Performer

About Justin Vee

Click here to see Justin’s interview by Kim Simpson.

Justin Vee recalls the moment when house music stole his soul. Inspired by anthems like Josh Wink's "A Higher State of Consciousness", B-Code's "Feel Good" & Paula Abdul's "My Love Is For Real" (MK's Dub) his love affair with electronic music began on the dance floor.

As a teenager, parties held by his friends became the informal training ground to Justin's early DJ endeavours. Years later, the desire to be heard stronger than ever, Justin was fortunate enough to be taken under the wing of three of SA's top DJ's at the time, Paul Almeida, Mario Viegas & DJ Spiro.
Under the watchful gaze and careful direction of his newfound mentors, Justin was able to take the final leap from dedicated dance floor punter to professional DJ 'playa'. He burst onto the party scene in 1997 at Johannesburg's legendary Sunday playground, ESP. Justin's fine-tuned funky house skills left clubbers in complete awe and made an immediate and indelible impact. His popularity and profile soared instantly. In the space of only 8 months, Justin had moved swiftly through the ranks, cemented his status and landed residencies at mega-clubs ESP, Nexus, and for party brand, Slippery 'n' Wet, followed by Exodus, Gates & The Workshop.

Concurrent to his burgeoning progress behind the decks, it seemed almost pre ordained when Justin joined the BMG Record family and workforce, following in the footsteps of his patriarch and siblings. In his capacity as sound engineer for BMG Studios South Africa, Justin went on to record many of SA's finest musicians including Just Jinjer, Watershed, Amersham, Louise Carver, Arno Castens, Gift Gwe, Judith Sephuma, Jody, Vusi Mahlaselha, Heinz Winkler, the Soweto String Quartet, Idols & Project Fame contestants, Grannysmith, Loyiso Bala, and many others. He also worked closely with TKZee on three of the band's albums, stayed and still working for BMG right through into their merger to become Sony BMG now Sony Music Entertainment . For the last 14 years, music became Justin's life, quite literally, 24-7. And he loved it! Immersing himself in studio during down time and at home, Justin also composes original dance music as well as material suitable for radio and TV ads for the French and South African markets.
Continuously evolving with the music, Justin's accomplished productions are inspiring contributions to the world of house music, which always elevate his audience. He cites the success of "Get Together", his collaboration with Adrian Shannon of Grannysmith, as the most memorable moment of his production career. The track charted in the Top 10 on every major radio station in SA, reached the No. 1 position twice on 94.7 Highveld Stereo's Homebrew and was featured on "The Hits 15" and "Club Anthems 2006" albums which had combined sales of over 60 000 units.
Other noteworthy singles include; "Enjoy This Feeling" featuring vocals from Veronique aka "V" of Idols fame; "Sunrise" featuring vocals by Alicia which charted in the Top 10 across various radio stations and was named one of the Top 40 songs of 2007 by 94.7 Highveld Stereo; Idols runner up Gift Gwe's, "Back To You" co-written by Justin Vee and title to his debut album; Idols winner, Jody "Never Knew Love Like This Before" and more recently during 2009 Louise Carver's "Time Is A Healer" which was remixed by Justin Vee and charted on Top 100 nationwide airplay charts climbing as high as No. 3 on Take 40 SA during June this year, the track has cracked the nod to appear on the well known compilation, "The Hits 21".
Whilst still gigging at ESP, Justin's first foray into the retail music environment ensued when he was asked to mix one of a series of ten limited edition EPs. He subsequently mixed other commercial releases including Funky House Vol. 1; Clubland SA, a CD compilation between himself and Manuel Oettl; Serious Beats Vol. 2 and Just Funky and Just Too Funky, consisting of seriously, super-funky beats courtesy of Justin Vee and friends.
Then in 2007 Justin was invited to come aboard what is, without doubt, one of the most successful, quality dance compilation brands of the last decade, House Anthems. The brainchild of Kevin Grenfell (of 5FM's Vinyl Frontier fame) & Ricardo Da Costa (Soul Candi), House Anthems has built a reputation on raising the roof and pleasing the masses by time and again delivering the freshest, fiery staples of hits and club anthems. House Anthems 5 mixed by Kevin Grenfell and Justin Vee exceeded sales of 10 000 copies within the first 30 days of release! Sticking with this winning formula, the 6th installment released in early 2008 was filled true to form, 'wall-to-wall' with some of the biggest and best anthems of the moment!
In 2008 the massively successful dance franchise returned in its 7th incantation after undergoing major renovations and extension. For the first time ever a triple disc monster, the album featured 3 of SA's most applauded DJ's, series initiator Kevin Grenfell, Dean FUEL and Justin Vee once more. And most recently in 2009, House Anthems 8 saw the return of Kevin Grenfell and Justin alongside Roger D'lux to whip your Friday night into a right royal frenzy. Kevin's contribution all adventurous, Justin the party starter par excellence and Roger the scratch master and technical whiz kid, they once again did not fail to impress.
Over the course of Justin's illustrious career he has played alongside some of the biggest names in the global industry including Layo & Bushwacka, the Shapeshifters, Hoxton Whores, Sharam Jey, Style of Eye, Chris Lake, Cosmic Gate, Eddie Halliwell, Paul van Dyk and Fatboy Slim amongst many others too numerous to mention. It’s been a steady rise from the infamous raves of the early 90s, to his legendary residencies at ESP, Nexus, Sutra and for Africa's biggest dance event, H20. Anyone drafting an 'A-list' of SA's most in-demand DJs will
not only find the name "Justin Vee" nearest the top, but discover that few, if any, have played the gig circuit for as long and as consistently as this legend has.
Over the years Justin has remained loyal to a sound underpinned by seriously infectious baselines, funk-infused rhythm and that always-hypnotic groove. With an unbiased fascination for all good electronic music and the recognition that the key to stirring excitement and compelling a crowd to move lies the baseline, Justin has developed a style which draws from all genres of house from the tech tinged and funk edged to twisted electro and bumping house. And his distinctive drum driven, energy fuelled style renders him accessible to almost any dance floor. Today, with no less than three massive radio hits, seven Top 40 singles and ten DJ mixed albums to his name, record industry producer and chart topping songwriter Justin Vee attributes his many achievements to his deeply rooted musical background. And it is that, coupled with an engaging personality, natural exuberance and his infectious enthusiasm for the music he produces and plays which easily rubs off on and enthralls every crowd Justin Vee performs to.
It is no surprise then that Justin Vee's star remains firmly in the ascendant and his, is a future that shines bright. Plans for 2010 include 2 more DJ mixed albums under the House Anthems brand and the introduction of an as yet untitled Justin Vee solo album compilation series. On a production front, Justin will also be dedicating his time to the production of some brand new radio releases and he has an exciting collaboration with Justin Chalice in the pipeline.
As one of the hardest working names in the local industry, Justin Vee is the definitive DJ and producer, renowned for his ability to spot a hit record a mile off and a technical proficiency second to none. Justin has never taken the easy path to success. A DJ whose passion for house music overthrows the boundaries of merely playing records and truly sets him apart from his peers!

