Arguably Northern Ireland’s hottest export, DJ/Producer Junior J has carved himself a career many other 20 year olds can only dream of. Since the age of 17, Jay Hamilton has worked relentlessly forcing people to sit up and take notice of this young, talented DJ/Producer. Needless to say, people are now seeing his talent and success first hand as his track ‘Keep It Comin' is sitting in the Top 10 on Beatport's Top 100 Songs. Junior J keeps it comin' with this oldschool house tune that features highly infectious melodies and major soulful vocals. Take a listen to the track if you haven't heard it yet. It's very, very addictive.
Click HERE to purchase ‘Keep It Comin'
When he’s not playing alongside Calvin Harris, Oliver Heldens, Chocolate Puma, MK, Fatboy Slim, and Danny Howard just to name a few, he’s refining and honing his unique sound in the studio. Kicking off his production career with a release on Spinnin’, he’s since dropped tracks on Garuda Music, Vicious Recordings, as well as Diffused and is currently preparing to unleash his new productions on some of the most respected labels around.
Catching the eyes and ears of the most influential in the industry, he’s definitely got what it takes to be one of the new generation’s most exciting DJ/Producers. This is only the beginning for Junior J.
I had the opportunity to talk to the fast rising producer about his massive track ‘Keep It Comin', his future goals and plans among many others. Check out the full interview below!
How would you describe your sound and style?
“There are so many genres nowadays, it’s hard to pick. I try to make house music with a happy side and summer vibes to it. I do love vocals, so I am always working with a vocal at some point. We could call it House/Tropical House/Deep House/Future House. I like to use different styles.”
How did you first get started producing music?
“My dad used to make music and DJ, an he took me to the studio with him when I was a young teenager, since then I needed to know what it was all about. I just loved being in the studio. From then I was in the studio learning as much as I could as often as I could. I am still learning right now, you can never know enough in production.”
What was your first DJ gig? What was that like?
“I was 16 at my dad’s club Lush! It was amazing. I played the first hour to a room that was gradually filling up. For me at that time it was the best gig ever, since then I have become the main resident at Lush and have been playing there since.”
I love your track ‘Keep It Comin', talk a little bit how the track came together and what the process was like.
“There were no specific plans to make that type of track at all, it was just another day in the studio trying to work on something new. I was mainly working with the piano lead and I noticed it just wasn’t right, something was missing, it needed a vocal. I found an old 12inch vinyl in the studio with the C&C Music Factory acapellas on it. I played the ‘Music Is My Life (Keep It Comin)’ vocal over the piano lead and it fitted almost perfectly, it was in key and almost on point. From that minute I knew that I needed that exact vocal to make the track work.”
What do you have in store for 2016? What are your goals?
“Make lots of new music. I have some collabs lined up which will be interesting. I want to travel to different countries and cities playing at as many venues as I can. There’s nothing I love more than DJing. I don’t really have any specific goals, I just want my music to be heard by as many people as possible and working with Spinnin’ Records allows that to happen. It’s a great feeling.”
Who are some producers that you would like to collab with?
“Hmm, there are lots…right now I would love to collab with Michael Calfan. I think his sounds and my sounds are in the same area, so it would be awesome to put them together and see what happens. I would love to sit in the studio with Eric Prydz. I wouldn’t even speak, I would simply sit and watch with amazement, for me he is number 1.”
Being a young, up and coming DJ/Producer, who do you look up to? What inspires you?
“Many artists in different ways, as DJs I have always looked up to Sasha, John Digweed, Carl Cox, etc because they are the ones that got me into music. Eddie Halliwell is one of my favorites because he is a technical genius. There are many great producers, Eric Prydz being one, the Chemical Brothers being another. I respect them all in different ways!!”
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