Grace Bones, also known as James Hancock, is a UK producer, DJ, and radio host now splitting his time between the UK and Los Angeles.
Photo credit: Grace Bones – Official
Across a prolific career, he has released more than 250 records through labels including Nervous, Dopewax, Stealth, Cube, Moxy Muzik, King Street, Snatch, Quantize, KMS, Monki & Friends, Garage Paradise, Adesso Music, Eightball Records, and Plastik People.
His catalogue includes two gold records, two number ones, and more than 25 Top 10 House chart entries. He has also remixed artists including Chaka Khan, Steve “Silk” Hurley, and Donell Jones, curated and mixed compilations for D4 Dnce, Nervous, and Moxy Muzik, and currently hosts House of Chic Radio on London’s Select 94.4 FM.
Now, following the release of his album ‘By The Slice’ on Moxy Muzik, Grace Bones returns with ‘Times We Had It All’ alongside Leavy. In this conversation, he opens up about the record, collaboration, staying true to his own sound, and what comes next.
EG: Hi James, welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you with us. How have things been lately, and where are you joining us from today?
Grace Bones: Everything’s great, thanks for having me. I’ve just returned to Los Angeles after spending some time in Europe promoting my new album, ‘By The Slice’, which is out now on Moxy Muzik. It was great to get out there, play some shows, connect with people, and spend time with friends and family along the way. It’s always nice coming back to LA though — getting back into the studio, working on new music, and enjoying a bit of California sunshine.
EG: Congratulations on the release of ‘Times We Had It All’ alongside Leavy. How are you feeling now that the record is finally making its way into the world, and what has the early reaction been like?
Grace Bones: Thank you. Yeah, this record has been a long time in the making, so it’s great to finally have it out there for people to hear. You spend so much time working on a track behind the scenes that there comes a point where you just want to get it into the hands of DJs and listeners. From what I’ve been told, the feedback has been really positive so far, which is always rewarding.
EG: The track carries a timeless quality. There’s something very direct and uplifting about it, while it still feels rooted in classic house traditions. What was the spark behind this record, and why did it feel like the right song to make at this point in your journey?
Grace Bones: I actually wrote this record over a year ago. At the time, I was producing more percussive house grooves, drawing inspiration from Latin and Afro influences, and experimenting with rhythms that felt energetic and uplifting while still being rooted in house music. I’d worked with Leavy on a previous project and always loved her voice, so I felt she would be the perfect fit for this track. She completely understood the vibe and brought so much character and emotion to it. For me, her vocals really elevate the whole record and transform it into something much bigger than the original idea.
EG: Leavy’s voice sits beautifully at the center of the track. How did the collaboration come about, and what made you feel that the two of you could bring something special out of each other?
Grace Bones: We’d already worked together on my last album, which was a garage house project, so I knew exactly what she could do. I’d heard her vocal range and the way she builds such strong, memorable toplines, and it just clicked that she’d be perfect for this track.
From the moment we got back in the studio, it felt really natural, like we were both pushing each other in the best way. She brought this energy and emotion to the vocals that instantly lifted the whole record and made it feel alive.
EG: You’ve released more than 250 records, earned Grammy consideration, and worked across an incredible range of labels over the years. Looking back, what first pulled you into dance music, and what has kept that excitement alive after all this time?
Grace Bones: I’ve loved electronic music since I was a kid, breakdancing, electro, 80s synth-pop… I was always drawn to the synths and those early electronic sounds. As I got older and moved into production and DJing, I realized that electronic dance music was where my soul, heart, and passion really belonged.
At the end of the day, I just love music, and that’s never changed. There’s nothing quite like hearing a track I’ve written come on the radio, or feeling it connect with a crowd, or even just hearing it unexpectedly while I’m out walking my dogs; that’s still my happy place.
“The artists who build something lasting are the ones who stay true to their own sound and identity”
EG: House music has changed enormously since you first started. Through all those shifts and trends, what do you feel has remained constant for you creatively?
