Everywhere Selector: James Selva Reflects On The Algorhythm Of His DJ Success

If you’ve been out partying these last few months, you would’ve seen plenty of James Selva (Credit: Manifest)

The resurgence of parties has revived and propelled the momentum of many local DJs. But while most have experienced a steady trajectory, for James Selva, his DJ activity has been soaring like a fighter jet.

Since the return of dancefloors, the everywhere-selector has opened for international names like Sébastien Léger and Hyenah. He’s played for big-time occasions like the Singapore Grand Prix, Crypto Art Week Asia and the reopening of .KRATE. The man’s spread his wings overseas in Kuala Lumpur and Vietnam, and you’ve probably seen him play at countless bars and pop-up parties across the island. You just can’t ignore a streak as triumphant as Selva’s. If we ever ran awards for hottest DJ of the season, we’d know who to hand it to.

Selva’s sounds can range from spiritual to explosive (Credit: Blackout Agency)

The evolving repertoire of James Selva is a standard that sets the bar for all DJs. You’re just as likely to see him smashing a therapeutic sundown set with disco and Balearic, as watching him captain a main-event sweatfest with techno or psytrance bombers. It’s a free-roaming diversity that prevents him from being pigeonholed, fine-tuned with insight and spontaneity to play the right track at just the right time.

As a promoter, he’s also the co-originator of the Algorhythm parties, a transcendent series known for its ultraviolet and technicolour fiestas that first blasted off in 2018. Like many other promoters whose fires were restored with the purge of the pandemic, Selva saw the opportunity to bring Algorhythm back into the fray with events at Room 0416 and Iki, with the latter welcoming Melbourne’s Lisa May to our shores. Like a cannon waiting to be reloaded, Algorhythm is setting its crosshairs for bigger things to come – now waiting for the right moment to strike.

So how does he do it all? Whether he’s reading dancefloors as an in-demand DJ or reading the party scene as a promoter, James Selva has a firm lock on his narrative. Here to tell us more about his flourishing story is the man himself.

Whether it’s for a daytime set or an all-night bender, he’s got the tracks for you (Credit: Mark Lewis Tan)

Hey James. You’ve experienced a meteoric rise and unstoppable momentum in the scene this past year. What’s been your takeaway from this positive response?

Hey Kevin, thanks for having me. Honestly, it was a surreal experience going from quietness during lockdown to full-blown dance parties within a span of three to four months. During the pandemic, I told myself that I’d be fully present and truly enjoy each experience when the time came.

Fast forward to now and I’m truly grateful for all the opportunities that have come my way. I feel truly blessed to be able to share my tastes in music, be it a Balearic sunset session, feel-good disco/house party or a full-on techno rager. I can’t thank the bookers and promoters enough for providing their trust in me to curate amazing experiences on the dancefloor. I guess I must be doing something right hey? That being said, I’m not letting anything get to my head. As ‘unstoppable’ as it’s been, I’m always looking at ways to improve my craft.

James playing at Manifest’s signature pool party (Credit: Manifest)

As a performer, how do you avoid the very real problems of burnout and stagnancy? How do you ensure that it doesn’t become a rinse-and-repeat process?

I feel that burnout is a very real thing, especially if you’re playing four to five different sets a week. Meditation and exercise are staples of my daily and weekly routines which help me mediate it. For meditation, I try to do a 21-min breathwork/visualisation and mantra session every morning. If I’m rushing for time, I just do a guided meditation using the Calm app. For exercise, I switch it up with 5km runs, calisthenics and boxing throughout the week. It really allows me to maintain my energy levels, so that I can recharge adequately and be more focused on the sole task at hand. I also try my best not to double book myself on any given day, but at times, it is inevitable.

Something new that I adopted during the pandemic is to find 10 new tracks a day or 70 tracks a week at the bare minimum. It helps me combat the stagnancy and rinse-and-repeat process. For a DJ that plays regularly, it is imperative that you are constantly digging, to provide new and interesting experiences for the partygoer and listener. For me, inspiration also comes in waves. When it does, I usually run with it and try to clear my calendar for the next two or three days if I’m able to.

“That state of symbiosis that you share with a heaving dancefloor is honestly priceless.” (Credit: Blackout Agency)

What do you prefer playing: Warm-up sets or peak-time sets? Festival sets or club sets?

I genuinely love them both. I learnt so much from playing warm-up sets when I first started Dj-ing at HQ and Kilo back in 2018, and it really helped me understand how to read a crowd and respect the DJs who were on after me. I opened for Amine K a couple of years back and he was really impressed with how I handed it over. That always struck a chord with me, as even the big DJs truly appreciate someone that sets the tone for the night, the right way. I recently warmed up for Sebastien Leger and Hyenah, which were both mind-blowing experiences and a dream come true!

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy peak-time sets. That state of symbiosis that you share with a heaving dancefloor is honestly priceless.

