It may seem far-fetched for tough rugby players to swap scrums for turntables, but former England player turned DJ James Haskell says that's exactly what happened when he started learning the DJ trade 11 years ago.
Haskell, along with other rugby players in New Zealand, alchemised his post-match adrenaline in energetic DJ sets, picking up new skills and that ultimately gave him the confidence to land gigs.
Haskell's career as an international rugby player is now over, but his vocation in the world of electronic music continues to accelerate. He has performed all over the world, from Dubai to Ibiza, and continues to host his own DJ radio show and podcast.
Haskell has now joined forces with Mark Knight, the influential Toolroom Records boss and 2024 EDMA Icon Award winner, for his first release on the label, “Go Deep.” Combining rhythm with determination, the house track is set to heat up any dance floor, as the voice of Chicago house music legend Gene Farris carries a soulful invitation to dance the night away.
EDM.com We sat down with Knight and Haskell to talk about the collaborative process behind “Go Deep.”
EDM.com: How did you two meet?
Brand Haskell: It felt like it was meant to happen. James got involved with Toolroom Academy from the beginning, which I really respected because he understood the value of starting at the bottom and learning for yourself rather than waiting for others to do it for you. We first talked online about a record and I immediately thought, “Let's be friends.” I was already a fan of his as a rugby player and I really wanted to chat about sports. We started talking more, clicked as friends and then he came down to the office to get involved in some projects.
Jaime Haskell: We first connected on Instagram, back in 2018, during the first Toolroom Academy course. I did the course, posted about it and Mark commented and messaged me, telling me to get in touch if I ever fancied a training session. After that, I used to stop by the Toolroom office to say hello to the team. Once, while working with Luke Hemmings in the office, Mark and I hit it off, and it's been that way ever since.
EDM.com: James, when did you realize you wanted to get into DJing and what has the transition been like from international rugby player to DJ?
Jaime Haskell: I've been a DJ for about 11 years. It all started when I was in New Zealand during my rugby career. I met the CEO of Serato, who was helping some All Blacks players, including Dan Carter, learn to DJ. I thought it sounded fun, so I gave it a try. Adam Thomson got me started and I used to mess around with a controller after games. Q Money even gave me some lessons. When I returned to the UK I discovered that Simon Dunmore was a fan of mine and both Seb Fontaine and Jaguar Skills gave me some lessons.
I finally did a SubBass course and had my first gig at Ministry of Sound on the balcony. That's when I fell in love with him. However, the transition has been hard. Rugby opened some doors initially, but it also created challenges. People assume I'm just a “famous DJ”, which couldn't be further from the truth. I've pushed myself, playing small venues for little to no money. I took several courses and worked hard on music production. I want to earn respect for my skills, not my profile.
EDM.com: James, do you draw any parallels between music and sports?
Jaime Haskell: Absolutely. Everything I learned in rugby applies to music and DJing. It's about working hard, going above and beyond, and analyzing every aspect of your craft. In rugby we reviewed the games to analyze what we did well and where we could improve. I take the same approach when DJing: I review my sets, identify what could be better, and constantly try to improve. Resilience is key. You have to keep pushing yourself, learning and perfecting your skills.
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EDM.com: Mark, tell us about your mentorship of James.
Marcos Caballero: I don't really see it as mentoring in the traditional sense. I'm happy to share everything I've learned over the years, but it's more about mutual respect. James has a fantastic work ethic and a real hunger to succeed, which I admire. I've made a lot of mistakes and I'm open about it, sharing what I've done right and wrong along the way.
What I love about James is his energy and authenticity. The dance music scene was built on passion and trust, but over time it has become a bit elitist. James brings it back to that original spirit, where passion and drive are everything. If you have represented your country in sport at the highest level, you have already proven that you can succeed under immense pressure. That kind of mentality translates into anything.
EDM.com: How did your song “Go Deep” come about? When did you decide you wanted to work on a song together?
Marcos Caballero: Like every album, it started with an idea. The first step was having a conversation about what we wanted to achieve. We sat down, touched on a bunch of topics and landed in a clear direction. James directed the production and really rolled up his sleeves. Initially it was my concept, but we worked on it together. We brought in Gene Farris for vocals and it became a proper collaboration. James has invested a lot in learning from others and that is what makes him a great collaborator.
Jaime Haskell: Of all the people I have met, Mark is one of the few who really wanted to help. We are both driven by the desire for success and we connect thanks to that shared mentality. I'm always eager to learn, so when Mark suggested we work on something, I jumped at the opportunity. He guided me a lot (in fact, quite ruthlessly), which I appreciated.
EDM.com: What is the collaboration process like between the two of you?
James Haskel: The process began with Mark sharing some reference tracks. He sent me away to do my homework and build a circuit. I then sat down with our engineer, James Hurr, to develop it further. Once we had something solid, Mark joined us and we worked on it together. Gene Farris was the perfect choice for the voice; He's a legend and he did it on the first take. It has been a true team effort and I have learned a lot from Mark throughout the process.
Follow James Haskell:
Instagram: instagram.com/jameshaskell
Facebook: facebook.com/JamesHaskellJHHF
UNKNOWN: x.com/jameshaskell
Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@jameshaskell
Spotify: bit.ly/3ZopzzI
Follow Mark Knight:
Instagram: instagram.com/djmarkknight
Facebook: facebook.com/djmarkknight
UNKNOWN:x.com/djmarkknight
Spotify: spoti.fi/44KXzHr
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