Get to Know Rising House Artist Justin Irby

Arizona-based DJ and producer Justin Irby swung with the release of his new single “Right Here” on the horizon to chat about his nostalgia-twinged take on house music, how he got his start in the scene, and more.

Whether you’re looking for a tune to keep you cool during the summer or heat things up in the winter, the sounds of Justin Irby will be a perfect fit. This Arizonan has been hard at work over the past few years to concoct delicious house grooves in the studio and his efforts have begun to pay off as he’s turned heads of tastemakers and fans alike.

Justin Irby’s style of house packs in everything a raver could love. There’s everything from groovy melodies and basslines that infect the mind to soulful vocal-driven moments that add in a dash of pop sensibility, all of which is twinged with ’90s house elements for a nostalgic throwback. It’s no wonder why he’s found a home on labels like Solotoko, Never Worry Records, DND Records, and Perfect Havoc over the past year.

There’s no doubt that Justin Irby would start 2025 off on the right foot and he’s doing just that by heading to Toolroom Records’ Love & Other imprint to drop off his debut track there, “Right Here.” Due out on January 31, this rave-ready single is sure to be a dancefloor filler and doubles as a full circle moment for this DJ who developed a love for Toolroom’s tracks early on.

Looking to gain some added insight into his backstory and more, we caught up with Justin Irby before the release for a chat. Read on for the full conversation, pre-save “Right Here,” and give his exclusive guest mix a listen on SoundCloud.

Stream EDMID Guest Mix 454 || Justin Irby on SoundCloud:

Hi Justin, thanks for sitting down with us today for a chat. I’d love to start this one off with a bit of your backstory. Who were some of your earliest influences in the electronic music scene? Do you remember the first track you heard?

I might be dating myself here, but my journey into electronic music didn’t start with the ‘typical’ EDM giants of my time like the Avicii, Calvin Harris, or Skrillex of the world —don’t get me wrong, I liked their music. But what really grabbed me back then were these indie artists who had this incredible way of blending electronic elements in their records in a fresh, unique way. I remember being in high school around 2013 and getting hooked on acts like M83, Empire of the Sun, and even smaller names like Classixx. They were the ones who pulled me down the ‘EDM’ rabbit hole. Their music felt so immersive and creative—it made me curious to explore more and opened my eyes to just how broad electronic music could be.

Fast forward a few years, and the moment when everything really clicked for me—the moment I knew I wanted to not just DJ but actually produce this kind of music—was during what I like to call the ‘golden age’ of UK house music, from 2012 to 2016. I’d just started college, and tracks like Shift K3Y’s ‘Touch,’ Secondcity’s ‘I Wanna Feel,’ Zac Samuel’s remix of ‘Say Something,’ and Le Youth’s ‘C O O L’ were everywhere. Those big piano chords, lush R&B vocals, groovy basslines, and infectious melodies hit me right on a deep level.

Looking back, that era was such a game-changer for me. It shaped my taste and heavily influenced the style of music I’m creating today. Honestly, it was the spark that made me dive headfirst into this world.

What helped propel you to make the jump to become a DJ and producer? Did you develop a deeper love for dance music over time?

I know this will be a bit long-winded, so bear with me, but my deep love for dance music developed over time—it wasn’t something that hit me all at once. Honestly, my journey to make the ‘jump’ into becoming a DJ and producer wasn’t quick or the result of one big moment. It was more of a slow burn. While I was in college, I was juggling work and school—I was actually studying business at the time. I had a few friends who were also passionate about learning how to DJ and produce. Even though their taste in EDM leaned toward a different vibe than mine, we shared this drive to teach ourselves and hold each other accountable. That’s what I’d call the first stage: being ‘bedroom DJs and producers.’

Eventually, we moved out of our bedrooms and started DJing for friends at house parties. Seeing the crowd’s reaction during those parties was such a rush—it’s hard to describe the feeling you get when you’re performing and feeling the energy of the room, almost like you’re controlling the dance floor. That gave me the drive to take the craft more seriously. From there, we started networking with bigger DJs and promoters, trying to get our names out there and land opening sets for acts coming into town.

