Joel Corry is a London-based DJ and producer, who has spent the last ten years playing at clubs right across the UK and Europe. With his released singles like ‘Sorry’, ‘Lonely’, ‘Head & Heart’ and ‘OUT OUT’, and collaborations such as David Guetta, Mabel, MNEK, and Charli XCX he has peaked multiple times in the top 10 of the UK charts. Numéro had the honour to interview the Multi-BRIT Award-nominated artist to talk about his career and hopes for the future.

You grew up during the peak of the UK Garage era and your early musical influences included iconic figures like Todd Edwards, MJ Cole, and DJ EZ. But when did your love for music start? And when did you decide this was something that you wanted to do as a career?

I was born and raised in London and my early musical influences were UK Garage and Drum ‘N’ Bass. My passion for music began at 13 years old when I started DJing. The UK Garage scene was huge for me growing up. It was an exciting era and I loved spending time down at the record shops searching for new vinyl and recording mix tapes in my bedroom. In 2019 my single “Sorry” covered a UK Garage classic ‘I’m Sorry’ by Monsta Boy & Denzie. My love for house music kicked off during my early trips to Ibiza. I remember seeing Carl Cox play at Space Ibiza when I was 18 years old, and it totally blew my mind. I started producing music at college. In my twenties, I was a resident DJ at multiple clubs on the London circuit and had residencies in various European summer party resorts. I wanted to take my DJing and music to the next level so began to focus more on production. I started releasing music in 2015 and had my first hit record in 2019. I always knew this is what I wanted to do in life, and I am very grateful to be in this position.

What are some of your musical inspirations nowadays? And do you ever listen to other genres of music in your free time?

I generally listen to various styles of dance music. From Tech, Minimal, and Deep House, Techno, Garage, and Disco. I pay attention to pop music to see what sounds are fresh and current in the charts. I dig through underground music every day to find new tracks for my club sets. Music is always changing, so as a DJ and producer, it is important to keep your ear to the ground to understand new trends and discover new artists. I am inspired by the careers of DJs such as Calvin Harris, David Guetta, and Tiesto. They have stayed at the top of the game for so many years and have built their brands on a global scale. They continue to have chart success, collaborate with amazing artists, and perform at the biggest events across the world.

You’ve worked together with artists like David Guetta, MNEK, and Charli XCX. Which collaboration has been your favourite so far and why?

I have been lucky to work with lots of amazing artists over the years and have built many great friendships. I really enjoyed my most recent campaign with Tom Grennan as we experienced some crazy things together such as doing a bungee jump and shooting our music video on an assault course. I have amazing memories working with Becky Hill on our summer 2022 single ‘HISTORY’. Becky and I spent a lot of time in Ibiza together and it was great getting to know her. Collaborating with David Guetta multiple times has been a dream come true and supporting David at his Ushuaia Ibiza residency was unreal. Having a number one single with MNEK ‘Head & Heart’ was one of the most special moments in my life and I am so proud of what we achieved together.

You had your first residency in Ibiza at Ibiza Rocks last year. What was that experience like? Did you approach it in the same way as other shows?

Landing a residency in Ibiza was a big goal for me. I’ve had residencies in other parts of Europe over the years, but Ibiza was always my aim. The 2022 season at Ibiza Rocks was a huge success and I will be returning in 2023. I play an extended three-hour set at Ibiza Rocks every Wednesday from June to October. I love playing longer sets as it allows me to build a journey of music and dive deeper into my favourite house and techno tracks. I have special guest artists join me on stage. Highlights in 2022 included performances from MNEK, Becky Hill, Jax Jones, Harlee, Hayley May, and Kelli-Leigh. I am excited to take the residency to another level in 2023.

Is there anything special coming up next year that we should be aware of? And what do you hope to achieve in your future career?

I have been working hard in the studio and I’m super excited to release new music in 2023. I am kicking off 2023 with my debut in Tokyo. I’m buzzing for my UK headline tour in the spring and then I’ll be heading to Ibiza for another huge summer season. I’m looking forward to all the festivals in 2023, starting with Ultra Miami in March. I’ll be continuing my Las Vegas residency with the Tao Group playing at Hakkasan, Marquee, and Wet Republic. It’s a big world out there and there are many places I still want to play in and explore. I am living my dream right now and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me in the future.