Terminal V Podcast 078 || Justin Jay

Justin Jay has had a landmark year by anyone’s standard, and it has been filled with firsts: he debuted on Boiler Room (out next year) and played the first edition of our festival in Croatia while also touring across Europe and the United States. His first release came four years ago but he is still only 22 and brings an infectious sense of energy and positivity to everything he does, including his unique blend of house, techno, garage and breaks.

Justin pulls out all the stops for us with this week’s mix, which is entirely made up of unreleased originals and remixes that he has made either alone or in collaboration with friends like Dusty Dan, Freeman713, Kara Okay and gusted amongst many more. It’s punchy and moves at a swift, captivating pace with plenty of uplifting feels along the way. Tune in and read on to hear about the importance of working with Dirty Bird, having fun and the influence of living in LA.

 

How was Terminal V in Croatia?

It was so surreal!! It was my first time in Croatia ever, and was my first time playing a music festival in Europe. As a fan of so many of the artists on the line up, I would’ve gone just for fun. Playing both on the beach and on a boat couldn’t have been more lovely. Leaned into the summer, beachy energy in my sets which felt great.

How important was it to be part of the Dirtybird family so early – what did you learn from that and from label boss Claude von Stroke?

I got my first song signed to Dirtybird, my favourite label, when I was 18 years old during my first week of university. I had been sending demos over Soundcloud but assumed I would never hear back. When I got word that Claude, one of my favourite DJ’s, liked a song of mine, it completely changed my life. It showed that if I worked hard on music and put myself out there, anything could happen. I got to play their residency in Ibiza when I was 20, played their festivals across the US, and made some of my closest friends music. I’m so grateful for the community Dirtybird brought together, both in terms of artists and fans. That chapter will always have a huge place in my heart.

Since then you have branched out into your own world – how much of your sound is inspired and influenced by the scene, weather, and attitude of your native LA?

Growing up in LA was amazing for music. I had a small group of friends who loved underground dance music starting in high school. I went to my first rave when I turned 16 and then began going to loads of proper techno warehouse parties once I began college. LA is interesting because if you have a niche interest or taste, you can find an amazing community. However, the vast majority of people I grew up with and went to school with did not share those same tastes. Because of that, my formative DJ experiences were playing for peers who did not like dance music. I would need to trick them into enjoying the music I wanted to play. It’s made me a better DJ as it always felt like an uphill battle to win the crowd over, but was always possible with some creativity and determination. For my productions, growing up in LA also opened me up to so many influences outside of dance music. From indie rock to hip hop/rap and even pop music.

You never seem afraid to be seen to having fun when you play, which is not always the case with serious techno DJs. Is it important for you to keep it real like that?

Sooo important to have fun! I’m in a very lucky position as a DJ/producer/artist. I know I have total freedom to be myself. Why not enjoy it? I’m pretty self-serving when I DJ. I play songs that make me happy, whether they’re strange and experimental or cheesy and poppy. Because I grew up playing to very basic crowds, I get so excited playing the music I want to play. So ya, how could I not be having a good time?

Tell us about your mix, the aim you had with it, and what you wanted it to say.

I recorded this mix in Ableton as I’m touring in Europe and couldn’t find decks to record with. Normally I prefer 4 CDJs to improvise and go crazy with the blends.

What’s next, what other projects are in the pipeline?

I just did my first ever Boiler Room which should be out early next year. Got some really exciting shows in Europe on the horizon, some insane festivals that I can’t announce yet 😉 Tons of new music. And during the holidays, I try to take a short break from touring and do some free Zoom lectures as well an artist bootcamp! Giving back to my community in this way has become a highlight each year. Seeing people make tunes because of a free class that get signed to big labels or played at festivals is honestly surreal. For anyone here who’s curious about that, keep an eye on my Instagram or DM me. Feeling lots of gratitude and excitement for the adventures ahead.

 

Interview by Kristan Caryl