If I had to pinpoint what helped propel me to make the leap, I’d say it was a culmination of everything during that crucial four-year period of DJing and producing in college. Then, when I graduated, reality hit. I wasn’t loving my corporate job and was still DJing on the side as a hobby. Finally, I reached a point where I said, ‘Enough. I’m going all in on producing and DJing.’ That’s when things really started to change. I’d come home from work and produce daily, even if it was just working on a 16-bar loop. I knew, just like anything else, that if I put in the reps—both DJing and producing—I’d eventually start to see some traction.

To be honest, it’s only in these past couple of years that I’ve started to see that traction. So, if there’s one takeaway for your readers, it’s this: it doesn’t happen overnight—not even remotely close. If you love something, it’s going to take time, dedication, and consistent effort to get good at it and see results. But when those results start to come, it’s worth every moment you’ve put in.

Moving to the present, you’re gearing up for the release of “Right Here,” which is set to land on Toolroom’s Love & Other imprint on January 31. Can you share what sort of emotions ran through you when getting this tune signed?

Man, the emotions were absolutely insane—it’s honestly the first time I teared up after getting an email back from a label wanting to sign my demo. When the team said they loved the track and wanted to sign it, I was overwhelmed, mostly because of how much this meant to me. When I first started publicly releasing original music under my name in 2022, I remember looking at their label’s discography and seeing the artists they signed and the tracks they were putting out. It was so aligned with the kind of music I wanted to create. Some of my biggest inspirations had released on this label, and I set a goal for myself back then: I had to get on this imprint someday.

It’s been three years in the making—sending countless demos and getting a lot of ‘no’s along the way. That was disheartening at times, but I kept pushing because I believed in my music and knew I had to keep improving. When I finally got that ‘yes,’ it felt like everything clicked. It’s a reminder that nothing happens overnight, and sometimes it takes hundreds of ‘no’s to get that one ‘yes.’ I felt so relieved, and it was like validation that I was on the right track with my music. That moment will definitely stick with me for a long time.

I love the classic house feel with ravey elements and powerful vocals throughout the tune. What was the production process like for this one?

Thank you! I’m glad you picked up on that vibe because that’s exactly what I was going for. The ‘Right Here’ production process was a fun journey. I wanted to capture that classic house energy with a modern pop twist—big ravey elements and those powerful vocals.

It all started with the vocal hook, which immediately set the tone for the track. Once I had that, everything else began to fall into place. I built the groove around some punchy 909 drums and a driving bassline to keep the energy flowing. From there, I layered euphoric chords using the iconic Korg M1 piano and incorporated a rave-inspired acid lead. At the same time, I focused on finding a balance—creating a track that would work just as well in a club or festival setting as it would on the radio or someone’s playlist. Striking that balance was key throughout the process.

One of the most exciting parts was experimenting with textures I wouldn’t normally use in my past productions, keeping it fresh but still true to both my style and the classic house sound. The acid lead, in particular, added that extra edge and gave the track a nostalgic feel. It tied everything together and gave the track its signature vibe. I’m super proud of how it all came together, and it’s amazing to hear that the energy translates so well.

Your releases on DND RECS, Uprise, and more have been centered in house music, but you’ve also dropped some speedier edits of tracks like Charli XCX’s “360” and Lola Young’s “Messy.” Do you feel like kicking it up a notch helps balance your mixes? Can we expect some official speed house tunes in the future?

Yes, I’m glad you picked up on that! For the past few years, I’ve mostly stuck to that 122-126 BPM range typical for house music, but lately, I’ve been loving the faster tempos—the 135-140 BPM sweet spot. In general, it feels like the wider dance music scene is leaning into higher tempos, and honestly, I’m all for it.

