A Portal to a Forgotten Era
DJ Chad Lewis’s Oldskool Mix isn’t just a nostalgic trip—it’s a portal back to a time when dance music was raw, underground, and full of life. It’s a deep dive into the sounds that defined a generation, evoking memories of sweaty basements, strobe-lit dancefloors, and the pounding rhythms that brought strangers together under one shared love: the music. For anyone who set foot in legendary clubs like TinTins in Birmingham during the 1990s, this mix hits different—it’s not just a soundtrack, it’s a time machine.
Before the Internet Took Over
Back then, dance music wasn’t something you could casually stumble upon. It wasn’t flooding the charts, it wasn’t on every advert, and it certainly wasn’t easy to find on mainstream radio or TV. If you wanted to hear these tunes, you had to live it. That meant heading out every weekend, finding the right venues, and immersing yourself in the culture that existed quietly in the shadows of the mainstream. Places like TinTins weren’t just clubs—they were sanctuaries for music lovers and ravers who were hungry for something different. Something real.
And that’s exactly what Chad Lewis delivers in this mix: something real.
The Sound of the Underground
From the first beat, Chad transports listeners straight back to that era—the crackle of vinyl, the punch of analogue drums, the uplifting piano riffs and razor-sharp breakbeats that defined early UK rave culture. These are the tunes that would vibrate through the walls of TinTins on a Saturday night, when the DJ booth was gospel and the dancefloor a congregation of pure energy. He doesn’t just pick the hits, either. This is a mix built on deep cuts, classic anthems, and forgotten bangers, all seamlessly blended with a DJ’s ear that clearly knows the roots of the scene.
There’s a fierce authenticity to this set. It’s not overly polished or commercialised—it doesn’t try to be retro. It just is. Chad’s selection spans the full spectrum of oldskool rave and hardcore, with nods to jungle, acid house, early breakbeat, and even hints of proto-trance and garage. There’s a perfect balance between chaos and control, as wild synths and thunderous basslines are reined in by masterful transitions and pacing.
Listening to this mix, you can practically feel the sweat dripping from the ceiling of a packed club, the smell of smoke machines in the air, the low rumble of the bass as it creeps up through the soles of your trainers. It’s the kind of atmosphere you just can’t replicate unless you were there—or unless someone like Chad Lewis recreates it with such care and precision.
A Tribute to TinTins
What makes this mix so powerful is how it reminds us of the experience of music during that time. In the ’90s, before streaming platforms and YouTube algorithms, you didn’t just hear a new track—you chased it. You caught a fragment of it in a club like TinTins, scribbled down lyrics on a napkin in hopes of tracking it down later, or waited for a mate who might have it on tape. The only way to hear these tunes, and feel them in their full, thumping glory, was to be there. And being there was everything.
TinTins wasn’t just a place to dance—it was a rite of passage. Tucked away in Birmingham’s city centre, it had that gritty, no-frills charm that made it feel like home to thousands of ravers. There were no VIP booths or pretentious dress codes—just a laser-lit room full of people connected by rhythm, sweat, and the shared knowledge that what they were part of was special. It was the type of club where the DJ didn’t just play tunes—they told stories. And Chad Lewis tells that story again, beautifully, through this mix.
Living the Music
The way Chad weaves together the elements—those iconic stabby pianos, the chopped-up vocals, the breakbeats that seem to bounce off every wall—feels less like a DJ set and more like an ode to a movement. You can hear the influences, the lineage, and the love for a scene that once thrived in the shadows and now lives on in the hearts of those who were lucky enough to witness it.
But this mix isn’t just for those who were there. It’s also a brilliant introduction for younger listeners who want to understand what all the fuss was about. This is what the underground sounded like. Before the algorithms and the Spotify playlists, this was how you found the music that moved you: by physically going somewhere, stepping into a club like TinTins, and letting the music take over.
For the Oldskool and the New Wave
There’s something deeply personal about the way Chad Lewis approaches this set. You can tell these aren’t just tracks to him—they’re memories, milestones, maybe even moments that changed his life. And through his careful curation, he invites us to remember our own. That first time you lost yourself on the dancefloor. That moment when a tune dropped and the whole room screamed. That feeling of being exactly where you needed to be, surrounded by sound, sweat, and strangers who felt like family.
What truly elevates this mix is that it’s not about flashy tricks or showing off technical prowess (though Chad certainly has the skills). It’s about emotion, connection, and truth. It’s about reminding us that some of the best nights of our lives started in dark clubs with broken toilets, sticky floors, and sound systems that rattled your ribcage. And above all, it reminds us that oldskool doesn’t mean outdated—it means timeless.
In a world where everything is constantly speeding up, and attention spans are shrinking, there’s something grounding about returning to this kind of music. It demands patience, presence, and passion. Chad Lewis understands that, and he’s given us a mix that honours it.
Conclusion: The Dancefloor That Never Dies
Whether you were raving at TinTins in ’94, collecting mixtapes from market stalls, or you’re just now discovering what the fuss was all about, DJ Chad Lewis’s Oldskool Mix is a masterpiece. It’s a love letter to a bygone era—but also proof that the heartbeat of that era still echoes loud and clear.
Plug in. Turn it up. Close your eyes—and let Chad take you back to the dancefloor that never dies.