Having only played at Wonderfruit and Garden Beats so far, I don’t think I have a great depth of experience to speak in detail about festival sets just yet. I do really love club sets for sure, as I get to connect with more individuals in an intimate setting. Making eye contact when that one right track hits someone, and you observe their reaction (be it a smile or a wolf howl) is always heartwarming.

I was lucky enough to hop on the decks for a sunrise set at this private 100 pax festival in Ireland in 2019, when I dropped Sasha’s remix of “Hey Now”, with a violin overlay and noticed this lady tearing up. I met her after my set and she was so happy that I had played it, as it transported her back to a time and place that evoked so much joy. She turned out to be the organiser of the whole festival too, which made it extra special.

So to answer your question, I enjoy both and feel the essence of a club or festival set is still the same, which is to connect with the listener, and be able to read their emotions and energy. Same same but different ah.

“Having played the saxophone, piano and timpani in the past, I truly enjoy learning from the artistry and creativity of all musicians.” (Credit: Courtesy of James Selva)

When you’re so in demand and playing all sorts of gigs, how do you maintain a consistent sound and identity when it comes to the James Selva brand? Do you think you’ve established one yet?

This is honestly something I have to work on. I feel the time will come when I start producing and find my ideal ‘sound’. Till that happens, I feel my identity or brand resonates with helping the listeners reconnect with themselves, to find that childlike joy when they let loose and dance. If someone sees my name on a poster, either consciously or subconsciously, they know they’re gonna have a great time [Insert wink emoji here]. I do really enjoy blending in different genres and styles, and taking inspiration from the greats like Acid Pauli & Ame, who blur the lines so effortlessly.

How do you feel you’ve matured as an artist? You’ve racked up quite the lengthy journey.

I am way more open now than when I first started. I used to be rather narrow-minded in the music I’d listen to, or the events I’d go for. I also feel my sound has evolved and is more multi-faceted now. Being more ‘mature’ as an artist, I’m able to obtain inspiration from different musicians and experiences, not just those from a single genre or setting. I still regularly go for live music performances, be it a band or a jazz club. Having played the saxophone, piano and timpani in the past (being in a military band), I truly enjoy learning from the artistry and creativity of all musicians.

James Selva opening for Sebastien Leger (Credit: Blackout Agency)

What would you tell yourself all those years ago when you first started DJ-ing?

I’d probably just tell myself to trust in the process. It’s easy to go through ups and downs in this line, but after you’ve been through it, you will realise there was nothing to be worried about in the first place. Stay true to yourself and hold yourself accountable not only for the good but especially the bad. Swallow your pride. There’s a lot more to learn from a bad set than a great one.

What are your upcoming plans for the Algorhythm brand, given the current climate where there’s now a sharp influx of promoters? 

We are in the midst of a rebrand that will be foundational in our goal to create imaginative environments and interactive art, mirroring the benefits of transformative experiences through creative expression, flow, and human connectivity. By being authentic to the team’s artistic expression through our own curation of music, academia, and design architecture, we believe we don’t have to be in competition with other collectives. 

Honestly we love that there are so many collectives creating wonderful experiences for the local scene, and perhaps one day we could collaborate with them to create something bigger for the community.

Shades of an Algorhythm Dreamscape event in 2019 (Credit: Mark Lewis Tan)

And for partygoers who haven’t been to one, what can they expect from Algorhythm events?

Depending on our curation of the night, a diverse, ascending selection of groovy, funky, soulful, psychedelic genres; set to the backdrop of imaginative decor and interactive experiences that blur the line between artist and attendees. We’re all artists, and Algorhythm is the canvas for you to paint on. We try to cover the fields of dialogue, creativity, imagination and consciousness at our events, to maintain a place where people can partake in a cross-pollination of culture.

In that sense, you can expect mindful conversation, collaborative artistic expression, level heads and a collective care at the core of our events. We aim to create respectful, responsible, and engaged environments where people can flourish as themselves.  

There are also so many DJs popping up now within the community. What advice would you give to aspiring selectors? Any tips or tricks?

It’s heartening to see so many DJs that have entered the space. I’ve met some young guns who have a real interesting taste in their selections. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for the months and years to come. I always see this as a positive. Not only does it expand the reach of the people listening to our kinda music, but it also provides fresh perspectives on various subgenres and styles.

The only advice I can give is to keep at it. Don’t feel dejected if there’s a downtime in between gigs. Work on your craft, upload more mixes, and I’m sure you’ll get noticed if you are good. Ultimately, it’s only those who are truly in love with music that will progress. If you’re in this for anything else other than that, the listeners will discern for themselves.

And to wrap up, tell us about the next step of your DJ career. Are there more plans to make a name for yourself overseas?

It’s definitely getting into music production. I’ve been putting it off for quite some time but I feel the time is right to begin the voyage into the unknown. I’m aiming to play more in Asia and Australia for now, and Europe again in the near future!

(Credit: Courtesy of James Selva)

Follow James Selva on his Instagram page, and listen to his mixes on his SoundCloud.