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First Japan Interview: Joy (Anonymous) – The UK Duo Who Set FUJIROCK ’25 Ablaze with Fred again.. Share the Philosophy of “JOY”

From the isolation of lockdown, their music grew into a global movement. The UK duo reflect on Japan and the story behind “JOY,” a sound beyond emotion.

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“If we can make just one person move, that’s already a win.”

Hailing from London, UK, Joy (Anonymous) was formed by Henry Counsell and Louis Curran, who first met at the age of 16.


After years immersed in band culture and DJ scenes, the project truly took shape during the lockdown period. Starting with impromptu street performances, they quickly rose through the scene with unstoppable momentum. At the heart of their music lies one central theme: “JOY.” Not mere happiness, but rather “the moment freed from all other emotions.”

This summer, as part of their first Asia tour with Fred again.., they made their long-awaited debut at Fuji Rock. Their late-night set filled the stage with smiles and energy, uniting the crowd as one. They also joined Fred again..’s suddenly announced solo shows as the supporting act, igniting the floors in both Tokyo and Osaka.
Vocalist Henry further appeared as a guest on Fred’s stage, performing “peace u need” and moving the audience into a wave of emotion.



Riding that wave of energy, DJ/writer TJO sat down with them for an exclusive interview on behalf of the EDMMAXX editorial team—diving deep into the movement of “JOY” and uncovering its true meaning.


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The Origin and Journey of Joy (Anonymous)


TJO：Could you tell us how the two of you came together to form Joy Anonymous? How did you first meet?

Henry：We met at school when we were about 16 years old. At that time Louis was doing more DJing, and I was in bands. We were good friends at school, but we weren’t really making music together then. After university, we formed a label called *From Concentrate*. Louis came back to London and we started organizing nights and releasing music. We were seeing all these bands and artists around us and thought, “Let’s do something, let’s try to bring these things together.” Lou and I formed this collective called *From Concentrate*. As the years went on and we continued doing shows, we began developing the idea of Joy (Anonymous). When lockdown happened, that was when it truly took shape. We had released a few songs before, but we always had this concept of doing it in theatres or other places and making it more conceptual. When lockdown happened, the true meaning of Joy (Anonymous) came through. We could never have predicted what followed. That is a condensed version of our journey.



The Meaning Behind the Word “Joy”


TJO：The word “Joy” is clearly a major theme in your music—all your main track titles include it, which is unique. What meaning or message do you put into the word “Joy”?

Louis：We have always wanted to stress that joy is not simply happiness. It is the absence of any other emotion—whether that is sadness, negativity, feeling lost, or even happiness. It is simply being present in that moment. We never want it to seem like we are saying, “Everything is great, and that is what the music is about.” We want the music to be uplifting, but we believe joy embodies the absence of any other emotion.


The Best Song for First-Time Listeners – 「Human Again」


TJO：If someone were listening to Joy Anonymous for the first time, which track would you recommend—and why?

Henry：I would probably recommend *Human Again*.



TJO：Oh my God, that is my favorite song!

Henry：I appreciate that. I think it embodies a lot: live instrumentation, the message in the lyrics, the vocals, and the horns. It covers many aspects of what we do. It was also a very important song at that time. It defined our first album, and the concept of that period was about “feeling human again.” We were living in isolation, and people were feeling lost or numb to what was going on. All we wanted was to feel something again. That is why I would encourage someone to start with that track and then explore further.

Louis：I think anything from that first album, *Human Again*, is a good place to start. As you continue listening, you can hear how we have developed.



What They Value Most on Stage


TJO：Your live shows are always filled with joy and a strong sense of togetherness, creating such a peaceful energy in the room. Is there anything you especially keep in mind when performing live?

Louis：We often talk about making sure we are having a good time ourselves. We want to genuinely enjoy it and to look like we are enjoying it. We are not acting—we truly love it. I think that energy is infectious for the crowd. When they see us dancing, smiling at each other, and sometimes joking on stage, it spreads. Many DJs appear very serious, do not move much, and rarely smile. We want it to be fun and for that feeling to translate to the people in the crowd.

Henry：And I think it is honest. Lou and I have often played to almost no one throughout our journey. Even in those first sets, we were excited just to play a tune we had not heard loudly before. We always lived with the thought: if we can make one person move, that is already a win. That is magic. We have kept that mindset, and fortunately now it resonates with many more people.



TJO：The Fuji Rock performance was very impressive.

Henry：Thank you so much.


Finding Inspiration in Japan


TJO：Your music feels deeply grounded in “real” sound and emotion. During this Asia tour and your time in Japan, were there any moments that particularly inspired you or left a strong impression?