Grace Bones: I just do me and don’t really chase trends. Of course, I’m aware of what’s happening around me, and I can take inspiration from it, but I’ve always stayed pretty rooted in my own sound and instincts.
At my core, I’m a grass-roots producer and DJ, and I think that’s what’s kept things consistent for me. I’ve never really lost that spark or felt like I had to force creativity; it just keeps coming as long as I stay true to myself and the music I love.
EG: With such a vast catalogue behind you, what is your relationship with older records? Do you revisit them often, or do you tend to always keep your eyes fixed on what comes next?
Grace Bones: Honestly, I don’t tend to look back too much; I’m always focused on what’s next. That said, I was back at my parents’ house in the UK recently and ended up in their garage, where there are still thousands of my old records stored. I was actually looking for something to give to a friend in the US when I stumbled across an old record box filled with 10” dub plates and early vinyl releases, plus a stack of old magazine clippings.
It was one of those unexpected moments that just stops you for a second, loads of memories came flooding back. Really nice, nostalgic feeling… but then it was straight back to the present and moving forward again.
EG: Your album ‘By The Slice’ is out now, and you also have an upcoming collaboration with Todd Terry. Does entering a new chapter after so many years in the game change the way you approach music, or do you still chase ideas with the same curiosity you had in the beginning?
Grace Bones: My album ‘By The Slice’ is actually out now on Moxy Muzik, and it’s a project that really takes things back to my garage and UK roots. As I’ve touched on before, I’m always just driving forward. I don’t really separate it into “chapters” in my head; I’m constantly immersed in music. Whether I’m in the studio producing, DJing, working on my ‘House of Chic’ radio show, or even just listening to music in the car or while walking, it’s all part of the same flow for me.
That curiosity never really switches off; it’s just how I live day to day.
EG: Dance music is moving faster than ever, with new sounds and trends appearing constantly. What advice would you give to younger artists trying to build something lasting rather than simply chasing the moment?
Grace Bones: I get asked this a lot, and the answer is always pretty simple: just be yourself and don’t follow trends.
Trends come and go so quickly in dance music now that if you chase them, you’re always going to feel like you’re catching up. The artists who build something lasting are the ones who stay true to their own sound and identity, even if it takes time for people to fully connect with it.
If it’s real, it cuts through eventually.
“I’ve always stayed pretty rooted in my own sound and instincts”
EG: Outside of music, what experiences or moments in life tend to inspire you the most these days?
Grace Bones: I split my time between LA and the UK, and one of the big reasons I love being here is the lifestyle. I’m really into outdoor sports; I’m a really good snowboarder, and I’ve spent a lot of time in the mountains. It just completely resets my head and inspires me. I’m also a not-too-shabby surfer as well, haha.
What inspires me most outside of music is just being able to move between all of that. The climate here means I can do so much of it, and that balance really keeps me energized and creatively refreshed.
EG: Finally, with new music and your new album now out, what can listeners expect from Grace Bones over the coming months?
Grace Bones: I’ve been working closely with Eightball Records over the last couple of months and just finished my fifth remix for them. It’s been a real honor to rework music from true house legends like Mood II Swing, Junior Vasquez, Connie Harvey, and Lectroluv.
There’s also a follow-up single coming on DJ Rae’s label, plus remixes for Jeremy Sylvester and some really exciting vocal collaborations with Jacqui Bennett and Leavy on new original material.
On top of that, I’ll be hosting my own event at ADE this year under my ‘House of Chic’ brand, which I’m really looking forward to; it’s going to be a special moment.
EG: Thank you so much for your time. We wish you all the best with ‘Times We Had It All’, ‘By The Slice’, and everything ahead. Take care!
Grace Bones and Leavy’s ‘Times We Had It All’ is out now via Adesso Music. Stream and download your copy here.
Follow Grace Bones: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram
