A love letter to music and how it gets us through, in podcast form.

Latest Episodes

Episodes
Episode Six: Declan Murphy
Episode Six: Declan Murphy

This week’s episode isn’t a short one, but it is a fun one. Chatting music and other nonsense with Declan has long been a favourite pastime, and recording this week’s podcast genuinely warmed my heart no end. I hope you enjoy.

Episode Five: Rohan Young
Episode Five: Rohan Young

Rohan and I have been friends since the dawn of time. Or the mid-'90s for those of you who remember them. We’ve been through so much together, and have lost almost as many hours talking about music, as we have every other nuance of our private lives.

Episode Four: Mark Congiusta
Episode Four: Mark Congiusta

Mark’s pandemic music, and the music that has sound tracked his life, not only confused my Spotify algorithm, but also helped me discover some new music, and revisit some old favourites with a fresh perspective.

Episode Three: Lorna Begg
Episode Three: Lorna Begg

This week’s guest is my good friend and super music nerd, Lorna Begg. In this episode we talk about music, memories, mashing up Rufus Wainwright and the Jonas Brothers, and much more. Enjoy!

Episode Two: Rowan Manahan
Episode Two: Rowan Manahan

Our first episode is here. Huzzah! I’m super excited to welcome the inimitable and wonderful Rowan Manahan. His music choices and the stories that accompanied them were a joy to chat through. I hope you enjoy them too.

Episode One: Hello there!
Episode One: Hello there!

Why did I start a podcast? Was I just the last person on Earth without one? Did I really have nothing left to talk about after a year of pandemic video calls? Yes, but I also believe music has the power to heal and get us through almost anything. I wanted to find out what my friends thought and how music sound tracked their pandemic experience and life overall. So here we are.

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Last Year a DJ Saved My Life is hosted by Dena Walker, a professional nerd who needed a hobby and missed banging on about music with her friends almost as much as she misses that jumper.

(She also hates talking about herself in the 3rd person.)

Learn More

Latest Blog Posts

Blog
Playlist // Declan Murphy
Playlist // Declan Murphy

Declan’s playlist is a fantastic window into the brilliant quirkiness and depth that made me instantly want to be his friend the moment we first met. I’m so glad that I am… and that I get to share a bit of how fab he is with everyone too.

Playlist // Rohan Young
Playlist // Rohan Young

Rohan’s pandemic playlist is a collection of perfect pick-me-up pop gems that I’ve already started playing on repeat whenever I’ve needed a boost. I hope you will too.

Playlist // Mark Congiusta
Playlist // Mark Congiusta

Mark’s playlist didn’t come to play, for sure. The stories that go along with it are as powerful as the song choices too.

Playlist // Lorna Begg
Playlist // Lorna Begg

This week’s guest chose the songs that truly sum her up. Needless to say, they are therefore all brilliant.

Playlist // Rowan Manahan
Playlist // Rowan Manahan

Our first guest, Rowan Manahan made some great choices for our chat, and I really enjoyed listening to them. I hope you do too.

Playlist // Hello!
Playlist // Hello!

While I get on with editing the first of our episodes I thought I’d share a wee playlist of songs I’ve loved over the last year (and in many cases much longer) to say hello and welcome.

Did a D.J. really save my life?
Did a D.J. really save my life?

Well, sort of. I guess.

The nugget of an idea that became this podcast arrived during a conversation with a friend over cocktails. It was either a genius idea that stuck with me or just early enough in the night for a handful of dirty martinis not to have wiped it from my memory.

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