JJOY - One of Malta's Leading DJ / Producers

Discovered by Daniel Reginiano (Time International) John Refalo in art JJoy is Malta's top DJ with a career that dates back to 1997. Staring from his youth JJoy always had a love for music playing in school bands and organising small parties for his friends. After the school band came JJoy's first set of decks and JJoy spent hours daily learning the art of mixing and within one year JJoy soon found himself spinning at a couple of local clubs and bars were he caught the attention of Daniel Reginiano who was at time organizing a party in collaboration with Planetcom (organisers of the massive Berlin Loveparade) and choose JJoy to be the official resident for his parties called JOY (now operated and owned by J Joy's Rype and Real Muzik).

The first Joy party took place on the 28th June 1997 at the Westin Reef Club and saw JJoy rock 6000 punters with an impressive 4hr set blending electro/house/trance and techno in such an amazing way,nearly every local promoter and club owner also attended this Joy party and were very impressed by JJoy's talent and so bookings for every single local event and club then followed.

JJoy soon found himself on top line ups locally and worldwide with big names like Faithless, Kosheen , Paul Oakenfold, Tiesto, Paul Van Dyke, Deep Dish, Timo Mass, Marco V, Westbam , John Digweed , Sasha, Nick Warren, Dave Clarke, Sven Vath , X-Press 2, Miss Kittin , DJ Hell, Felix Da Housecat, Eric Morillo, Tall Paul, James Holden, Tilt, Seb Fontaine, Eric Prydz, Mauro Picotto, Armin Van Buuren, Roger Sanchez, Judge Jules, Eddie Halliwell, Umek, Marcus Schulz and so many more, either warming up or playing peak time sets JJoy's technical ability to blend a crossover of electro house to progressive trance and techno has always been noted to provide an amazing interaction between him and any crowd gaining high publicity on local and foreign media.

J Joy has also played at Worldwide Club's and Clubtours with Cream, The Ministry of Sound , Eden and Es Paradis in Ibiza, The Honeyclub, Turnmills and Dance Academy UK, Seven Sins, Godskitchen, Progress, The Gallery, Plastic Fantastic, Renaissance, MTV and the Loveparade and also boasts a fine array of awards including Best Newcomer (1997), Malta's No1 DJ (1999), Best Personality (2000), Malta's Most wanted DJ(2001), Malta's Most Successful DJ (2002), Malta's Best Trance DJ(2003), Malta's Best DJ (2004), Malta's Best Trance DJ (2004), Malta’s Trance DJ (2005),Malta’s No 1 DJ 2006(The DJList.com), Gozo’s Best DJ 2006(Sole Music Awards)Best Dance Tune 2006(BMA’S) and Best Dance Tune 2007(BMA’S). J Joy also hosts one of the islands top and most requested dance shows J Joy's Joyride which started off in 1997 till 1998 on Live FM, 1998 till 2000 on Radio 101, 2000 till 2002 on Island Sound, in 2002 J Joy moved Joyride to 897 BAY the island’s top frequency and is transmitted every Thursday from 1030pm till 1230 log on to www.bay.com.mt for more info.

J Joy is also a regular on MTV Europe where J Joy has been seen spinning on MTV's The Fridge with Neil Cole and co-hosting MTV's dance-floor chart with Mimi-K and Becky Griffin, in 2004& 2005 J Joy also hosted the MTV Malta summer-dance party and has been asked to host the event again in 2007. Rype and Real Muzik are also part of the J Joy legacy being the names of his official event production and promotion and also his record labels, when it comes to organizing and promoting quality events JJoy and his promotion are known for offering some of the best events on the Maltese Islands with attendances that have seen over 4500 clubbers at many of their events including Joy Classix and Joy Anthems, J Joy is also known to be the first and only local DJ to organize 2 events simultaneously on two separate islands-Malta and Gozo which saw two sell out parties on the same night with Joy playing 3 hr sets at both events and also the first and only local dj to successfully organize a 2 day event, the Joy Classix Weekend party, 2007 proved to be yet another great year for Joy Events seeing them rock clubs to the maximum across the Maltese Islands.

When it comes to productions JJoy is definitely making a good name for himself bleding in various elements of dance music finalizing a crisp sound which is well noticed in his collaboration track with world renowned vocalist Jan Johnston called ‘ Rush’ which has been receiving heavy support and playlisted by some of the world’s biggest names and has recently been signed to Coldharbour Recordings a division of the famous Armada Group, his debut single with Kirsty Hawkshaw ‘love is no possession’ which got signed off to Loverush Digital has been receiving strong support by some of the world’s biggest djs, not to mention its been placed in the World DMC Buzz Chart and Music Week Charts for weeks, when producing on a harder note JJoy’s track ‘Urban Jungle’ due for release in Februarry 2008 and has also been licensed to Greg Downey’s ‘Live As’ compilation recorded Live in Ireland released on Discover recordings and is also described by John Askew as a tech trance monster and a must have tune, 2008 sees JJoy working on more tracks with Kirsty Hawkshaw plus some new projects with Andrea Britton, Marcie , Marcella Woods and many more, two other side projects also sees Joy working on tracks under the following names Fahrenheit with Jo Micali& Joy Junior with the Gee Bros, projects for 2008 sees JJoy working on more tracks for his debut album coming out on his label Real Muzik called ‘Down To Earth’ which is due for release during December alongside with Joy’s 6th DVD Feature to date, a number of more remixes are also in the pipeline keeping the Joy Boy busy and working hard on quality music namely the remix for Kirsty Hawkshaw Vs Kinky Roland-Fine Day which will be out early 2008 on Loverush Digital.

When it comes to charity JJoy is always one of the first on the list to help an institution or organization raise funds for a good cause, ‘I’ve been given this special talent and its up to me to use my talent to help others in need’.

Currently rated in the Top 400 on thedjlist.com out of 120,000 DJ’s worldwide JJoy carries on making his mark with a stronghold of residencies including Gianpula, Numero Uno, La Grotta, Axis, Club Xs, The Honeyclub, Turnmills& the MTV EXIT tour playing high profiled gigs to big attendances weekly, guest mixes on international shows on Kiss FM with John Askew, Ministry of Sound Radio with Gavyn Mitchele, Nocturnal with Matt Darey and hosting his weekly show every Thursday on 897 Bay, his Real Muzik Tour playing 6 hr sets every month, and his ever so popular Joy Events for which the demand keeps growing due to JJoy’s strong dedication and passion for electronic dance music, ‘for me it’s a way of life, music is my passion the ability to interact and give so many people a good time at the same time gives me a great rush, the art to entertain’ the Joy Story continues.