As one of the most outstanding DJs from the UK, DJames has created for himself a very unique portfolio and has blazed a wonderful path for his career. Since his debut, with a career spanning over 18 years, he is still going strong and attracting new audiences. Being one of the most versatile DJs to lay hands on the decks, he is constantly embracing growth and evolving with every passing year since his debut.
DJames’ evolution is well-documented as someone who started his career on the turntables with R&B, Reggae, and Indie to now flexing his expertise in Afrobeats and Dancehall. He continuously searches for new areas in his craft, diligently masters it, and has never fallen short or wavered in his 18-year career. Known as the UK champion, DJames has a wide range of accolades under his belt with collaborations with industry giants such as Burna Boy, Davido, and Chris Brown to partnering with multiple brands such as the NBA, Red Bull, Chanel, Nike, etc. DJames is just getting started.
The crowd, his orchestra, the decks, his conducting stick, and being a genius on the turntables, he commands the crowd’s attention as he immerses them in hypnotic rhythms, and seamless transitions with incredible song selections. His CULTUR FM episode last year is a quintessential testament to his abilities. With the video, garnering 6.5 million views on YouTube and over 20 million plays across all social media platforms, he made an explosive impact on the African audience, making himself a household name in the rapidly growing music scene in the motherland. He also became the first white DJ to perform at the prestigious Lagos Corner during the 2024 Notting Hill Carnival.
Last year he released his EP, “Grateful” which featured a diverse roster of talented Afrobeats and Afro-fusion artists such as Crayon, Qing Madi, and 1da Banton. It’s 2025 and he is seeking to continue his run. In an interview with iMullar, he talks about his career, his sound, his evolution, his new EP, and his plans for 2025.
Can you introduce yourself to the audience? Who is DJames? And who is the man behind the creative?
My name is DJames, pronounced ‘Dee-James’, and I’m a London based DJ, producer and curator. I’m obsessed with music discovery and I’m constantly trying to create something new and original myself.
What inspired you to take a career behind the turntables?
When I was at University, my friends became the entertainment reps for our college and they needed a DJ. I’d always been into music and I had played around with DJing for fun so I decided to give it a go!
What genres did you initially start with when you began your career as a DJ?
Those first few gigs I was playing for student parties so it was literally whatever they wanted. Everything from R&B to Dance, Indie and Reggae! As I started to play in the bigger clubs I was able to narrow it down more to Hip-Hop, R&B, Dancehall, Afrobeats and UK Funky, which was huge at the time.
Describe the evolution of your career and artistry?
I would definitely say it’s been a bit scattered over the years! As a DJ, I’ve done everything from DJing at Drake & The Weeknd’s concert to playing drum & bass for Ministry Of Sound tours. I also produced a show on national radio, worked for a streaming company, toured and managed an artist, and had many other roles across the industry. I was always meticulous in my research though and practised for hours every day. I feel like all these experiences combined to help me get to where I am today.
How does it feel like to have a crowd at the palm of your hand with your selections, transitions and mixes?
Nothing can beat that feeling to be honest. It makes all the hard work worthwhile! Now it’s even more amazing to me that they’re coming to see me do specific blends and routines that they’ve seen online. It’s like me performing my own songs!
Was there ever a time in your career that you wanted to quit being a DJ? If yes, what made you stay on?
Oh yes, there have been plenty of low moments but nobody sees those! The hours I spent driving around the country working low paid gigs, trying to make a name for myself. Sometimes it got really difficult but for me the alternative was much worse so I stuck at it.
You have collaborated with a lot of industry giants. How was it like working with them?
I’m very fortunate to work with artists who are not just talented but are also amazing people. I think my favourite thing to do is work with them on their live shows, creating custom edits and structuring the show so it’s tailored to each city we perform in. I just wish there were cameras rolling all the time, because those moments when we figure something out are the best!
What was the feeling like, participating and winning the Red Bull 3Style UK Champion?
That competition took over my life! I went to the world finals in Poland 3 years prior to entering and I was so inspired. I couldn’t watch a TV show or listen to anything without thinking ‘how could I work this into my set?!’ That was another moment when I think all my past experiences got me through and things just aligned thankfully. The night itself was pretty nerve racking but once I started playing and saw the crowd’s reaction, that went away. When they announced the 3rd & 2nd place DJs, everyone in the room seemed to know I’d won except me! I was in shock when they said I was going to the world finals!
Your Cultur.fm DJ Set went viral and garnered a lot of plays. What was the thought process going into that set? And how did you feel about the traction it got?
When I’m touring and playing shows, I’m generally sandwiched between two other DJs or artists, there are people on the mic, drummers playing over me and so many other things to contend with. With CULTUR FM it was really the first time people had the chance to sit and listen to me perform for 1 hour with no distractions or issues. I think my style was very different to what they’d had before so I thought it’s either going to be their biggest episode ever or a total flop! The fact it went so viral was almost like validation that my style works so that was a good feeling.
Your latest project, “Grateful”, was released in September last year. Tell us about the theme and message of the project.
On that EP, I made music with five incredible artists from Nigeria in 1da Banton, Crayon, Qing Madi, Shoday & Skales. That was the first thing to be grateful for! After all the ups and downs I’ve had, I was in a place where I wanted to thank those who have helped me get so far. It was about me recognising how the fans have embraced me and the artists have given me a chance as a producer from outside the continent.
What went into the selection process for all the collaborations on the project?
I worked on a lot of songs over a two year period with artists that I am a fan of, it was as simple as that! I travelled to Lagos a few times and I also set up a studio in London so I had a base when they were in the UK. I still have a lot of unreleased music with some big names sitting on my laptop which needs to come out soon!
2024 was a great year for you. What are your plans for this year, 2025?
The focus this year is to tour the parts of the world I’ve never performed in such as Asia and South America. I’m so excited by all the music coming out of Africa and I’m fortunate that I’m in a position where I can travel and introduce new people to it. I also want to release a lot more of my own music and remixes while experimenting with new sounds.
As a seasoned veteran, what word of advice would you give current and upcoming DJs?
Find your own sound, stick with it and put out your content relentlessly until you see results! I hear way too many DJs whose sets are identical and you’ll never stand out that way. A lot of people post three videos on TikTok and give up as well. It’s a heavily saturated market so you have to be consistent. During the pandemic, I did 50 blends in 50 days and it wasn’t until 30 days in when things started to pick up!
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