London-based collective Le Bon Jams is composed of musical veterans Laura Welsh, Joe Brown, Franc Colucci, and James New. An electronic and pop dance quartet. Known for their blending of analog synths with live instrumentation, each member boasts an impressive career as an artist, coming together to craft unique releases built from indie and dance inspiration. After a breakout year in 2024, which saw the band gather support from musical icons Jaguar, Mark Knight, Don Diablo, and Arielle Free, the band now celebrate its debut EP which came out in June. DMC dives in…
Introduce yourself, who exactly is Le Bon Jams?
Hey! We’re Le Bon Jams—Frank Colucci, James New, Joe Brown, and Laura Welsh. We’re a dance collective based in East London
What first inspired you to make music together?
Honestly, it just sort of happened. We’ve all been writing and producing music for years, and known each other forever. Laura and James actually met over a decade ago and had already worked on loads of projects before Le Bon Jams was even a thing
Congrats on your new singles “What U Need” and “Spotlight”… What’s the story and inspiration behind these tracks?
Thanks! “What U Need” feels like our signature sound—soulful, joyful, retro-leaning but still punchy enough for the club. “Spotlight” goes a bit deeper. It’s moodier, weirder, a bit more introspective. The party’s still going… just later in the night.
As a band, what have been the most defining moments in your career so far?
We’re still in the early chapters, but for us the real magic happens in the studio. Every writing session feels like a little breakthrough—we’re constantly learning and evolving our sound.
What sets you out from the masses?
Tough one. Music’s always building on something that came before. But we’re big on bringing the fun back to dance music. A lot of the alt-scene gets very serious—our vibe is soulful samples, catchy melodies and a little joy in every track.
What challenges have you collectively faced within the industry, and how have you overcome them?
Like a lot of musicians, we’ve been navigating a weird time—streaming, AI, and shrinking sync fees have made it tough to sustain a living. Le Bon Jams kind of became our way of reclaiming some control, putting music out on our own terms.
What has been your biggest milestone or achievement so far?
Finishing an EP we all truly believe in. That, and signing with PIAS—who totally get what we’re trying to do. That felt like a big win.
When you first started, what were your core values or goals, and how have those evolved in recent years?
Honestly, our goal has always been to make music we love first. That hasn’t changed. The best stuff usually comes from that place of personal joy—not trying to chase trends or guess what people want.
Are your families supportive of your music career?
Yeah, they are! Most of us have been working in music for a while, so we’ve had time to prove that this can actually be a job. As long as we’re happy, they’re happy.
Outside of music, what else makes you tick?
All sorts—films, art, bouldering, theatre, hiking, chess… Frank even does acupuncture on the side if anyone’s feeling blocked (emotionally or otherwise).
What would be your perfect collaboration?
Salute would be amazing. A day in the studio with James Murphy wouldn’t be too shabby either.
Talk us through your creative process.
Usually starts with coffee and a good chat. No pressure. One of us will bring a beat or sample, and we just build from there. We like to stay away from rigid song structures and go for stuff that feels natural—hooks you could loop forever.
What’s something we don’t already know about Le Bon Jams?
Three of us used to be in indie bands. Which kind of makes sense when you hear some of our melodies—it’s dance music with an indie heart.
Do you have any weaknesses you’re actively trying to improve?
Our caffeine intake is… aggressive
Which piece of kit is your favourite and why?
Frank’s got a piano that we always come back to. If a song works stripped down to just that, then you know the melody’s great
What is it about music that excites you most?
That unexplainable feeling. Like when you were a kid jumping around your room to a song that just made you feel amazing . We’re always chasing that moment—it’s pure magic.
What has been your favourite Le Bon Jams release to date?
Probably Candy Eyes. It was the first one where we were all like—yep, this is the start of something.
Give us 3 of your favourite or influential songs, past or present…
Cassius – 1999
Stardust – Music Sounds Better With You
The Paradise, Alan Braxe – In Love With You
What advice would you pass onto younger generations?
Make sure you’re having fun. This industry can be brutal—rejections, flops, all of it. But if you love making music, that joy will carry you through.
What’s the best piece of advice another person ever gave you?
If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, confuse them with a tempo change
Many musicians are also great chefs—creativity seems to flow through everything they do. Is that true for you, or do you have other hidden superpowers?
Ha—maybe not chefs, but most musicians we know are a bit wired differently. Creative brains just seem to work best when we’re making something—whether it’s a song or a very elaborate sandwich.
What’s next for Le Bon Jams?
We’re dropping these singles, then gearing up for our first live shows. Can’t wait for that part to begin.
Where can we find you performing next?
Nothing we can announce just yet—but something’s coming very soon.
Open plug, share upcoming news you want your share with your plans.
Follow us at @le.bon.jams for all the latest. Lots of good stuff on the way.
