We caught up with Justin Jay to discuss his first bass-fueled EP, Wait For The Drop, his love for teaching, his renowned after-parties, and more!
Justin Jay radiates an infectious frequency of joy, effortlessly seeping into his music and uplifting the spirits of all who listen. A rising star in the music scene, this Los Angeles native has made big moves, both geographically and artistically. With his recent relocation to Colorado, Justin Jay has unlocked a whole new realm of creative expression, delving into uncharted territories and having the time of his life doing it.
Known for making vibrant, soul-stirring house, Justin realized that being put in a box was taking the joy out of making music, going against all that he naturally emanates. So, he is now actively choosing to make whatever he wants, giving himself the space to experiment and do what feels most authentic to him. This shift in perspective ultimately led to the release of his first bass EP, Wait For The Drop, out now on Deadbeats.
Justin Jay has led the charge in the movement to unite the house and bass communities. His renowned after-parties have created a space for artistic expression to feel free and fun, drawing dance music heavyweights like Skrillex and Zeds Dead into its alluring grip. We had the absolute pleasure of catching up with the man behind the madness, who lets joy lead the way and isn’t afraid to shake things up.
Stream Justin Jay – Wait For The Drop on Spotify:
Hi Justin! Thanks so much for chatting with us today. You are known for making incredibly funky, soulful house music, but you are a very multidimensional artist. Tell us a little more about how you’ve molded your sound over the years and what inspires you to create music of all different styles…
Thanks for having me! I’ve never been good at sticking with just one thing. For me, making music is about having fun and channeling whatever inspiration I’m feeling at that moment. Whether that’s a particular emotion/energy or a genre, I try my best not to self-censor myself and give myself the space to do whatever feels authentic. I also try to stay as open-minded as possible, as there’s always more amazing music to discover!
I moved to Boulder, CO, a little over a year ago, and American dubstep/bass has become a big inspiration these days, even though I dismissed the entire scene for a long time. For most of my career, forward-thinking European artists and labels have often informed my taste. Ilian Tape, which I see as one of the most defining underground dance music labels, started putting out bass music over the past few years, which I think helped open me up to the American stuff. A year of being in Boulder and I’m now a wook I suppose?
There is an undeniable movement within the dance music community of DJs refusing to be put into a box. Pushing the boundaries is a consistent theme for you, especially at your epic after-parties. Tell us more about the evolution of these parties and what inspired you to start throwing them…
I love DJing in small, intimate spaces. My first sets were in high school, playing in backyards and living rooms. I don’t think you can beat the energy of a rowdy house party. I started throwing house parties towards the end of college while I was already touring internationally. In 2016, Skrillex DJ’d one of them. Last year, I kidnapped him after his Red Rocks set (first time seeing him since), and that set off my wave of renegade b2b’s this year. Huge shout out to Brennen, aka option4, for helping me throw down here in Colorado.
Your love for DJing and performing shines through in everything you do, especially on your social media. You always seem to be having the time of your life! How do you consistently bring that infectious energy on stage?
There have been times in my career where I felt boxed in artistically. When I feel that way, the fun immediately goes away. On the flip side, when I give myself the space to do WHATEVER I want, I have the most fun ever. I love surprising myself, and often just DJ for me, more than the crowd. Sometimes, that pushes some people away, but it helps maximize my enjoyment, which translates in my own way. I give horrible DJ advice to people who want to be respectful opening acts! [Laughs]
The last time we spoke was in 2019, and one of the big discussion points was mental health. A lot has changed in the world since then, so how have you found ways to keep yourself centered amidst the chaos?
Focusing on music, community, and self-care are the main ways. I love living in a walkable place like Boulder; I’ve been outside more in the past year than ever before, honestly. [Laughs] Over the past few years, I’ve started teaching people how to make music on Ableton, and it’s been insane for making new friends and building a really positive, accepting community. We have about 150 people in our crew, and people fly across the country to make music, DJ together, and hang out. It’s so magical. Ultimately, though, music is my biggest form of therapy, whether it’s listening, dancing, or making it. Nothing lifts my spirit like it; I love it so much.
Congratulations on your latest EP, Wait For The Drop, which was just released on Deadbeats! This body of work is very bass-fueled, which may surprise some, but it reflects your love for the Denver bass scene. How has that shift been for you, and how was the process of making a bass EP different from your other bodies of work?
Really appreciate it! It’s so crazy releasing on Deadbeats. “Wait for the Drop” was a song I actually made with one of my students. We were trying to make a techno song and then thought it’d be funny if the drop went to dubstep out of nowhere. It was my first time exploring that style. It ended up getting signed and released to a very hip UK record label that got shut down.
Deadbeats was down to help us re-release the song, and they let me throw in a fun B-side called “Mixed Signals,” which is a crazy combination of 150 bpm techno/kg and dubstep. The more I’ve explored different styles, the more I’ve found common ground and feel like it all fits together. I still have a lot to learn when it comes to dubstep and bass. At times, I feel like a fish out of water with the sound design and “songwriting” of wubs, but it’s so fun! Excited to keep exploring and learning.
I wanted to touch on the free workshops you’ve been hosting! Teaching and giving back to the fellow DJ community is admirable, and I’m sure it has felt super rewarding… Can you tell us about some of the successes you’ve seen via these workshops?
Teaching has become one of the most fulfilling aspects of my musical life. I’ve done lots of community-oriented free lectures and workshops, and the response has been insane. I’ve seen artists get their first releases signed or even booked for gigs because of a free weekend of Zoom classes. It’s so insane. [Laughs] I’ve also done some more intense courses where I get to dive deeper with a smaller number of artists, and that’s been insane as well.
As I mentioned, “Wait for the Drop” came together because of a collaboration with a student of mine, Wes Hsu, aka Bayer & Waits. I’ve seen so many of my students get songs signed to their favorite labels, songs played in Boiler Rooms, at festivals, etc. My favorite part, though, is seeing people genuinely become friends with each other and develop deep personal relationships. Music is so vulnerable and is also something we share an intense passion for, which really brings us together in a very deep way.
What other words of wisdom would you give those who want to follow in your footsteps as a producer or DJ?
I always try to follow my heart and my emotions. While making music or DJing, if I’m not having fun, there must be a problem to address. If I’m not feeling authentic, I’m doing something wrong. What’s the point of music if it doesn’t bring us joy? So many people struggle with taking things too seriously or being too hard on themselves, which immediately kills the fun. If you prioritize your enjoyment as an artist, everything becomes more sustainable, and you are more likely to connect with your true magic in the studio or behind the decks.
Finally, is there anything else on the horizon that you’d like to share with us today?
I’ll be releasing more American bass music tunes, just teased a new bootleg with Levity! We have a few original tracks that I hope to release eventually. Love those guys so much and couldn’t be a bigger fan. I also have European-oriented techno and trance coming out on Shall Not Fade, Bad Boombox’s label (Hot Meal Records), and a collab with my dear friend / former student Gusted, coming out on Ultra next month. At the end of the year, I’ll be releasing an album that aspires to bring American bass music and European Trance, UKG, and DNB all into one chaotic blender. Lots of music and lots of amazing shows, too!
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