Miami Music Week serves as the ultimate launchpad for summer music festivals, uniting music lovers who have endured harsh winters or lingering post-holiday blues. On the second day of Ultra, EDMTunes caught up with Joel Corry, an English producer and dedicated fitness enthusiast. Known for his infectious house music and chart-topping hits, Joel exploded onto the scene with his breakout track âSorryâ, in 2019. Since then, he has crafted electrifying dance anthems like âBEDâ with David Guetta, âOut and Outâ with Jax Jones & Charli XCX. Join us on an exciting journey as we delve into Joelâs impactful musical journey thus far.
Iâm Scott from EDMTunes here with Joel Corry at Ultra Day Two. How does it feel to be here?
Feelâs so good, just came off Main Stage. That was my first solo Main Stage debut set and it was insane. Unbelievable.
Joel, youâve played at Ultra a few times before, and this is your first time on Mainstage as you mentioned. How does it feel from a smaller stage to the biggest stage?
Itâs amazing man. The first time I came here, I actually came with David Guetta. I just jumped up on for one song he premiered our track âWhat Would You Doâ and I got a little taste of it. I was on the Mainstage and at that moment, I said to myself Iâve got to get myself here on my own set one day. And fast forward three years, and it happened. Moments like that stay with you forever and it was definitely a big moment in my life.
Over the years at Miami Music Week, you have played at all different types of venues, pool parties, and now festivals. What have been some of your standout moments over the years here?
When I was 19 years old, I went to the University of Miami for a study abroad program. I spent a year living in Miami for university, and during that time, I had a fake ID that allowed me to get into nightclubs, including Mansion (now M2) and all the clubs on the strip. Miami means a lot to me because that year was a significant period in my life; it was my first time living away from home and my family, having moved from London. I remember hustling to get into those clubs and onto guest lists. Now, when I play my headline sets at venues like LIV, it feels like a full-circle moment for me every time Iâm back in Miami.
How has Miami changed since you were here as a study abroad college student to now?
I feel like Miami hasnât changed that much. Itâs good vibes, party central. You canât not have a good time in Miami. I love coming here and if I ever move to the U.S., Miami is where I am going to live.
So have you seen a sunrise at Space or Factory Town?
I have tickets to Space for the closing party and I go to that every year. All the work is done now, and itâs time to party. I love Space, and I have had some amazing big nights there.
In terms of music, what do you have coming up this year? What are your plans?
I just debuted a new track that I played on the Mainstage called âDaydreamâ, that is coming out this summer. Aside from that, I have big collaborations coming this year with some unbelievable artists. I donât want to say their names, but watch this space as I have a big year coming up. I am really excited about some of the music coming.
Would you say your sound is staying with what youâre familiar with or would you say Joel Corryâs sound is branching out?
I believe itâs essential to keep evolving because trends and tastes are constantly changing. I was discussing this with someone the other day. When I first started producing music in 2014 and 2015, the sounds I created were quite different from the music Iâm known for today. Itâs fascinating how every artist experiences this evolution. Over the years, their tastes shift, and the music they release changes as well. As a DJ, itâs crucial to stay updated on current trends. We have the privilege of playing music for dance floors every weekend around the world, allowing us to observe what works and what doesnât. We can use these insights as inspiration when weâre in the studio.
Two years ago we caught up on Groove Cruise and you played a techno set. Is that something youâd like to explore more?
I am a raver at heart and a huge fan of techno. After this interview, Iâll be heading to the Resistance stage. I also enjoy playing techno in my sets. As you mentioned, you saw me perform a full techno set on Groove Cruise. Whenever I get the opportunity to do extended sets, like the five-hour set I played at Ministry of Sound in London recently, I love to incorporate techno. The last two hours of that set were packed with techno bangers.
For my Mainstage set at Ultra, I wanted to include the records that people know me for, so they can sing along. However, I was thinking about how I can adapt those tracks to bring that energy to the Mainstage. I added some techno drops and made edits to those records specifically for this Ultra set.
What Ultra set are you excited to see on Day Two?
I am excited to catch Anyma back to back Solomon on the Mainstage. Also looking forward to seeing Carl Cox Live on the Resistance stage.
Some people donât know that you actually started off as a fitness influencer. Then you moved into DJing and put the fitness content to the side for a bit. Now you seem to be merging the two worlds. Tell me your thought process there. Is that something you want to do more of?
Fitness and DJing have been my two biggest passions in life. They started as hobbies, but I eventually turned them into careers. In my early 20s, I took fitness very seriously. I participated in competitions, attended expos, created fitness videos, developed an app, and secured sponsorships. However, as my music career began to take off, I had to prioritize it above everything else. You canât fully invest in every aspect of life, and music and DJing became my top priority.
Once I started seeing progress in my music career, I committed to it entirely, and fitness transformed back into more of a lifestyle and hobby for me. Itâs no longer solely about physical performance; it has become a mental benefit as well. When I go to the gym, I feel great, especially while touring, dealing with jet lag, and the party lifestyle. I want to maintain my fitness by training hard, as it helps me be the best version of myselfânot only in fitness but also in my DJing.
Scott: Itâs a great example to set for all the artists out there, dealing with burnout. This is the best way to be.
Hope you readers got to know more about Joel Corry. Catch his Ultra set below and let us know what you think.