Above Photo Cred: FRANKFIEBER
Jonas Blue’s year reached a new level once “Edge of Desire” with Malive landed on Defected. The track put a clear spotlight on his shift into club-focused production and marked a real point of connection between his studio identity and the rooms he has been playing across the US. The support from Radio 1 and artists across house pushed the record even further, and it set the tone for how he is shaping this next phase.
Jonas Blue will be performing in Miami on 12th December at Club Space owned Jolene Sound Room – Tickets Here
That shift sits at the center of this interview. Jonas breaks down how DJ culture has changed around him, how younger artists build their presence, and how he approaches the booth with experience that spans several eras of dance music. His focus on reading the room, trusting instinct, and staying adaptable lines up naturally with the energy of “Edge of Desire,” which carries the same intention in its arrangement and structure.
Across the conversation he reflects on growth, taste, pace, and the tools that matter in a cycle that moves quickly. The new single gives context to all of it, because it shows where his head is as both a producer and performer. This is the Jonas Blue that is stepping into the next stretch of his career with clarity, focus, and a commitment to staying connected to the rooms that shaped him.
You’ve been in this game a long time, what’s one change in DJ culture that still surprises you when you think about it?
Honestly, the speed of everything still blows my mind. When I started, you’d spend ages digging for music, learning how to blend properly, finding your identity. Now someone can go viral off a 10 second clip and suddenly they’re on festival lineups. It’s incredible, but also surreal, the pace is something none of us could’ve imagined back in the day.
Another big one is how global everything is now. You can play a set in London and have someone in Brazil reacting to it five minutes later.
That level of instant connection is wild, and I still catch myself thinking, Wow, this is the world we’re in now.
What feels totally different about the way new DJs come up now compared to when you were starting out?
For new DJs today, the journey is almost reversed. Back then you earned your stripes in small rooms, built up your skill set, got your residency, and the reputation followed. Now, sometimes the reputation comes first, you build online, get a following, and the real life reps come after. It’s a completely different pathway.
There’s also way more focus on branding from day one. When I was younger, it was about obsessing over records and technique. Now young DJs are having to think about content, visuals, storytelling, it’s almost like you need to be a full creative team in one person.
Are there any rituals, values, or small things from the early days that you think have totally disappeared?
The art of taking your time has definitely faded. There was something magical about spending hours in a record shop, testing tunes on the decks, talking to the owner, discovering things by accident. That patience shaped you, it built your taste. Now everything is accessible instantly, which is amazing, but it changes the relationship you have with music.
On the flip side, what’s something about DJing or the scene that’s stayed surprisingly the same?
The crowd’s intuition.
Technology has changed, stages have changed, but people still know when you’re being real. They know when you’re taking risks, when you’re connecting with them, when you’re just playing it safe. That human energy hasn’t changed at all.
And honestly, the feeling of being behind the decks, that moment where a record drops and everyone moves together, that’s exactly the same now. That electricity hasn’t gone anywhere.
Has your relationship to the crowd changed over the years, or do you still approach that connection the same way?
I think I’m more intentional now. When I was younger, it was pure adrenaline, you just wanted to impress. Now it’s more about creating a journey, paying attention to the room, letting moments breathe. I’ve learned that connection isn’t only about high energy, it’s about trust.
I also approach crowds with more gratitude now. After touring the world and experiencing every type of environment, you realise how special it is when a room buys into your vision for the night. I don’t take that for granted anymore.
Do you think the role of the DJ has changed in a deeper way, not just the tools, but the purpose?
Absolutely. DJs used to be the gatekeepers and storytellers, the people who brought new sounds into the world. Now we’re also content creators, performers, personalities, sometimes even educators. The job has expanded far beyond the booth.
At the same time, the core purpose hasn’t changed. You’re there to make people feel something. Whether it’s a 200 cap basement or a festival stage, that emotional responsibility is still the heart of the job.
If you could sit down with your younger self behind the decks, what would you say if anything?
I’d tell him to trust his instincts more. I used to second guess myself a lot in the early days, but the choices that felt the most “Jonas” were always the ones that led somewhere special. I’d remind him that individuality is your superpower, don’t dilute it.
And I’d say, enjoy the journey. All the late nights, all the setbacks, all the tiny wins, they add up to something bigger than you realise when you’re in it. Just keep going, keep experimenting, and keep leading with passion.
The post Jonas Blue on Taste, Growth, and the Process Behind “Edge of Desire” appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.