Paul Thomas has spent one decade building UV Records into one of progressive house’s most trusted imprints, quietly shaping the sound of a scene that has always prized depth over spectacle. As a DJ, label head, and now podcast host, he operates with a focus and intentionality that feels increasingly rare in an era defined by noise and distraction.
That commitment to doing things properly is exactly what delayed the launch of Underground Live Forever, his video podcast series that finally arrived in December 2025 and immediately found an audience hungry for exactly this kind of content. Filmed across multiple locations, from Amsterdam studios to a landmark back-to-back with Das Pharaoh in Sri Lanka, the show gives progressive house the long-form treatment it deserves, letting artists speak for themselves and letting the music breathe.
Meanwhile, UV Records is having one of its strongest years yet. Quivver’s remix of Miro’s “Paradise” hit number one on Beatport, and the label’s new Retrospection series, which revisits overlooked classics through fresh, forward-thinking remixes, signals that Thomas is as focused on the future of the sound as he is on honoring its history.
In this interview, Paul speaks with House Nest about the making of Underground Live Forever, what makes Sri Lanka’s progressive house scene unlike anywhere else, how he finds and develops talent at UV Records, and why he believes the genre is on the edge of something big in 2026.
Hi Paul, thanks so much for joining us today. How has the start of spring been treating you?
It’s been great, thank you. We’ve just come off the back of our first UV London show of 2026, which was a lot of fun, and before that, we were over in Amsterdam recording the next episodes of Underground Live Forever. It’s been a busy but really exciting start to the year.
Your podcast, Underground Live Forever, launched in December 2025 and immediately sparked serious conversation across the progressive community. Were you ever hesitant about starting it?
Absolutely. It’s a huge commitment in terms of time, energy, and focus, so we had to be confident we could do it properly without cutting corners. It also pushed us well outside our comfort zone; we’re not naturally comfortable in front of the camera. But we felt there was a genuine gap in the scene for this kind of podcast. At some point, you have to take a risk, lean into the discomfort, and try something completely new.
Episode three saw you go back‑to‑back with Das Pharaoh in Sri Lanka. How does that experience compare to playing in the UK?
Sri Lanka is incredibly special to me: I’ve been going there for nearly 20 years now. The scene is knowledgeable, passionate, and deeply connected to progressive house in a way that reminds me of Argentina. It felt like the perfect place to host our first on‑location ULF episode.
It’s very different from the UK. Most events there are outdoors, and I think I’ve only played in a club once in all those years. The energy is also completely different — progressive house is actually played on national radio in Sri Lanka, which says everything about how much people love the music there.
Each episode feels like a portal into a different sonic world. How do you prepare, and what can fans expect going forward?
What really struck us while filming the first episodes was just how unique every artist is. Everyone brings their own perspective, sound, and vision, which makes the musical side of things surprisingly easy; you simply let the artist be themselves.
The real challenge is everything else: logistics, scripting (which almost always goes out the window), filming, and editing. But we’ve got some exciting plans lined up. We’ve just wrapped an episode with Quivver, who was fantastic, and we’ve got artists like Estiva and Patch Park coming up, alongside some ambitious on‑location ideas we can’t wait to reveal.
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Do you feel progressive house is on the brink of a wider breakthrough?
I was actually discussing this with Dave Seaman recently, and we both feel progressive house is right on the edge of something big again. You can sense it in the growing audiences, the quality of events, and the number of artists committing fully to the sound.
If it does explode, that’s amazing; as long as it doesn’t lose its soul. The scene is in a really beautiful place right now, and I hope it manages to hold onto that integrity.
With so many roles pulling at your attention, how do you decide what music to sign and who to support?
First and foremost, the music has to work in our DJ sets. A lot of our A&R comes from actively seeking out artists whose sound genuinely fits within the world we’re building, rather than waiting for tracks to land in our inbox. That said, demos still play a role, but discovering artists, understanding their vision, and building long‑term relationships is a huge part of how we like to operate.
In an age of endless social media noise, how do you cut through and build deeper listener connections?
Honestly, I barely use social media, much to my manager’s frustration. I post sporadically at best, which probably isn’t ideal by modern standards.
But that’s one of the things I love about the progressive house community. The fans aren’t overly obsessed with algorithms or trends; they’re here for the music first and foremost. That makes connecting with them feel more organic, and in many ways, a lot more rewarding.
You’ve been running UV Records for nearly a decade. What’s next for the label?
One thing that was absolutely crucial with Underground Live Forever was ensuring it never detracted from the time and energy we put into UV. Thankfully, it’s been a really strong start to the year — Quivver’s remix of Miro – Paradise hit number one on Beatport, and we’ve got a run of releases that, personally, I think are as strong as anything we’ve ever put out.
A key focus this year is our Retrospection series, where we revisit classic tracks, not the obvious ones that have been endlessly recycled – and reintroduce them through modern, forward‑thinking remixes.
You can watch the latest Underground Live Forever episode below:
Support the artists and buy “UV Miami 2026” here
Follow UV Records on Social Media:
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