Biography
English producer and DJ Jon Ford, born in 1985, channels a high-energy, low-end-driven blend of garage, house, and trap through his JOYRYDE alias. After early immersion in the psytrance circuit and a subsequent stint as one half of the EDM and dubstep pair Lets Be Friends, he introduced the JOYRYDE project in 2015 via a string of independent releases. The tracks quickly drew support from prominent figures including DJ Snake, Diplo, and Skrillex, leading to sets at Electric Zoo and Lollapalooza. A notable breakthrough arrived with the 2018 Skrillex collaboration “AGEN WIDA,” followed in 2020 by the full-length BRAVE, whose bold fusion of grime, bass music, and trap featured contributions from NoLay, Majilla, and Youngs Teflon plus the earlier Freddie Gibbs-sampling cut “DAMN” as a bonus track.
Ford’s father, John Ford—also known as John Phantasm—co-founded the pioneering Goa and psytrance imprint Phantasm Records. Exposed to studio work from childhood, the younger Ford began releasing material under the Junya alias before settling on Eskimo as his primary handle; his output from 2003 onward, beginning with Can You Pick Me Up?, merged psytrance, acid, and hard house. In 2011 he teamed with Oren Emanuel to form Lets Be Friends, shifting toward electro-house, dubstep, and moombahton and issuing two EPs plus singles on Monstercat before the duo went dormant in 2015, allowing Ford to concentrate on JOYRYDE.
Several 2015 singles under the new moniker included the Candi Staton-sampling “MERCY,” which crystallized his aggressive marriage of trap and speed garage. “HOT DRUM” from 2016 landed on Skrillex’s OWSLA label, which subsequently put out further JOYRYDE material such as 2017’s “I WARE HOUSE” and “NEW BREED” featuring Darnell Williams. Co-produced with Skrillex, “AGEN WIDA” appeared in October 2018 and climbed into the Top 40 of Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. JOYRYDE joined the HARD Recs roster in 2019, issuing preparatory singles like “MADDEN” and “SELECTA 19” ahead of the 2020 arrival of BRAVE.
Ford’s father, John Ford—also known as John Phantasm—co-founded the pioneering Goa and psytrance imprint Phantasm Records. Exposed to studio work from childhood, the younger Ford began releasing material under the Junya alias before settling on Eskimo as his primary handle; his output from 2003 onward, beginning with Can You Pick Me Up?, merged psytrance, acid, and hard house. In 2011 he teamed with Oren Emanuel to form Lets Be Friends, shifting toward electro-house, dubstep, and moombahton and issuing two EPs plus singles on Monstercat before the duo went dormant in 2015, allowing Ford to concentrate on JOYRYDE.
Several 2015 singles under the new moniker included the Candi Staton-sampling “MERCY,” which crystallized his aggressive marriage of trap and speed garage. “HOT DRUM” from 2016 landed on Skrillex’s OWSLA label, which subsequently put out further JOYRYDE material such as 2017’s “I WARE HOUSE” and “NEW BREED” featuring Darnell Williams. Co-produced with Skrillex, “AGEN WIDA” appeared in October 2018 and climbed into the Top 40 of Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. JOYRYDE joined the HARD Recs roster in 2019, issuing preparatory singles like “MADDEN” and “SELECTA 19” ahead of the 2020 arrival of BRAVE.
Albums
Singles
