DJDS

DJDS, short for DJ Dodger Stadium, are an eclectic commercial production duo consisting of Sam Griesemer (aka Samo Sound Boy) and Jerome Potter (aka Jerome LOL). Grammy-nominated for their work with Kanye West, they are genre-blurring headliners in their own right, having assisted the likes of Khalid and Kacy Hill while featuring them and a cross-generational crop of other artists on their own releases. The Los Angeles-based artists debuted in 2011 with the Stadium Status EP, a small batch of raw, acid-drenched house tracks released on their own label, Body High. Three years later, after they had remixed tracks by Maelstrom, DJ Soulja-Man, and Newbody, DJDS followed up with their debut album, Friend of Mine. Within a couple years of the set's release, the duo's approach evolved from being firmly rooted in early Chicago house to emphasizing pop-oriented songwriting and contemporary production touches. They also became sought-after producers for other artists. These developments were heard through 2016, a breakout year for DJDS. First was Stand Up and Speak, their first full-length for the Universal-distributed Loma Vista label. Within a few weeks, Kanye West's The Life of Pablo was released with Griesemer and Potter involved with five of its tracks. By the end of the year, Griesemer and Potter were nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Rap Song as co-writers of the album's "Ultralight Beam," and also produced "Rih-Flex" for fellow nominee the-Dream. DJDS' momentum continued to build in 2017 with the production and co-writing of "Another Sad Love Song" for Khalid's Grammy-nominated American Teen, along with deeper involvement on Kacy Hill's Like a Woman. The-Dream, Khalid, and Hill, along with the likes of Charlie Wilson and Amber Mark, appeared on Big Wave More Fire, DJDS' varied and guest-filled third album. The full-length was issued on Loma Vista in 2018. The following year, they paired with Burna Boy for the EP Steel & Copper. A stand-alone song, "Simple Things," featuring Rema and Tory Lanez appeared in July 2020. ~ Andy Kellman & Rich Wilson