The Next Wave of the UK Underground
At just 19 years old, London-based DJ and producer Joss Dean is already making serious noise in the UK’s underground house scene. Known for slick groove-driven productions and sharp, hypnotic DJ sets, Dean represents a new generation of artists pushing the sound of minimal and deep house forward.
In only a few years, he has gone from playing small local parties to commanding dancefloors at some of the UK’s most respected clubs. But despite the rapid rise, his approach to music remains grounded in one thing: the groove.
Born Into the Groove
For Joss Dean, music was never far away. Born into a family deeply embedded in the dance music world, he grew up surrounded by DJs and producers shaping the UK underground.
His older brother, Max Dean, and cousin Luke Dean were already making their mark on the scene when Joss was still discovering music for himself.
“I first started DJing with friends at little parties we used to do after school,” Joss recalls. “I enjoyed doing and didn’t really think anything of it.”
But that curiosity slowly turned into something deeper.
“As my passion continued, and that’s when I started to introduce myself and study what Max and Luke were doing this led to me learning the art of not only djing but producing as well.”
Having mentors so close to home gave Joss a unique advantage early on.
“Max and Luke started at a very young age, so I was always around them, always listening to great music and watching them progress with their production. That made things a lot easier when I started out because I had the perfect people to learn from.”
Building a Sound from the Groove Up
Joss Dean’s productions sit at the intersection of minimal grooves and deep house, stripped-back, rhythmic tracks built to work in the late hours of the dancefloor. But when it comes to actually creating that sound, his process is far less structured than people might expect.
When Joss heads into the studio, there isn’t a strict formula waiting for him. The starting point is usually rhythm.
“I always begin with the drums,” he explains. “I like to start with samples that reflect my taste in music and then build around them with synths and basslines that fit the flow of the track.”
From there, the direction of a record can shift quickly. A bassline might reshape the groove entirely, or a small percussion element might become the backbone of the track.
For Joss, the most important part of the process is allowing the music to develop naturally rather than forcing it into a structure.
“Studio time never really looks the same,” he says. “There isn’t really a structure to music. It’s about what sounds good to you.”
That mindset keeps every session open-ended. Instead of chasing formulas, Joss lets the sound build on its own.
Breakout Records
In a short time, Joss Dean’s productions have already started finding their way into DJ sets and dancefloors across
His debut track “The People’s Rhythm”, released via neXup recz, quickly became a dancefloor weapon within the underground minimal scene. Even before its official release, the track was being played at clubs like DC-10 and Amnesia in Ibiza, signaling early support from DJs across Europe.
For a young producer, seeing his music echo through legendary clubs was surreal.
“Making the track so young I was unable to listen to the track in various clubs,” Joss says. “Seeing it on social media was very surreal and seeing the love and support it got from the community it motivated me to make more compelling tracks and try and recreate that feeling I got when I saw people resonating with my tracks.”
Then came “Was I Loved?”, the track that pushed his name beyond the underground.
Originally created as fresh material for Max Dean to play during his all-night-long set at KOKO in London, the record started with a simple idea.
“I started with the organ baseline and drums and for a good while I was stuck finishing the track but leading up to Max's KOKO show I began evolving the track and adding more elements.”
The final result was deceptively simple, and incredibly effective on the dancefloor.
“I kept it simple, and it worked really well.”
Staying true to his mindset that if the music feels right, nothing more needs to be added.
A Scene at Its Peak
Joss is entering the scene during what he believes is a golden moment for UK house music.
“The scene right now is at an all-time high,” he says.
With a new generation of producers pushing minimal grooves and deep house forward, the energy around the underground feels stronger than ever.
“There are various artists who stand out to me right now,” Joss adds. “Mason Cooper, a good friend of mine, is making very cool and promising tracks.”
He also points to rising producer Ellis Garner as another artist helping shape the sound of the moment.
“Ellis Garner is making a lot of cool music and recently gained an EP on neXup. His tracks are heavy hitters in the club and he shows a lot of potential for the future.”
Mastering the Dancefloor
Despite his rapid rise, Joss is still actively shaping his sound and approach behind the decks.
“My sound is still coming together,” he admits. “Producing is always changing.”
One thing that has changed since his early days is how he approaches DJ sets.
“I don’t rush anymore. I like to let tracks play out and build the energy slowly.”
For him, a great night in the club comes down to one thing.
“Energy on the dancefloor. If you can create that as a DJ, that’s the best feeling.”
Reading a room is an art, and Joss approaches it carefully when stepping behind the decks.
“When reading the crowd I try to analyse DJs on before me and see how the crowd resonates with their tracks and build off what they are currently doing.”
The size and type of space also plays a role in how he approaches a set.
“If I was in a big room my job as a DJ is to fill the space with tracks and create a lot of energy… smaller rooms are more free range and you can go any style and have complete freedom of tracks based off your taste.”
Understanding those differences allows him to shape the energy of a room rather than force it.
With touring, travel, and studio sessions filling most of his schedule, downtime is rare but when he does get a moment to himself, Joss keeps things simple. In a scene that moves quickly, finding small ways to unwind helps him stay balanced.
“If I’m touring, I usually just relax in the hotel, maybe watch a film or sleep.”
Staying grounded is key for such a fast-moving career, and maintaining routine helps him keep that balance.
“I try to keep my routine as much as possible, even after late nights. That keeps me focused.”
Outside of music, he enjoys gaming and training, small moments that help reset between studio sessions and performances.
“I still play PlayStation with friends sometimes and go to the gym. But honestly, most of my free time is spent in the studio.”
Life Outside the Booth
The Next Chapter
With momentum building and bookings increasing across Europe, the next chapter is wide open.
“This year is looking very exciting,” Joss says. “I haven’t got anything planned as of yet in terms of releases but excited to see where my music takes me.”
While new music continues to take shape in the studio, his focus for now remains on the dancefloor, with a number of upcoming shows already on the horizon.
“There are various gigs I’m excited for, especially in Ibiza…”
With new music developing and more club appearances across Europe, one thing seems certain:
Joss Dean is only getting started.
