Change is inevitable, and nowhere is this more prevalent than in the world of dance music. Analog gives way to digital, trends come and go, yet NYC’s DJ Joeski remains at the top of his game, and now, in the midst of his third decade as one of house music’s most sought-after stars, his momentum shows no signs of slowing.
EG caught up with Joeski to learn more about the drop of his latest EP, ‘Rude Boy / Stick Up!’, his forthcoming remix of AMÉMÉ’s ‘Drum Beat’, his own Maya Recordings, and more.
EG: Hello Joeski! Welcome back to EG. It’s a treat to have you here with us today. Where are you based right now? How have you been?
Joeski: Thank you, it’s a pleasure to chat with you guys I am Based In Brooklyn, NY-born and raised actually. I have been great and very busy after the Pandemic so excited to be back on the road.
EG: Congratulations on the release of ‘Rude Boy / Stick Up!’ and your remix of AMÉMÉ’s ‘Drum Beat’! What has the initial reception been like so far for these?
Joeski: Thank you. The crowd response has been amazing. Usually, when I go into the studio to make a track, I’ll always have the dance floor in mind, visualizing what it would do on the floor. After all, these are dance records.
EG: What’s the inspiration behind the ‘Rude Boy / Stick Up!’ EP? What sort of things trigger you on a creative level?
Joeski: I have always been a big fan of reggae dub music and I listen to a lot of it. I always felt like it made a great fusion with house music, and I usually listen to some dub for inspiration when I’m feeling that vibe.
EG: You’ve also done a brand collaboration with Foxworthy Farms. What’s this all about?
Joeski: Yes! I figured it’s a good way to have the brand become known in a different market. The whole cannabis market has grown so much in the last decade that it just made sense.
“Usually, when I go into the studio to make a track, I’ll always have the dance floor in mind, visualizing what it would do on the floor. After all, these are dance records”
EG: What is your personal view on Cannabis? Do you use it in a ‘creative’ setting?
Joeski: I definitely enjoy the benefits of CBD oil for sure, and indulge from time to time in the studio.
EG: Back in 2019, before the pandemic, your label Maya Recordings had just celebrated its 20th anniversary. How is the label doing at the moment? Was it hard to keep going through the pandemic? Did you have to make changes in order to adjust things?
Joeski: It’s going great and doing well. Pushing the Maya brand forward is the objective. As far as the pandemic went, my workflow has always been consistent, so during the pandemic, in the studio, it was business as usual. Although of course, I wasn’t traveling as much, so I had to adjust to make it work.
EG: Summer is just around the corner now. What are your plans for this season?
Joeski: Summer is looking amazing, extremely busy traveling and squeezing in some studio time in between. My agency Armigé keeps me nice and busy, and I tend to work a lot in the studio when I’m not busy on the road so I can keep my production consistent
EG: These past few years gave us all a chance to slow down and reassess. What would you like to see more and less of in our scene?
Joeski: I love how it has grown so much. I feel like it’s a blessing to do what I do and maintain relevancy throughout all these years. It’s been a long run and so many happy smiling faces on the dance floor! Less phones, please!
“I have always been a big fan of reggae dub music and I listen to a lot of it. I always felt like it made a great fusion with house music”
EG: What else can we expect from Joeski and Maya in the next few months? What new milestones are you looking forward to?
Joeski: Well I have no plans of slowing down, I live for this!! Expect me to push my Maya Recordings brand forward and looking towards sharing my music around the world
EG: Thank you for your time! We wish you all the best!
Joeski: Thank you for having me, and a big thank you to all the fans who have supported me from day one, and the new generation as well. I appreciate all of you, look out for big things coming in the near future!
Joeski’s ‘Rude Boy / Stick Up!’ is out now via Vibe Me To The Moon. Purchase your copy here.
Follow Joeski: Facebook | SoundCloud | Instagram | Spotify
