About Hunting for Dopamine
Welcome to Hunting for Dopamine (... or a vibrational sound!).
We're Julie and Jade, and we're passionate about music, gigs, Mental Health, being Neurodivergent and creating a fun, non-judgmental space for everyone. Learn more about us and our mission below.
Meet Julie and Jade
We're the duo behind Hunting for Dopamine.
Julie has combined type ADHD & depression, Jade had an NHS neurodivergent assessment in 2026 and was diagnosed with Autism. Jade also lives with a severe mental health condition & OCD (not the cleaning type!).
Our lived experience brings a unique perspective to our writing. We're here to share our love of music with you and hopefully will encourage more of you to engage with local music venues and try something different!
We will go to music gigs of most genres!
We're up for trying new types of music because this novelty also creates dopamine for us!
Our Story
It all started with a friend's suggestion after I said "I don't understand why this place isn't packed to the rafters!" about a gig that was cheap ( less than a tenner) and had three excellent bands appearing.
They said, in a 'well-do-something-about-it-then sort of way', "You should blog about the music you love!"
And so, 'Hunting for Dopamine' was born.
We primarily focus on gigs in and around Derby, but occasionally venture to Nottingham and beyond. Our blog is a light-hearted exploration of the music we enjoy, peppered with insights into neurodiversity and mental health and anything else that piques our interest!
Who We Hope to Connect With
We're hoping to connect with all sorts of people, really.
People who don't usually go to gigs like those who think that they're too old to go.
No, you're not!
You never stop enjoying music, so why not try going to a cheap gig at a grassroots venue? You won't regret trying it.
Also, those of us with mental health challenges or are neurodivergent may worry about going to a gig. Well, there are bound to be other people there who feel similar to you. You might meet new friends. Also, going to a gig is a chance to get that dopamine!
There is a large student presence in Derby and gigs are always a good way of meeting new people and helps with loneliness that can creep in sometimes.
Our blog touches on music and also because we are both late diagnosed as neurodivergent we'll aim to share our experiences, as we are still learning how being neurodivergent specifically affects us. We hope to create an inclusive space for everyone to hear about the new sounds that we've found and to share our learning around being neurodivergent along with Mental Health.
"We hope you'll be inspired to go to a gig in Derby!"
Julie and Jade, Hunting for Dopamine
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