Experience

13 Yrs

Gigging Experience

DISCOGRAPHY
ESP EP 7 (1997)
FUNKY HOUSE (1999)
CLUBLAND S.A. (2001)
SERIOUS BEATS VOL 2 (+/- 35 000 COPIES SOLD)
JUST FUNKY VOL. 1 (2003)
JUST TOO FUNKY (2004)
HOUSE ANTHEMS 5
HOUSE ANTHEMS 6
HOUSE ANTHEMS 7
HOUSE ANTHEMS 8
FORTHCOMING RELEASES 2010
HOUSE ANTHEMS 9 EMI
HOUSE ANTHEMS 10 EMI
Justin Vee Solo Album Compilation [Sony]
ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS REALEASED ON COMPILATIONS & ARTIST ALBUMS
Justin Vee – In & Out – ESP EP 7
Justin Vee – Get Up, Get Down – Funky House Vol. 1
Justin Vee – Disco Party – Peter Stuyvesant Summer Sampler
Justin Vee – 911 – Serious Beats Vol. 3
Heatseeker – Clocks – Trance House 10
Justin Vee – The Funk (Instrumental Version) – Just Funky
Justin Vee ft Veronique – Enjoy This Feeling – Just Too Funky
Justin Vee ft. Adrian Shannon – Get Together (Electro Rmx) – Just Too Funky
Justin Vee ft Ricardo da Costa – The Basement Sessions (Part 1) – Funksensual
Twistyle ft. TK – How Do You Feel – Club Soda 2
Justin Vee ft. Adrian Shannon – Get Together – The Hits 15
Justin Vee ft. Adrian Shannon – Get Together – Club Anthems 2006
Justin Vee – Kick Back – Catch Me If You Can Vol. 1
Justin Vee – Look At What You Started – House Anthems Vol. 5
Justin Vee – New Day – House Anthems Vol. 6
Justin Vee ft Alicia -- Sunrise – Hey!
Louise Carver – Time Is A Healer (Justin Vee Remix) – Home Tour
Louise Carver – Time Is A Healer (Justin Vee Remix) – The Hits 21
Gift Gwe – Back To You [Sony BMG] – Back To You
Jody – I Never Knew Love Like This Before [Sony] – Just Gonna Be Me
REMIXES – RELEASED
Heatseeker – Clocks [BMG] (Justin Vee and DJ Spiro)
Justin Vee – Hello Afrika [BMG] (Justin Vee and Others)
Twistyle ft. TK – How Do You Feel [BMG] (Justin Vee and DJ Spiro)
Justin Vee ft Adrian Shannon -- Get Together *BMG+ (Justin Vee's Electro Rmx)
Jody – Wind It [Sony] (Justin Vee of ‘The ZoolooZ’, DJ Spiro & Alan M)
Louise Carver – Time Is A Healer (Justin Vee Rmx) [Sony]
DIGITAL RELEASES
Justin Vee presents The Kick Back Ep (More Music)
TOP 40 HITS
JUSTIN VEE FT. ADRIAN SHANNON – GET TOGETHER
(J.Vee & A. SHannon)[BMG]

Produced by Justin Vee & DJ Spiro
Charted in the Top 10 on every major radio station in SA.
Charted in the Top 40 reaching # 28 on 5FM
Reached the # 1 position twice on 94.7 Highveld Stereo's Homebrew chart.
Appeared on "The Hits 15" & "Club Anthems 2006" albums.

