Guy J is one of the most respected names in progressive and melodic house, known for his warm textures, deep emotional arrangements, and signature flowing journey sound. His music has shaped the global melodic scene for years, earning him a dedicated following across continents. The Lost and Found label head honcho continues to be a key influence in the evolution of modern electronic music through both his productions and his curatorial vision.
Our good friend Ronnie sat down with Guy J during his India tour this month for a candid conversation.
- You are a regular feature in India and have built a very special connection for over a decade and a half. Tell us more about this relationship you have established with India.
Yes, I have my family roots here, you know. But I have known about India from the psy trance music scene, of course, from all the Israeli DJs who come here. It was always a fascinating place to come as a DJ. And I think it is fascinating even without the music. I believe people also felt that I have something special for this country, and over time we built a relationship. And here I am today, coming back every year, which is amazing. - It is not just India. It is the entire subcontinent that you love. We saw the announcement of you doing your showcase, We Are Lost Festival, in Sri Lanka for the second time next year. This is phenomenal. How was this idea conceived, and how did you feel Sri Lanka was the right place?Yes, I also visit Sri Lanka frequently now. And you know, when I go there, the events are like for three thousand people, four thousand people. The crowd is amazing. The passion for the music is great, they are completely dedicated to the sound. That kind of atmosphere is undeniable. We had a great experience last year with a very positive reaction, and we are scheduled to be back on February 28 next year.
- Talking about amazing, you are considered one of the torchbearers of progressive sounds. In today’s era, where genres like techno and afro have become dominant, your sets and showcases feel like a strong representation of progressive for the purists. What challenges do you face when presenting this genre across the world?
To be honest, everything I did during my career, and most things in my personal life, I do not pitch. I just do it because I love it, and people feel that. When you do something you really love, people feel it. And what you are saying about progressive is true for India, but if you go to Argentina, it is not something small, you know. Music is like fashion; it is always moving. You can be popular in one place, and then ten years later it is popular somewhere else. So I do not feel like progressive is being pushed aside.
- When you say you do not pitch what you do and it simply works, roughly how many tracks do you have that remain unreleased? Some of your IDs have become huge among fans. How long does it usually take for a track to become an official release, and what percentage of your production actually gets released?
I think it varies. It depends on the inspiration I have going into it. I make around twenty to thirty tracks a year. I release about four tracks a year. So roughly twenty percent gets released.
So the rest remain IDs for your sets?
Yes, and they will always remain unreleased. I do not do that because it is special. I do it because I love making music. I do not see the point in releasing a lot. I pick and choose what I believe is perfect and has a bit more meaning for me personally. - You are also selective about which tracks get released on vinyl. With vinyl sales picking up, how encouraging has it been for you and your labels?
Yes, vinyl sales are doing quite great. They were strong for Lost and Found, and now with Early Morning it is really picking up. I want to believe it is because I am selective with the tracks that come out. I hate the thought of tracks simply being released without meaning. They should have meaning for me and hopefully for others, whether it is my music or not. - Coming to something meaningful, who are your favorite Indian producers in the progressive space?
There are great producers. Names running in my head, forgive me. Weird Sounding Dude, Praveen of course, and Aman Anand. I love him as a human. And Dada, Sanjay Dutta, has always been there. I talk to him often on one point that over 1 billion people and such a small scene, haha.
- You have played across India for years. If you had to pick your top three cities purely from your experience, what would they be?
It is easy. Goa has always been great. And Hyderabad in the early years. And the open air venue BPM, that was such a great gig. - I am glad you mentioned that. The fondest gig will always be the six and a half hour set you played on Funktion One in Hyderabad at Leonia. Now, name one more city.
I like coming to Mumbai, it is always good for me. Even Bangalore. I think I should mention Kolkata. This time was very good. They know the sound and push the scene a lot. Sonu has been great to work with. It was great. - Thank you so much for giving us these insights. We will not ask you about your favorite Indian food because we all know it by now. Thank you for the memories and we hope to see you again soon.
Thank you guys.
As always, speaking with Guy J reveals the passion and intention behind his art, reminding us why his connection with India remains so strong. Until next time.
