Beyond the DJ Booth: Shell Robinson's about her music journey, New EP on Big Bells Records and what’s next
- Adnan Jakubovic
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Shell Robinson's upcoming EP "All The Way", set for release on Big Bells Records in June 2025, is a captivating two-track journey that reflects her refined artistry and deep understanding of the melodic and progressive house spectrum. Hailing from California, Shell Robinson is a classically trained musician who has made a name for herself in the electronic music world through her emotionally resonant productions and genre-blending style. We conducted an exclusive interview with this talented artist and she shared some insights about her past and future work.
Exclusive Interview with music producer and DJ Shell Robinson.
(1) Hello Shell. Thank you for joining us for this interview. Would you mind telling our readers more about yourself? Your story in the music and DJ world.
Thank you for having me! My journey into electronic music started in the most unexpected way—growing up in a deeply religious household where only classical and Christian music were allowed. But I found my escape through an old AM radio and late nights on a backyard trampoline, twisting the antenna to catch forbidden frequencies from Chicago. Through the static, I discovered Journey, Depeche Mode, and Howard Jones—those secret sessions taught me early that the best sounds are always worth hunting down.
The real turning point came in January 2000 during a Cleveland snowstorm. I wandered into a tiny club called That Groovy Little Nightclub and heard DJ Ernie play a remix of Everything But the Girl's "Missing." I was instantly hooked. I spent the next two years there every weekend, and that same club eventually gave me my first DJ gig. I'm originally from the Midwest but now call the San Francisco Bay Area home. Over the years, I've been fortunate to share stages with incredible artists like Paul Oakenfold, John Digweed, and Behrouz through my former Midwest residencies. These days, I'm focused heavily on production, releasing music on labels like UV Noir, Juicebox Music, Schallmauer, Soho Opus, and Future Avenue, while also hosting my HouseCall podcast, where I dive deep into conversations with fellow artists.
(2) Your upcoming EP, "All The Way", on our label Big Bells Records, is beautifully suited for warm-ups and after-work events. What was the inspiration behind the emotional and sonic journey across the two tracks?
"All The Way" represents a really exciting step for me artistically—these are my first attempts at crossing out of progressive house into deep house. I'm a newer producer, almost two years in now and still learning a lot, but I want to eventually be able to write songs in any genre, and this EP is the beginning of that exploration.
For inspiration, I was really channeling earlier Danny Howells and his incredible flexibility—he can bend any genre and make it his own. That's the kind of versatility I'm striving for. I always aim to make my songs somehow nostalgic, and moving into deep house gave me new tools to express those feelings while still maintaining that emotional depth I'm known for. The inspiration came from those transitional moments—whether you're starting your night or winding down after a long day. I wanted to create something that works in those in-between spaces where you need music that's both comforting and energizing. There's a nostalgic quality to both pieces, but they're designed to move you forward rather than pull you back. The beauty of warm-up and after-work sets is that people are in a receptive headspace, and deep house creates this perfect, intimate atmosphere for those moments.
(3) Every artist has a unique journey. You've shared the stage with legends like Paul Oakenfold and John Digweed. How have those experiences shaped your evolution as an artist?
Playing alongside artists like Paul Oakenfold, John Digweed, and many others like Behrouz, John 00 Fleming, Saaed and Palash, D:FUSE has been incredibly humbling and educational. Although those moments are in the far past in my earlier years of DJ'ing back in the early 2000's, What struck me most was their attention to reading the room and understanding the emotional arc of a set. Paul Oakenfold's approach to building a journey—which I first experienced through his "Travelling" compilation—showed me what a real musical narrative feels like. John Digweed taught me about patience and space in music, but also about genre-bending journeys of music you may not necessarily think goes together but does to build tension and release.
Watching him work a crowd, I learned that the most powerful moments often come from what you don't play, not just what you do. These experiences reinforced my belief that progressive music is about taking people somewhere, not just playing tracks. But honestly, some of my most formative experiences happened in smaller venues with local artists who were equally passionate. Those late nights at after-hours spots, the record store hunts, the conversations with other DJs—all of that shaped my understanding that this music is about community and connection, regardless of the size of the stage. These experiences have made me more confident in my own voice while staying humble about the craft. They've shown me that authenticity resonates more than trying to sound like someone else.
(4) Looking ahead, do you have any exciting projects, releases, or collaborations planned for 2025 that your fans should know about?
2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year! Beyond "All The Way" on Big Bells, I have several solo releases in the pipeline, including "One Of Those Days," a 3 song EP release coming in July as part of the Audio Atelier family of labels. I also have 2 remix projects, some collaborations on deck that I can't quite chat about yet, and I'm working on 5 other solo songs to be shopped. I've been spending a lot of time in the studio this past year, really dialing in my production style, and these new tracks reflect that evolution.
On the performance side, I make weekly extended mixes for SoundCloud and Mixcloud to keep my mixing sharp and inspire my productions. I have some upcoming shows in the works TBD once I get this studio work finished. I am also excited that I will be traveling to Croatia for the Balance Croatia Festival in August. It's their 25 year anniversary and the lineup is just beyond top. So looking forward to connecting there with other DJs, producers and sharing the experience with so many people I have been inspired by and looked up to along the way. To share openly—part of becoming a producer, I have realized I have become a bit reclusive and isolationist, preferring time in the studio alone creating. This is something I am openly working on with my music production coach and getting out a lot more as well as starting to play out and accept more gigs. Interested in booking me? Don't hesitate to reach out. I'm also expanding my HouseCall podcast, diving deeper into the stories behind the music with both established and emerging artists. The goal for 2025 is to keep that balance between staying true to my progressive roots while exploring new directions. I want to create music that works in intimate club settings but also translates to larger spaces. It's all about maintaining that emotional connection with the audience, regardless of the context.
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