Live recording from my opening set at MEGANITE with Mauro Picotto!

James Damian - Live - Meganite With Mauro Picotto - 3 June 2023

The Early Days

With music in his blood, ambition and a rare talent, James was determined to create and forge his own individual style on the heady world of EDM. Right from the start he took the music industry by the horns and has successfully managed to make a name for himself.

His first public performance saw him as a guest at Derek The Bandits' (a well known South African Radio personality) "Sound Republic" party. Slightly raw but eager he left his mark and was offered a residency at one of the original "all weekend" clubs in Johannesburg, Sunnyside Up.

He has also been one of the top resident DJs at South Africa's longest running and most successful club, ESP.

Identified as having something out of the ordinary, the management of ESP invested heavily in James and his international career, initiating a DJ exchange with other promoters around the world and so far he has proven his worth to audiences at a number of prestigious clubs and events on the international circuit including countries like Austria, Spain, Poland, the UK and Switzerland!

Warming Up

He took part in the 2006 Zurich street parade as part of the South African representation and showed one million people that the southern hemisphere is a force to be reckoned with.

Experience comes in many forms and James has had the honor of playing alongside some of the biggest names in the dance world. He opened for Armin van Buuren during a 2006 South African tour as well as closed for the world’s number one on the South African leg of the highly acclaimed Godskitchen Boombox tour in 2009.

Firing Off

In October 2010, James played at the acclaimed Electric Mansion event held at Gallagher Estate. The line-up was unlike anything seen in South Africa until that point. James played alongside trance giants Sander Van Doorn, Marco V and First State. 

Shortly after that, James played at the Godskitchen Boombox Tour, when it returned to South Africa in November 2010, with Above & Beyond (rated 5th on the DJ Mag 100) as the headliners. 

In December 2010, James Damian launched a new concept in events called “The Darkest Forest”. James transformed ESP into a magical forest for the night complete with quirky performers, sultry dancers and advanced stage and lighting such which Joburgs club life had never seen. It was a huge hit, with South African based International Protoculture as the main guest DJ. 

In January 2011 James alongside partners Muzzi Muz and DJ Speedy started a new trance night aimed at bringing back the sound to South Africa’s capital city Pretoria: “Save The Last Trance” has been well received and attendance continues to grow with each party.

In 2009, James, along with Shane Halcon, hosted a “Trance Africa” floor at H2O. In 2011, he returned to the Main Stage at H2O, at the recent “2 Cities” party, which featured International DJ, Marcel Woods.

Affable and highly approachable, this gentleman of the decks has created a following of faithful fans eager to loose themselves in his musical magic.

Played Alongside/Supporting sets: 

Signum : Dave 202 : Cosmic Gate : Steve Murano : Scott Bond : Dumonde : Gareth Emery : Brian Cross : 4 Strings : Thrillseekers : Pulser : Ron Van Den Beuken : Mark Norman : Rank1 : PG2 : Above & Beyond : John 00 Fleming : Dave Lee : Menno De Jong : Kyau & Albert : Ian Betts : Adam White : Leon Bolier : M.I.K.E : Armin Van Buuren : Sander van Doorn : Marco V : First State : Shane Halcon : Protoculture : Marcel Woods : Paul Oakenfold : Lange : W&W : 