Paul Woolford: The UK Dance Music Innovator

Paul Woolford is a British DJ and producer whose prolific career spans underground techno, house, and chart-topping pop crossovers. Hailing from Leeds, England, he achieved global recognition with his 2020 single "Looking For Me," a platinum-certified collaboration with Diplo and Kareen Lomax that became a worldwide dance anthem.

Early career

Born in 1976, Paul Woolford's journey began in the fertile clubland of Leeds in the late 1990s. He established himself as a resident DJ at the city's legendary Back to Basics nightclub, a crucial apprenticeship that shaped his deep understanding of dancefloors. His early productions, often under aliases like Bobby Peru, emerged on respected imprints like 20:20 Vision and started gaining traction in the early 2000s.

Breakthrough

Woolford's first major commercial breakthrough arrived in 2013 with the release of "Untitled" on Hotflush Recordings. The track, a masterclass in tense, driving techno, became an unexpected viral hit and a staple in sets from DJs across the spectrum. This success paved the way for his most defining moment: the 2014 creation of his Special Request alias, dedicated to exploring the raw energy of hardcore, jungle, and breakbeat.

Key tracks

Untitled — This 2013 techno weapon became an underground anthem, demonstrating Woolford's ability to craft minimal yet devastatingly effective club music.

Looking For Me — The 2020 pop-house smash with Diplo and Kareen Lomax reached the UK Top 10 and achieved multi-platinum status globally, introducing his sound to a vast mainstream audience.

Prayer — Released under his Special Request alias, this 2017 track is a frenetic homage to jungle and hardcore, showcasing the depth and breadth of his musical palette.

You Already Know — A 2021 collaboration with Karen Harding that continued his run of chart-friendly house hits, securing heavy rotation on dance radio.

Following the global success of "Looking For Me," Woolford has balanced his pop-leaning house productions with intense output as Special Request, releasing acclaimed albums on Houndstooth and XL Recordings. His DJ schedule remains relentless, headlining major festivals and clubs worldwide, while his own label, Intimacy, serves as a platform for his diverse musical interests. His work is characterized by a relentless drive to innovate within dance music's many forms, from warehouse techno to radio-ready hooks. Fans of Woolford's UK-centric, genre-fluid approach may also enjoy Bicep for their emotive, sample-heavy electronic journeys. The percussive, energetic house of Patrick Topping shares a similar club-focused intensity. For the harder-edged, breakbeat-inspired side of his work, explore SHERELLE and her fierce jungle and footwork selections.

Paul Woolford's dynamic catalog is a fixture on electronic and dance-focused radio stations across our network. His tracks, from the peak-time energy of his Special Request material to the sunny vocals of his pop collaborations, are regularly featured on specialist dance music shows and mainstream FM dance channels, ensuring his sounds reach dedicated fans and new listeners alike.

You can discover the full spectrum of Paul Woolford's influential house and techno productions by tuning into the electronic music radio stations featured on onairium.com. Our curated stations provide the perfect gateway to experience his chart-topping hits and underground anthems in continuous rotation.