Henry：At the end of Fuji Rock, we took a beautiful drive back into Tokyo. I found it very inspiring. We went from a festival, through peaceful mountain towns, and then suddenly into Tokyo. It felt like there was much I recognized from home, such as the English countryside, but also many differences—a different feeling and a different emotion. Tokyo is a massive city like London or New York, where we spend a lot of time, but it has a different heart. Something very special. I felt the natural respect people here have for everything, and that has been truly inspiring.



Surprising Moments at Fuji Rock


TJO：You performed at Fuji Rock for the first time—how was the experience?

Louis：The experience was excellent. Honestly, we did not know what to expect. I remember looking up Fuji Rock and seeing that Arctic Monkeys had headlined before. We had also spoken with Kieran (Four Tet) a few months earlier, and he told us it was amazing, almost like the Japanese equivalent of Glastonbury. Our agent had said we would be playing a small dance tent, but when we arrived it turned out to be quite a large stage. I think it was the second biggest stage. Seeing all the other artists performing there as well was incredible. We went on stage at 2:00 a.m. and it was absolutely wild—people juggling light-up balls, dancing, and singing the lyrics. I was very surprised and very happy with how it went.



The B2B Set at Circus Tokyo


TJO：You also played a secret show at Circus Tokyo, including a B2B set with a Japanese artist. What was the crowd’s reaction like?

Henry：It was a lot of fun. It is great to see club culture in other cities. With festivals, you know more or less what to expect, but in clubs everything changes depending on the city and what people are into musically. We played a different type of set than usual—more house-led and with disco elements. That was really enjoyable.


Connecting with Local Artists


TJO：We get the impression that you and artists like Fred again.. are intentional about connecting with local artists wherever you go. Why is that?

Louis：It is about inspiration and learning. Observing how other people do things always teaches you something. It is great to meet local people and hear their sound. Especially here, the UK sound seems popular at the moment. What Ryota was playing was excellent. Exchanging ideas and sounds is exciting. Local artists also tend to have great recommendations for restaurants and bars, so it is also a good way to hang out and discover interesting places.



The Unscripted “Joyous People” Style


TJO：At Fuji Rock you played a UK garage set, while at Circus Tokyo you leaned more into house. How do you decide what kind of set to play? Do you consciously focus on anything when selecting tracks?

Henry：Lou and I have started something called *Joyous People*. We have done it a couple of times now—takeover days where we go back to back with different DJs. Lou and I have never planned a set list in our lives. We always go in without knowing what we will play, and that edge is exciting. The same applies when we play with DJs. We tell them, “Just bring yourself, do what you do, and we will react.” That is what we love—being on the edge. We have a strong knowledge of music, so we can react well. The other night, I assumed it would be more hard-edged, but they played great house and disco. Suddenly we thought, “Okay, let’s play this,” and we brought out tracks we had not played in a long time. That is how we usually approach it. We rarely plan, but we always have plenty of material in stock.



TJO：I really enjoyed Fuji Rock—I love UK Garage. I was like, “Oh my God, this bass! this beat!” I went crazy.

Henry：(laughs)


Louis：Fuji Rock was actually all our own music. We played many tracks from our new album. We will play a bit more later when we get on the decks (DJ Mix for block.fm) . Yes, that was all our own material.

The New Album & What Lies Ahead


TJO：You have been sharing behind-the-scenes moments from your new album on social media. For fans in Japan, are there any key themes or highlights to listen for?

Louis：Hopefully people will listen to all of it if they have the time. We have definitely pushed harder on a few tracks—gone heavier than before. We also collaborated with some interesting people, most notably Todd Edwards. He is on four or five tracks and helped us finish the album, adding his signature harmonies. He is widely considered one of the best to ever do it, so it was an honor to have him involved. Beyond that, it is just Hen and me trying to express what we always do.


Henry：We went on quite a journey while making this album. We were fortunate to travel to many countries, and that influenced the work. There is a rich world behind it. We recorded a lot of live instrumentation, resampled it, and turned it into dance music. All the samples were made by us. I think people will be pleasantly surprised—it definitely feels like a step forward.


TJO：Any exciting news you can share right now about future releases or upcoming projects?

Louis：We are still finishing the album. We might release a few collaborations before then, but that is still pending. You will definitely hear from us next year.


A Message to Japanese Fans


TJO：Lastly, could you share a message for your fans in Japan?

Louis：Thank you for coming to all the shows. We have loved playing for you, meeting many of you on the street, and having wonderful conversations. Everyone here is incredibly kind. Thank you.

Henry：“Shiawase Janaito” (which means “Life isn’t right without joy” in Japanese)

TJO：Oh, nice.

Henry： (laughs) Trying to get that right.

Their music always begins with one simple principle: truly enjoying themselves first. By diving wholeheartedly into the people and cultures they encounter around the world—never forgetting respect—they spread that joy to every audience.
When they smiled and said “Shiawase Janaito,” it felt like a glimpse into the very essence of Joy (Anonymous). With their upcoming album marking the next step, one can’t help but wonder: what new form of “JOY” will they bring to the world?

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