A Montreal veteran on what the DJ scene’s lost—and what’s still worth saving

There’s a soul of DJing worth preserving that’s getting lost in the algorithm age, says JoJo Flores.

J.P. Karwacki

June 17, 2025- Read time: 5 min

Photography by Phil Tabah / @phlop

In a scene increasingly driven by spectacle—where the booth has become a stage, the DJ a brand, and the night something to document instead of feel—longtime Montreal based international DJ and sound system builder JoJo Flores speaks through frequency, texture, and intent.

If you’ve ever found yourself dancing at Baby, eating at Arthur’s, or caught off guard by how good the music sounds at a restaurant like Bar George or a speakeasy like Coldroom, chances are he had a hand in shaping the experience.

After decades behind the decks, Flores has become a kind of sonic custodian that’s both playing music and preserving its purpose: He offers master class DJ lessons, installs high-fidelity systems around the city, and champions vinyl less not as a nostalgic flex, but as a quiet rebellion against everything the scene’s started to forget.

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