With over 30 years in the game, Joeski has released on Jamie Jones’ Hot Creations, Diplo’s Mad Decent, Stereo Productions, Pokerflat, Bedrock, Defected and more.

With releases forthcoming on Crosstown Rebels, Moon Harbour and a second collab with Diplo on Higher Ground, Joeski shows no sign of slowing down with a stacked tour schedule frequenting Australia, New Zealand, South America, Ibiza and Europe while holding down his monthly Yage night in Brooklyn with Harry Romero.

We sit down with Joeski around the latest single ‘On The Line’ on his Maya Records imprint. We talk inspiration, running a label and more…

WWD: Hey Joeski, how’s summer been for you so far?

Summer has been awesome – thank you. I’ve had a busy touring schedule and played some incredible gigs at home in the states and in Europe. The shows in Ibiza, Tenerife, Marrakesh, Mykonos, and My House Music Festival in Chicago were especially fun. Diplo and I also did a B2B session in San Francisco after his Higher Ground Block party.

WWD: Does the weather affect your mood in the studio, the sounds you make and the sort of tracks you play in your DJ sets?

Being that I have no windows and I’m in a soundproof room, sometimes for days on end – not sure I can say the weather affects my mood in the studio. I definitely love playing a good day party though.

WWD: Where else does musical inspiration come from – Dreams, TV, books, friends, your own inner feelings or somewhere else?

Everywhere but so much comes from films. Walking down the street in my Brooklyn neighborhood brings so much inspiration – even when getting something to eat or walking into the bodega. There are so many types of music playing at all moments.

WWD: What’s the aim of your label Maya – what is the signature sound?

Maya has always been an outlet for my music which is why most of the catalogue is mostly Joeski productions. It always been Afro percussive, Latin influenced tracks.

WWD: What are the good and bad bits about running a label in 2023?

There are so many good parts. I have a home for my music – you know you can always find what new creation I’ve made. I can put out whatever sounds I’m feeling. It doesn’t have to be just one genre.

WWD: How hard is it to get heard with new music in 2023? There is so much of it out there – what do you do to make sure yours stands out?

I’ve stuck with my sound for over 2x decades. People tell me – they hear a song and will know it’s a Joeski record – whether it’s a Latin track, a dub track, a deep house track, an Afro house track. There’s many different genres I like to create inside but there is consistency at the same time.

WWD: Tell us about your new single – what inspired it, what was in mind when you wrote it?

Next up is On the Line ft Katiie coming out on Maya Records. I’ve been feeling more musical lately vs making loop beats. Since I moved back to Brooklyn, I’ve had access to incredible musicians that share the studio building I work in and it’s opened up so many awesome opportunities to work with live instruments and vocals.

WWD: How did you hook up with Katiie for it? In person or online or? Why was she right?

I wrote the track and brought it to my friend John Young. Him and Katiie wrote lyrics. John mixed the vocal and it all fell into place.

WWD: Who wrote the lyrics? Are they important or is it more the sound of the human voice that’s important?

John Young and Katiie wrote the lyrics. The human voice is always a powerful instrument but lyrics lay their own role in telling the story.

WWD: What else have you got coming up?

An album is in the works for 2024…

WWD: What was the last record you heard that really made you sit up and say wow?

Floyd Lavine & Hallex M – Ese Soy Yo (FNX Omar Remix)