Joey London Style lands on Hot Creations with “Va Va Voom,” out now on April 24, following his Hottrax release earlier this year. The two-track EP pairs “Va Va Voom” with “Speed Train,” and it puts his hook-led, groove-focused club sound in front of Jamie Jones’ flagship label for the first time.
The release follows a run across Cuttin’ Headz, Metamorfosi, Hottrax, and his own Stylin Records, and this debut feels like a clear step up in visibility for the UK producer. Jamie Jones has already been testing the tracks on tour, and Joey says the crowd response helped confirm that the EP fit the label.
That context lines up in an obvious way with the conversation with him below below. Joey talks about filming, crowd moments, classics, risk-taking, and the difference between a set that gets captured and a set that actually works in the room. For an artist releasing on Hot Creations with tracks designed for peak-time reaction, that perspective gives the piece a clear center.
Interview With Joey London
Have you ever felt like sets these days are being recorded more than it was being felt?
I think it really depends on the type of event and the people in the crowd. I mean, I’m not for or against things being recorded as its just the scene changing/evolving but you can definitely tell the energy is different when there is no recording going on.
How do you navigate the balance between creating a memorable moment and getting a viral clip?
For me, it’s all about creating those special memorable moments in my sets. Getting the “viral clip” comes secondary, yes I have to make sure there is some form of content, but for me the people in front of me are my priority always, and if that moment gets captured then bonus, at least it will be in someway authentic to the moment, however personally I couldn’t force something for that “viral clip”
Have you changed the way you prepare or play because you know people might be filming?
Not really to be fair, I’d say the closest i’ve come to this is making an edits of classics, what I like to call “certified crowd pleasers” haha. Classics with a Joey London spin on it, and these edits are definitely ones that people pull out their phone for
What’s something that used to matter more in club culture before everything became a photo op?
I think the idea of going out to listen to music you’ve never heard before and being taken on more of a journey, that part of club culture has definitely changed, thats what make these parties so special. But obviously the scene has grown massively and people are following DJ’s more as celebrities and so people are wanting to hear things they know/the artists’ most popular tracks, which is also okay btw haha.
Do you think the pressure to look good behind the decks has affected how DJs perform?
Yeah there is pressure in this day and age of social media where theres a million and one DJ’s, it’s very easily to get yourself into a headspace of comparing, but I think when it comes down to it, it really doesn’t matter how you look, as long as you are good at what you do behind the decks and are performing well, I think you’re good.
What happens to risk-taking in a culture that values content over presence?
When everything is about content, there is pressure to create quick moments that look good online which pushes DJs towards more predictable choices, and I get it but for me that’s unfulfilling as a DJ.
Have you ever had a night where nothing went viral, but the vibe was unforgettable—and that was enough?
Haha yes, probably most nights when I play tbh, I’m not always bringing my videographer and when I don’t, all my energy is focused on performing and those are the best ones, so it’s a bit of a catch 22 haha, but when it comes down to it, I’m happy if i’ve performed well and the crowd are happy, everything comes second.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
