Ep. 262: Ian Dench discusses EMF's "Unbelievable"

Chris DeMakes A Podcast

Chris DeMakes

Music History, Music Commentary, Music, Music Interviews

4.9 • 923 Ratings

🗓️ 9 June 2025

⏱️ 78 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, Ian Dench of EMF joins the show to discuss the writing and recording of the band’s explosive 1991 hit, “Unbelievable.” From its instantly recognizable hook to its genre-blending sound, the song became a cultural phenomenon and an enduring stadium anthem. Ian offers a look behind the curtain at the song’s construction, including its layered instrumentation, unique pre-chorus, and the clever use of samples—most notably the shout of “Oh!” lifted from Andrew Dice Clay’s stand-up album. He also recounts how a chance encounter with Rick Rubin at a New York restaurant led to Rubin casually granting sample clearance with the words, “Fax my office in the morning.” The conversation explores the emotional and musical influences that shaped the track, the challenges of creating in the analog era, and how personal experiences and playful experimentation helped fuel the song’s unforgettable energy. Chris DeMakes A Podcast is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at http://distrokid.com/vip/demakes For bonus episode of The After Party podcast, an extensive back catalog of past After Party episodes, early ad-free releases of new episodes of Chris DeMakes A Podcast, full video versions of episodes, and MUCH more, head to the Patreon at http://www.ChrisDeMakes.com Follow Chris DeMakes A Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdemakesapodcast/ Join the Chris DeMakes A Podcast community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2643961642526928/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by DistroKit.
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0:21.4	ups, online, in person, and on the go. Shopify is made for entrepreneurs like you.
0:27.2	Sign up for your $1 a month trial at Shopify.com slash setup.
0:37.0	Hey everybody.
0:40.3	Today's guest is guitarist and principal songwriter, Ian Dench, from the Gloucester
0:44.8	England alternative dance rock band, EMF.
0:48.3	Together we pull back the covers and take a deep dive into the writing, recording, and
0:53.4	inspiration behind the smash hit single,
0:56.1	Unbelievable, taken from their 1991 album, Schubert Dip.
1:00.5	This song kind of has it all.
1:02.7	Dance elements, rock elements, hip-hop samples, a cameo from Andrew Dice Clay, and a punky swagger
1:09.1	exacerbated by an overtly English accent.
1:12.4	I told Ian that unbelievable was absolutely everywhere when I first went off to college.
1:17.8	So many memories from that time period were conjured up while I combed through this track.
1:22.4	Producers Pascal Gabriel and Ralph Gazzard, along with the band, were creating something new here.
1:28.3	The 80s were no more.
1:29.7	This was a new decade.
1:31.1	The 90s, and you could hear it.
	...

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