Off The Record - The DJ Podcast by Crossfader Ep 147 How I Became Toolroom's Biggest Selling DJ - Essel
Aug 28, 2025
Essel, a Liverpool DJ and producer renowned for her Toolroom tracks and Ibiza gigs, shares her thrilling rise in the music scene. She reflects on starting in Ibiza with no plan and the superficial nature of DJ networking. The conversation turns to her chart-topping success on Beatport and the struggles of social media pressure. Essel also reveals how using strategy (and even a meme page!) helped her break tracks, offering raw truths and laughs for aspiring DJs and producers.
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How An Ibiza Chance Turned Into Residencies
- Essel walked into a bar in Ibiza, got an impromptu slot, and within two weeks secured three residencies.
- Those Ibiza gigs (S'Paradís, Sankey's, Eden) launched her DJ career back in 2015–2016.
Make Yourself Seen Before You Arrive
- Network deliberately: be visible on relevant pages and comment so your name pops up before you arrive.
- Small paid actions (she bought 50 Facebook followers) and targeted engagement helped her get noticed in Ibiza.
Music Production Gives Longevity
- Making music creates longevity beyond seasonal DJ gigs and is essential for a sustainable career.
- Essel moved from Ibiza DJing to producing after advice that music is the only substantial way to build a long-term career.