William Djoko
Origin: Netherlands
Thanks to the runaway success of his heavyweight ‘OMG’ single on legendary New York house label Strictly Rhythm, William Djoko has finally hit the dizzy heights that his talents always suggested he would.
‘OMG’ – a percussive, bass-heavy beast capable of making speaker stacks wobble – was a highlight of the Amsterdam-based producer’s eye-catching DJ performances throughout the summer of 2017, including a notable closing slot at Circoloco at DC10 in Ibiza. With confirmed releases on a brand new solo imprint as part of the Numbers collective and a feature on the lead release from Loco Dice’s huge Love Letters LP, the last 18 months have helped Djoko to finally fulfill his potential.
Before moving into DJing and production, the naturally optimistic Djoko trained as a dancer and was often asked to jump on the mic at house and techno parties. He brings this element of showmanship to all his DJ sets, acting as an energetic link between the crowd and the music he loves so much.
Dancers regularly respond rapturously to the fluidity of Djoko’s sets, which tend towards the percussive and futuristic, with regular switches in style and tempo within his distinctively synthesizer and drum-heavy blueprint. Musically, clubbers are never quite sure what to expect from Djoko’s performances, other than they will be on point and hugely entertaining.
It’s a style that has seen Djoko go from resident DJ at legendary Amsterdam venue Trouw to being a regular behind the decks at highly regarded festivals and club nights around the world. Where he was once out front amongst the dancers showing his appreciation, Djoko is now on stage, DJing alongside friends and heroes at such high profile venues and events as Concrete in Paris, Warehouse Project in Manchester & the iconic Printworks in London. He holds residencies at hot Amsterdam venue Shelter as well as the London’s biggest underground event promoters LWE.
Djoko’s rise through the DJ ranks has been sound tracked by a string of well received productions. Before Strictly Rhythm came calling, he had been putting out music for almost a decade. In that time, he released singles and EPs on an impressive array of well-regarded underground labels, including Rush Hour, Mobilee, Voyage Direct, Leftroom and Tuskegee.
These typically blurred the boundaries between house and techno, with Djoko using the opportunity to explore his love of muscular grooves and futurist electronics. With multiple sets on the iconic terrace for Circoloco at DC10 plus a worldwide DJ schedule, we can expect more top-drawer releases from Djoko in the months and years ahead.
