, and the wild reality of dance music during the 1990s and 2000s.
From growing up in Northern Ireland during the rave explosion to creating one of the most iconic trance records ever made, Chris shares the untold stories behind Agnelli & Nelson's rise, the birth of El Niño, signing to the legendary Extravaganza label, and the moment everything changed forever.
We discuss how El Niño was created, how the original file was lost and had to be rebuilt from scratch, the incredible story of the Spanish student who unknowingly became the voice of a trance anthem, and what it was like receiving support from Pete Tong, Judge Jules and Radio 1 at the height of trance culture.
Chris also reflects on Ibiza, Gatecrasher, Privilege, Eden, early DJ technology, vinyl culture, and how clubbing has evolved over the last three decades.
If you were there during the golden era of trance, Gatecrasher, Godskitchen, Cream, Radio 1 and Ibiza, this episode is packed with nostalgia, insider stories and moments you won't hear anywhere else.
In this episode:
▪️ The untold story behind El Niño
▪️ How Agnelli & Nelson exploded worldwide
▪️ Pete Tong, Judge Jules & Radio 1 support
▪️ The file corruption that nearly killed a trance classic
▪️ The Spanish student behind the famous vocal
▪️ Ibiza & the golden era of trance
▪️ Vinyl, CDJs & the evolution of DJ culture
▪️ Life inside the dance music industry
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:12 Ibiza, Es Paradis & The Golden Era
04:45 Why Chris Agnelli Hated Playing Privilege
08:32 The Wild Alex P Ibiza Story
11:40 Life Before Mobile Phones & Social Media
15:48 Growing Up In Northern Ireland's Rave Scene
20:35 Discovering Electronic Music & Early Production
24:58 Meeting Robbie Nelson
28:15 Creating El Niño
33:22 "The File Corrupted"
36:45 Rebuilding El Niño From Scratch
39:50 The Spanish Student Behind The Vocal
44:18 Signing To Extravaganza Records
47:05 Pete Tong, Judge Jules & Radio 1 Support
50:10 Shooting The El Niño Video In Cuba
53:05 The Rise Of Agnelli & Nelson
55:15 Part Two Preview
