Men’s Fitness talks exclusively to global DJ and multi-BRIT nominee Joel Corry about working with some of the biggest names in music and just why working out is the balancing act to maintaining positive mental health
With seven platinum UK records, five BRIT nominations and over a decade of club and festival shows all over the world under his belt, Joel Corry is one of the most recognisable names in contemporary dance music. He has headlined tours all over the world and collaborated with some of the biggest names in music – Charli XCX, David Guetta and Rita Ora to name just a few.
Before hitting the big time with his music, he was a pro bodybuilder winning competitions and earning sponsorship deals. As the pictures in this feature show, he’s still in incredible shape. But his fitness programme is much more relaxed nowadays and is a more stabilising force in his life.
We caught up with Joel to find out how he combines a global touring schedule with staying in shape and just why working out is the balancing act to maintain positive mental health.
Men’s Fitness: You released your latest single Phases a couple of months ago. What does that mean for you in terms of supporting it?
Joel Corry: When a single comes out, the work never stops. You have the whole process of making the record and then pre-promotion, and then you get into the campaign with radio promotion (Joel was in the Middle East when we caught up with him), which is a global gig. And if the single is successful, the campaign can last for at least a couple of months, after which the whole process starts again with the next one.
MF: How do you manage your fitness regime against the background of such a busy schedule:
JC: I always make my fitness a huge priority, and I will get up at the crack of dawn to find the nearest gym and get that workout in before the first interview starts because I need to tick that box mentally. And it honestly helps me perform so much better. Obviously, there’s a big physical benefit from keeping up my fitness regime, but the mental benefits are huge for me as well. My workout is my anchor. You’re never more than an Uber ride away from the nearest gym, no matter where you are in the world. I always just make time for it.
MF: You’ve talked a lot in the past about your relationship with your body. How has that changed as you’ve got older?
JC: When I was in my early 20s and doing fitness competitions, I was 100% all in on getting ready for those competitions. I think doing the preparations for those shows changed me mentally. It almost rewired my and that competition-ready lifestyle has carried through to my life as a touring DJ. The way I go about my diet and my training – and I still almost live that kind of bodybuilding lifestyle, even though I’m doing something completely different. That discipline has really helped me in the music industry – to have a goal in mind and work towards it every single day in my life. But I think anyone that’s ever competed in bodybuilding competitions will have some kind of body dysmorphia.
MF: It takes a certain mindset to be that disciplined: in essence the mindset of a professional athlete. Do you think the learnings are transferable?
JC: It’s a positive thing for me – a way keeping myself accountable and staying in shape. And it helps drive me and gets me up in the morning to get to the gym. And obviously I’m performing in front of crowds every day, and I want to look my best. It’s also become part of my brand. People know me as Joel Corry, the shredded DJ and that keeps me accountable. A lot of people come to see my DJ set and then want to talk to me about my training. I remain super passionate about it.
MF: The word ‘obsessive’ has come up in previous interviews. Do you recognise that as a character trait in yourself? And how do you use the positive elements of that to work for you?
JC: I have got that about myself 100%. I am quite obsessive. I’m able to focus really hard on saying when I want to achieve something or work towards a goal, but whatever that is inside me has made me successful in my life. At some points it’s been crazy, because I could never switch off. But the flip side of that is when I’ve got a goal in mind and I’m almost fixated on getting something done, I will work and work and work until I feel like that’s achieved. It’s a gift and a curse.
MF: How do you view that whole bodybuilding world, now that you’ve pivoted into global DJ superstar?
JC: I don’t think it was healthy. I’m proud of what I achieved in it and the competitions I won. But DJing and music was always my number one goal and I knew that I couldn’t do both. I had to step back from the fitness competitions and refocus on really what was my goal in life, which was to be a global touring DJ, to have collaborations and go all in on my music. I had to have that tunnel vision with my music, in the way I had tunnel vision with my fitness competitions. Fitness for me now is a hobby, a lifestyle, and I enjoy staying healthy and staying in shape. But my focus is 100% all in on my music.
MF: How strict are you with your nutrition now? And how easy is that to maintain when you’re touring all over the world?
JC: Really, I do the best I can which starts with making time for the gym. In terms of nutrition, it’s a myth that people say you can’t eat well on tour because you can. It’s just making the right decisions. And I know what I should and shouldn’t eat. I’m not counting calories, but I know when I’m eating too much. I like to enjoy myself. I’m in Lisbon right now. We went out for a lovely meal last night, tried the local food and the dishes they had on offer. I don’t restrict myself so that I can’t have a treat or a cheat meal here and there. I just don’t overdo it. But I’m in the gym every day, so I’m always active, so I can allow myself to have nice food and try different cultures wherever I go in the world.
MF: What would your three ‘go-to’ exercises be?
JC: I’d say the first thing comes to mind is chest incline dumbbell press. I just love that exercise. Next would be wide grip pull-ups. You can’t beat them for building a good back. I try to do pull-ups three times a week. Even if I’m not training back, I’ll just chuck them in the end of a session. And it’s something you can do anywhere as well. And it’s an obvious answer, but third would be squats. You can’t beat standard squats for building leg muscles.
MF: You’ve talked a lot about the solitary life of a DJ. Is that nature of life as a DJ quite isolated?
JC: I do have a very small inner circle. In terms of music, there’s a few people that I really trust. So, if I’m working on something and I want to get some feedback, there’s a few people that I know I’d send it to. And they’ll give me honest criticism. As far as my team and friendship circle goes, I think over the years, I had to really isolate myself because of how much focus and commitment I had to put in to making this goal happen. And a sacrifice of that is probably a lot of social time. And, over the years, maybe my friendship circle was cut down a lot.
But this is how I operate. I’ve never been a hugely social person either. I’m very focused on what I’m doing. I have the people that are close to me, that know me really well, that I trust, and that’s all I need.
MF: How much a part does fitness play in maintaining positive mental health?
JC: If I don’t do it. I am not the same person. That’s why it’s so important for me to make sure I get that workout in. And it’s the anchor for my whole day. From that moment onwards, it’s like that my day begins and I’m Joel. When I have to skip those workouts because I’m traveling or there’s simply not enough time, I really feel it mentally. The mental benefit I get from my training now far outweighs the physical: it makes me a better DJ, it makes me a better producer and it just makes me a better person.
MF: What’s the best piece of fitness advice you’ve ever been given?
JC: There are no excuses. I’m very much like ‘where there’s a will there’s a way’. When I I’m in a hotel room and I’m tired and jet-lagged, and I’m thinking that the last thing I want to do is a workout, I will still drag my ass to that gym. I know once I get through it, I will feel so much better. Don’t make excuses, get it done. It’s also important to find the fitness that works for you – and it won’t feel like a chore. You’ll enjoy and you’ll get the results.