JUSTIN VEE FT. VERONIQUE-ENJOY THIS FEELING
(J. Vee & V. Lallouete) [Sony BMG]

Produced by Justin Vee & DJ Spiro
Charted in the Top 40 on every major radio station in SA.
Appeared on "Just Too Funky" mixed by Justin Vee

JUSTIN VEE ft ALICIA-SUNRISE
(J Vee, A Comer, P de Barros, D Harding & L Bala)[Sony BMG]

Produced by Justin Vee & DJ Spiro
Charted in the Top 100 National chart for 3 months.
Charted in the Top 40 reaching # 26 on 5FM
Charted In the Top 10 reaching # 6 on Homebrew on 94.7 Highveld Stereo
Charted in the Top 10 reaching # 4 on Take 40 SA
Charted in the Top 10 reaching # 4 on Kovsie FM
Charted in the Top 10 reaching # 4 on East Coast Radio
Named one of the "Top 100 Song of 2007" by East Coast Radio
Appeared on "Hey!" 08

LOYISO ft. KABELLO – TO THE TOP
(J. Vee, Loyiso, Kabello & Sipho)

Performed by highly acclaimed SA artists Loyiso & Kabello
Appeared on Loyiso's 2003 solo album, "Wine woman & Song"
Play listed on radio during 2003.
Six years later in 2009, it can still be heard on current radio station play lists.
Charted on Top 100 nationwide airplay charts during 2009.
Charted in the Top 40 across various stations.

GIFT GWE – BACK TO YOU
(J. Vee, G Gwe, RJ Benjamin, Z Bala & Tebs)
[Sony]

Appeared on Idol 2005's Runner Up, Gift Gwe's debut album, "Back To You" as the first single of the album.
Play listed across AC Radio

*JODY – I NEVER KNEW LOVE LIKE THIS BEFORE
[Sony]*

Produced by Justin Vee
Appeared on Jody’s debut album, "Just Gonna Be Me" released in 2008.
Received extensive nationwide airplay.
Charted on AC Radio and the Homebrew Top 10 on K-FM/Homebrew
Charted on Top 100 nationwide airplay charts for four months during 2009

LOUISE CARVER – TIME IS A HEALER
(J. Vee Rmx) [Sony]

Remixed by Justin Vee.
Charted on Top 100 nationwide airplay charts for 4 consecutive months during 2009.
Reached # 3 on Take 40 SA (June 2009).
Radio Helderburg Top 30
K-Fm Top 10
Appeared on Louis Carver’s "The Home Tour- Live" album
Appearing on The Hits 2009

MASTERING & PRODUCTION

Various "Now" compilations
Various "The Hits" compilations
"Just Funky" mixed by Justin Vee
"Just Too Funky" mixed by Justin Vee
"House Anthems 5,6,7 & 8"
"Drop It Like It's Hot" Vol. 1 mixed by Sebastian
"Erica Elle presents Studio 55"
"Progression 1,2,3 & 4" mixed by DJ Spiro

FEATURED ALONGSIDE TOP INTERNATIONAL DJ’S LIKE:

PAUL VAN DYK (HOLLAND)
FATBOY SLIM (UK)
PHILIPE TRUAN (CHILE)
RANDY KATANA (HOLLAND)
COSMIC GATE (GERMANY)
HOXTON WHORES (UK)
4 STRINGS (HOLLAND)
THE SHAPESHIFTERS (UK)
SHARAM JEY (GERMANY)
BLU PETER (UK)
NIELS VAN GOGH (GERMANY)
MILK & SUGAR (GERMANY)
STYLE OF EYE (SWEDEN)
MILK INC. (BELGIUM)
IAN OSSIA (UK)
SEXUAL CHOCOLATE (USA)
JAKE CHILDS (USA)
E. CRAIG aka TONY CHA CHA (HOLLAND)
LAYO AND BUSHWACKA (USA)
ALAN THOMPSON (UK)
MARCO V. AND BENJAMIN (GERMANY)
STEVE THOMAS (UK)
MOGUI (GERMANY)
PHIL FULDNER (GERMANY)
THE FREAK AND MAC ZIMMS (HOLLAND)
STEVE HASWELL (UK)
MR C of the SHAMEN (UK)
TON T.B. (HOLLAND)
LOCK N LOAD (HOLLAND)
LUIS PARIS (UK)
ANGEL (BRUSSELS)
B.K. (UK)
KNUCKLEHEADZ (UK)
PERFECT PHASE (HOLLAND)
SIMON EVE (UK)
SCOTT BOND (UK)
DAVE LEE (UK)
EDDIE HALLIWELL (UK)
MARK NORMAN (GERMANY)
PHUNK PERVERT (BELGIUM)
DJ MEA (USA)
DJ DIAMOND (USA)
DJ TRIBE (USA)
JOYCE MERCEDES (USA)
KANAN 7 (BRAZIL)