With my recent edits, like Charli XCX’s ‘360’ and Lola Young’s ‘Messy,’ I leaned into edits first rather than original records because I wanted to tastefully and subtly reflect this newer style I’m gravitating toward without alienating the fans who discovered me through my more downtempo work. For me, it’s all about making that transition in production style and tempo feel natural—nothing too abrupt. I still want it to sound like a ‘Justin Irby’ record, keeping the essence of what I’ve done in the past while adapting to the times and reflecting what I personally love to listen to or hear in the club or at festivals when I’m out.

This shift to a faster tempo is also a deliberate effort to evolve from a primarily radio-focused sound to a more club- and festival-oriented one. The higher tempo makes the tracks feel more driving and energetic, which fits those environments perfectly.

For 2025, I’m committing to keeping things above 130 BPM. Even my first release of the year, ‘Right Here,’ is at 130 to start getting fans familiar with this higher-energy approach and gradually shift up, so yes, It’s definitely a gradual shift, but I think it’s safe to say you can expect more originals to have faster tempos. I’m really excited to explore this direction and see how it resonates both in the studio and on the dancefloor.

Purple Notes Radio has now reached its 12th episode! What’s your motivation behind this series and what does it feel like to have a full year under your belt with it now?

Ah, yes! I can’t believe I’ve made it this far, honestly. It’s been such a fun journey, and Purple Notes Radio has become something I genuinely look forward to curating and recording each month. The main motivation behind the series was to create a space where I could showcase some of my favorite releases from each month—whether they’re from big names or smaller, underground artists. It’s also a great way to give my listeners and fans subtle insights into the styles I’m gravitating toward, which ultimately influence the music I play in my live sets and the edits and originals I produce.

Having a full year under my belt feels amazing, especially because I didn’t expect to stay this consistent with it. But it’s been such a rewarding experience, and I’ve loved every step of the process. This year, I’m looking to elevate things a bit—maybe live-streaming the episodes on YouTube and Twitch while still posting them on SoundCloud afterward. I’m also considering bringing in guest mixes from a few of my idols to keep things fresh and exciting.

There’s so much to look forward to, and I’m excited to see how the Purple Notes brand evolves over time. I’d love to eventually branch out the name into a full-fledged record label and even host parties under the brand. That said, I wanted to start with the monthly mix series because it’s the perfect way to build a foundation without spreading myself too thin. Everything needs to feel subtle and tasteful—not too abrupt—so it stays true to my vision and grows naturally.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as you’ve grown your career that you’d like to share with other artists?

I know it sounds cliché, but sometimes clichés are true for a reason. The biggest lesson I’ve learned as I’ve grown my career is that nothing happens overnight. It takes countless hours, days, and years of work that no one will see or acknowledge, but if you truly love what you’re doing, it will all be worth it. Those moments where you feel completely drained but still satisfied when you go to bed at night—that’s what makes it all worthwhile.

Your mindset is everything. If you truly believe in your ability to accomplish something, it will happen. It might not happen when you want it to, and you might not know exactly when it’ll all come together, but if you give 1,000% to your craft daily, things will start to align. Speaking of clichés—you know what they say: Rome wasn’t built in a day. The same goes for building a career. Not letting other people’s ‘no’s stop you is just as important. Rejection is part of the process, but persistence is what sets you apart.

Stay focused, stay passionate, and keep believing in yourself—even when the path feels uncertain. If you love what you do and remain consistent, the results will follow. It’s not easy, but it’s always worth it.

Finally, we still have a whole year ahead of us! What goals do you hope to achieve in 2025?

I’m really excited about what’s to come. My main goal for 2025 is to keep releasing on bigger labels to grow a global fanbase and establish myself as a respected international artist through my discography. Armada is a big one for me this year—it’s been a dream to release with them. I’m also hoping to work with and collaborate with some of my idols in the space, which would be such an incredible experience.

On the live side, I want to start playing at bigger festivals in the country—Splash House is definitely on my list and possibly Miami Music Week. I’m big on setting goals, writing them down, and working backward to make them happen. I’m putting in the work every day to turn these goals into reality. Let’s come back in a year and see how I did!

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