James Hartnett

It’s 2013, and James Hartnett sets down his guitar on the A train platform in downtown Manhattan. A wrinkled sign taped to the lid of the case reads, “Chasing A Dream.” James tunes his guitar, clears his throat and contemplates which song he’ll begin with. He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s a DJ. For 5 hours he selects songs to sing for an ever-changing group of strangers as the lively afternoon morphs into the Monday evening commute, then dissolves into night. As an intern audio engineer at Quad Studios, he performs in the subway to make ends meet.
In the following years James engineers for dance music institutions Boiler Room and Avant Gardner, working alongside the greats and honing his craft as a music producer and DJ. By now he has released a wide variety of original music. Covering ground as a DJ, he’s entertained around NYC, and across North America. In recent news, his Crystal Eyes EP reached #2 on the Beatport house chart and was featured on Toolroom Radio.
James’ musical depth is the culmination of over two decades of studying instruments, writing, producing, and performing as a musician and DJ. Blending powerful emotionality with textures of minimal house and techno, he creates a bouncy groove that is all his own. James is the kind of artist that shows love from the first track he spins for you, eager to share something special. If you don't already, you will know him by the infectious energy in his sound, the smile on his face, and the movement in your hips.