James Hype Responds to Pre-Recorded Set Claims: “I Think This Narrative Is Damaging for the Culture”

From spinning records to setting them straight, James Hype has had enough of fans falsely claiming he does not DJ live.

His recent clash with skeptics and rebuttal to such claims highlight a persistent issue in the electronic music community: accusations of "fake DJing" continue to plague even the most talented artists. That troubling trend, Hype says, is "damaging for the culture."

"A few months ago I started to notice a trend: Whenever a video of my 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 a narrative that all big DJs on big stages are playing pre-recorded sets and I want to break that. I’m trying to deliver a different show every single time and doing stuff that’s actually LIVE, unique, and RISKY is the only way I know how to perform."

Hype then invoked a 2021 livestream by deadmau5 that resurfaced in the summer of 2023, wherein the influential producer claimed that DJs performing at major festivals play pre-recorded sets "most of the time" to adhere to rigorous time constraints imposed by the organizers of those events.

A few months later in November 2023, a contentious Reddit thread began to pick up steam as ravers questioned en masse which DJs were genuinely performing live at EDC Orlando. Hype, who was mentioned frequently, then took to social media to bemoan deadmau5's commentary by virtue of an Instagram Reel containing a number of clips from his DJ sets.

"I saw a video where deadmau5 told his fans that EDC requires all artists to pre-record and it’s just not true, I’ve played all the biggest festivals on all the biggest stages!" Hype's statement continues. "I think this narrative is damaging for the culture and the new DJs coming up."

It's worth noting that deadmau5 clarified his remarks in a comment on Hype's Reel. "I'm almost positive this wasn't directed at you," he wrote at the time. "Nor was it at anyone really, getting pretty tired of having to explain myself over and over, but the clip was taken and edited from a literal popcorn eating facetious rant... but since everyone's just taking it so damn serious, run with it I guess."

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Hype's comments are timely. From a macro standpoint, today's DJs must navigate a landscape where technical prowess and creative pre-planning are both essential and scrutinized. To that end, it's fair to wonder whether the culture's obsession with authenticity in the social media age sadly overlooks the rigorous preparation and skill required to deliver a DJ set of Hype's competence.

A real challenge lies in educating audiences and preserving the integrity of DJing in an increasingly pernicious digital world. Whether or not the stigma persists remains to be seen, but it's a safe bet.

Fans of Hype can catch him DJing at his Hï Ibiza residency every Friday through October 4th, 2024 as well as at Creamfields, III Points and Groove Cruise, among other festivals. Check out his tour here.

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