From DJing records to putting them in their place, James Hype is fed up with fans who falsely claim he doesn't play live.
His recent confrontation with skeptics and his refutation of such claims highlights a persistent problem in the electronic music community: accusations of “fake DJs” continue to plague even the most talented artists. That worrying trend, according to Hype, is “detrimental to the culture.”
“A few months ago I started noticing a trend: every time a video of me DJing went viral, 50% of the comments were from people saying it was fake and that I was a fraud,” Hype said in an emailed statement to EDM.com“There seems to be this idea that all the big DJs on the big stages play pre-recorded sets and I want to break away from that. I try to put on a different show every time and do things that are truly LIVE, unique and RISKY. It's the only way I know how to perform.”
Hype then invoked a 2021 livestream by deadmau5 that resurfaced in the summer of 2023, in which the influential producer claimed that DJs performing at major festivals play pre-recorded sets “most of the time” to comply with rigorous time restrictions imposed by those events’ organizers.
A few months later, in November 2023, a controversial event occurred Reddit thread The topic began to gain traction as ravers questioned en masse which DJs were actually performing live at EDC Orlando. Hype, who was frequently mentioned, took to social media to lament deadmau5’s comment by virtue of an Instagram Reel containing several clips of his DJ sets.
“I saw a video where deadmau5 was telling his fans that EDC requires all artists to pre-record their songs and that's not true. I've played all the biggest festivals and biggest stages!” Hype's statement continued. “I think this narrative is detrimental to the culture and to new DJs coming up.”
It's worth noting that deadmau5 clarified his comments in a comment on Hype's Reel. “I'm pretty sure this wasn't directed at you,” he wrote at the time. “It wasn't directed at anyone really either, I'm pretty tired of having to explain myself over and over again but the clip was taken and edited from a humorous rant by a popcorn eater… but since everyone's taking it so seriously I guess they'll just move on.”
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From a macro standpoint, today’s DJs must navigate a landscape where technical prowess and pre-planning creatively are essential and subject to scrutiny. In that light, it’s fair to wonder if the culture’s obsession with authenticity in the age of social media woefully overlooks the rigorous preparation and skill required to deliver a DJ set of Hype’s prowess.
The real challenge is educating the public and preserving the integrity of the DJ profession in an increasingly pernicious digital world. Whether or not the stigma will persist remains to be seen, but it's a safe bet.
Hype fans can catch him playing at his Hï Ibiza residency every Friday until October 4, 2024, as well as Creamfields, III Points, and Groove Cruise, among other festivals. Check out his tour below here.
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Facebook: facebook.com/jameshypethedj
Spotify: spoti.fi/48HiNaN
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