In Conversation with Sir DJ Corey

We sat down with another legend. Sir DJ Corey. Ten years in. Wireless. Glastonbury. Boomtown. Womad. Drake's parties. Popcaan's afterparties. Four Red Bull Culture Clash wins. Nike. Puma. Red Bull. Apple. Spotify. #YourDJCouldNeverrr.

Four Red Bull Culture Clash wins is a mad number. For people who don't know what that competition actually takes out of you, break down what's different about it versus a regular set.

To win a Culture Clash, it requires precise, detailed DJing. Everything has to be done to the clock, and even the tracks we play need to be mixed in a certain way. It also takes a great team, because one person can't win it by themselves. I'd say I've been part of a winning team four times, which is something I'm really proud of.

Your whole thing is #YourDJCouldNeverrr. Love that tag. Where does that actually come from, and has it ever been tested?

I think the confidence has always been there, but over the years I've developed my own way of doing things and adding those unexpected moments while I'm playing. During COVID, I started using the #YourDjCouldNeverrr tagline because some of the mixes and moments I was creating really felt like those "your DJ could never" moments.

You're the go-to DJ for private parties with Drake, Popcaan, Beenie Man. That's a completely different energy from playing Glastonbury. What changes when you're in that room versus on a festival stage?

For me, playing celebrity parties is always fun. I think I get called for these events because I play for the crowd, not for myself. I make sure I read the room and play exactly what people want to hear. That builds trust, and once people know you can deliver, you naturally become their go-to DJ.

Most DJs pick a lane and stay there. You play hip hop, dancehall, reggaeton, house. Everything. What's that actually cost you, and what's it given you?

Staying open format has cost me a bit of a defined identity, but it's given me freedom. I can read any crowd, play across genres, and keep things unpredictable. It's made me more adaptable and, honestly, a better DJ.

Glastonbury and Gambia. Two completely different worlds. What do those two places teach you about what music actually means to people?

It's taught me that music connects people no matter where you are. Glastonbury and Gambia are completely different environments, but the reaction to good music is the same. People just want to feel something, dance and enjoy themselves. I bring that same vibe and energy wherever I am in the world.

You've worked with Nike, Apple, Spotify, Red Bull. Corporate moves are their own thing. How do you stay yourself when you're in those spaces?

I think the key is staying authentic to who I am as a DJ. Working with big brands is an amazing opportunity, but they bring me in because of what I do and the energy I bring. I always make sure I stay true to my style while understanding what the brand wants and also keeping that balance without losing myself.

Ten years in. Every major London stage. What do you know about this city now that you didn't know when you started?

When I started, I thought it was simple: just be a good DJ and the work would come. But as I've grown in the industry, I've realised it's also about who you are as a person, who you know, and how well you network. Talent is important, but building relationships and putting yourself out there is a huge part of surviving and growing in the industry today.

Dubplates. Live remixing. Mashups. When did you realise that was going to be your thing, and how long did it take to actually get it right?

I think my skillset and the way I transition music has definitely developed over the years, its taken a few years to master it after travelling to different countries and hearing different styles of music has allowed me to pick up little things here and there and create my own way of playing. I'm self-taught when it comes to mixing, and no matter where I go, I'm always learning something new from another DJ.

MOBO Awards. BAFTA Awards. Two completely different worlds, but you're the same person behind the decks at both. What's that like?

Being featured and nominated is great, but I think being a great DJ also means knowing how to stay humble, especially in your highest moments. Things can quickly go left if success starts affecting how you perform in real life. Some people like to celebrate their achievements loudly, but I prefer to keep pushing, aiming for more, staying consistent and making sure I never fall off.

Ten more years. What does the Sir actually look like then?

In ten years, I'd still want to be able to teach and educate DJs by sharing my experience, influence and knowledge. Hopefully, the "Sir" comes from being respected for longevity, consistency and what I've contributed to the culture, not just the awards.

Corey doesn't split himself into different versions. The private parties and the Clash wins and the festival stages and the brand work it's all one conversation for him. How do you read a room? What does it need? How do you deliver that without losing who you are? He's been asking himself that for over ten years, across six continents, in front of crowds that couldn't be more different.

The answer never changes. You stay yourself. You stay ready. You trust what you've built.