For DJ / Producer James Blakstar John, music has always been about soul and groove.

"It doesn't matter what style of music I am producing, and it doesn't matter how hard and synthetic or soft and natural the music I am making is " the Reading, England native says. "There is always a way to add some form of soul and groove to it. I'm all about the groove."

That ‘soul and groove’ has been inspiring the rising dance music star since he first started out at 13 years old on a make-shift DJ rig in a household where his parents and brother were constantly listening to soul, reggae, Hip Hop and dance music. His early influences include Armand Van Helden, Todd Terry, DJ Hype, Prodigy, Cypress Hill, Krs-One and Mike 'Ruffcut' Lloyd.

Now at 25 years old, James has forged his own style and identity and says he still has that early love of creating music that can take people up and down on emotional and physical highs, all through the power of the music he creates.

In his 12 year career of rocking crowds and entertaining the masses, James' ability to make a crowd move and emotionally connect with the music he loves has taken him from local club performances to national tours and worldwide radio airplay. By age 16, he had a weekly residency at a local Reading club which led to residency in a club in Slough. James started producing music for an East London based record label and was played on the UK's biggest underground station. Frequent Berkshire and West London performances followed, with James landing an agent by the age of 18.

James has recently concentrated on music production while still performing. An unofficial remix of Sandy Rivera's "Freak" recieved worldwide radio and club play, prompting Sandy to request Defected Records to include it in some sort of release. James followed that success with an official remix of Titi Puente's "Oye Como Va" and was second most popular track on the 'Ibiza Athems 2009' compilation that reached the Top 20 on the iTunes Dance chart.

James has also started his own soulful / deep house event brand in his hometown of Reading that regularly draws 400-plus ravers at each performance. The world famous Pacha in London has featured James, and he has also performed across Europe and America. James' first musical release of 2010 is the single, "Smile" on Detroit's Whasdat Music label ran by Pirahnahead. He will also release a four track deep-tech ep on Chicago-based Smooth Agent label, with many more singles, remixes and compilations to follow.

If musical groove and soul are the source of James’ inspiration, the energetic and emotional response to his music is his reward.

"The crowd response is everything to me," he says. "I love interacting with a crowd and knowing that I have some control over making them move and cheer. It's all about making them move, connecting and interacting, and sending a message through the music while it fits into a nice vibe and groove."