For over 25 years James 808 has been an active DJ covering all aspects of the Alternative music scene. From New Wave to Synthwave to Indie-Pop to Goth, James has kept the dance floor moving with a strong focus on introducing new music.
Hailing from New York, James started in the early 90’s as part of the emerging rave scene spinning small warehouse parties. Eventually he would move on to DJ the WDRE/WLIR NEW WAVE DANCE PARTY at HEFFRONS on Long Island.
As the 90’s continued, DJ James 808 went on to hold residencies at several of Long Island’s biggest and best Alternative clubs such as INDUSTRY, CLOCKWERK, and NOSTRADAMUS as well as being the original DJ for the long running DETOUR party.
By the mid 90’s James would make his way to New York City, holding a residency at RE:MISSION every Thursday night at the legendary PYRAMID CLUB which would go on to become one of Manhattan’s longest running weekly New Wave parties. Other residencies throughout the 90’s-00’s include THE BANK, RIFIFI, KOROVA MILK BAR, BAR 13 and the infamous LIMELIGHT.
In the 2010’s James moved to the New England area and continued to pursue new DJ projects including starting the the RE<<WIND Retro Dance Party series at 3S ARTSPACE in Portsmouth,NH and founding DEAD DISCO a roaming Post Punk, Disco Goth, Darkwave dance party around the New England seacoast.
In 2017 he co-founded Boston’s long running Modern Synth dance party OVERDRIVE at THE MIDDLE EAST nightclub which is still going strong today. A social gathering dedicated to exploring the Synthwave, Dark Italo, Retowave, and Electro-Pop genre’s.
In 2018 James was hired as the Stage Manager for New England’s premier Synthwave music and vintage gaming festival NEON RETROFEST working with some of the genre’s biggest acts such as ROBERT PARKER, WAVESHAPER. MECHA MAIKO, DANA JEAN PHOENIX, ABSOLUTE VALENTINE and many more.
In 2023 James crafted the popular Brit/Indie dance night AUTOMATIQUE! at the legendary MANRAY nightclub in Cambridge. A place where Jarvis Cocker dances with The Strokes to a Daft Punk beat.
Over the years he has had the honor of supporting several touring bands such as AND ONE, MODERN ENGLISH, JESUS JONES, PROJECT PITCHFORK, ZOOT WOMAN, BLOC PARTY, NINA, PARALLELS, and many more as well as making numerous guest DJ appearances across many alternative gatherings throughout New York and New England.
Expect DJ James 808 to continue to keep you dancing long into the future.
