It’s been 10 years since Robert James first decided to drop everything and head to the mystical island of Ibiza for what was to be a life-changing season. Over the past decade he has gained the respect of his peers, idols and fans alike, combining a deep-seated love for house and techno with a natural flair and the kind of experience one can only achieve through a constant flow of gigs. Renowned as an adept producer too, Rob has travelled the world, spinning records at a long list of highly respected, influential clubs with residencies at El Row and Paradise (DC10) plus a slew of international gigs. In recent times he has invested his time and energy into setting up several new projects outside of his solo work, allowing him to explore his eclectic tastes further. As these projects begin to come fruition Rob is preparing for a new phase of his career, and he couldn’t be more excited…
That first season on the White Island led to two more consecutive summers, during which time Rob made the connections that formed the foundation of his success. In Ibiza he became good friends with a young Jamie Jones, Richy Ahmed and all the faces who eventually formed the Hot Creations crew. Since 2011 he has continued to grow in stature, picking up bookings for the opening and closing parties at legendary party Circoloco at DC10 every summer, landing a residency at Jamie Jones' Paradise nights, spinning at fabric, Panorama Bar, Space Ibiza, and a myriad gigs across North and South America, Croatia, France, Hungary, Holland and Australia just to name a few of the countries where he’s been booked to perform.
Rob places great importance on the art of DJing, crafting intricate, groovy sets, rather than relying on high-impact effects to entertain the crowd. Just as comfortable warming up the terrace at DC10 as he is playing the sunset at a summertime festival or peak time at Warehouse Project, Rob is inspired by master selectors like Craig Richards and Andrew Weatherall, and his penchant for playing vinyl and smooth transitions places him in a class of his own.
In 2016 he took to the airwaves for the first time, landing a weekly show with Ibiza Sonica. During a summer of scintillating broadcasts he had a cast of star guests including The Martinez Brothers, Cassy, Stacey Pullen, Ryan Elliot, Craig Richards, Claude VonStroke and many more. Alongside his DJing, Rob has had a consistent flow of well-received EPs, including the killer ‘Malibu EP’ with Burnski back in 2010 and, more recently, ‘Seagate’ on Steve Lawler’s VIVa Music in 2015.
Now Rob is injecting his years of experience on the road and depth of knowledge into several projects that have allowed him to explore his wide-ranging tastes. He has teamed with his friends Death On The Balcony to form Same Frequency, placing the dance floor in their sights with their groovy, bass-heavy cuts. He is also investing time into disco-inspired music under the name Bobby Jam, and launching his own party brand ‘BODY MVMT’, an invite-only soiree which aims to breathe life back into London’s day party scene. With a booking policy that is places importance on music ahead of big names, BODY MVMT reflects Rob’s discerning tastes. On top of all this, he’s been toiling away on a top-secret collaborative project which is soon to surface and explores his love for deep techno. Watch this space…
In the decade since he first decided to head to Ibiza Robert James has gone from strength to strength, achieving a dizzying array of prestigious club and festival bookings, while maintaining a consistent level of dedication to his craft and spending time refining his production skills. Now, with an array of new projects in motion, he is looking forward to a new phase of his career with a renewed zeal. Another decade full of adventure, killer releases and unforgettable DJ sets is sure to follow… Let the next chapter begin.