[INTERVIEW] New Orleans’ Top DJ Duo Dr. Romance Breaks Down Their Debut Single ‘Chemistry’ & More
The New Orleans dance music scene has been gaining serious momentum, and at the forefront of this movement is Dr. Romance. Comprised of Dr. Jax and Romancing The Stoned, this powerhouse DJ duo has built a reputation through high-energy performances and their event brand, Pure Intentions Entertainment (P.I.E.). Now, they have taken the next big step in their career with the release of their debut single, “Chemistry.”
With years spent curating some of the most memorable house music events in the city, Dr. Romance’s influence extends beyond the decks. Through P.I.E., they have transformed New Orleans into a hub for house and techno, bringing in major artists while giving local talent a platform to thrive. “Chemistry” is a reflection of their journey — melding classic deep house elements with a modern twist to create a track that resonates with both longtime house fans and newcomers alike.
Following the track’s release, Dr. Romance celebrated with a packed-out show at The Rabbit Hole and went on to support Loud Luxury and Disco Lines during Super Bowl weekend. With a thriving career as both DJs and event curators, the duo sat down to break down the story behind “Chemistry,” their creative process, and what’s ahead for 2025.
What inspired “Chemistry,” and how did you approach blending classic deep house elements with a modern sound?
We wanted our debut track to reflect something people always tell us—that we have undeniable chemistry. While this song leans away from our usual style, we wanted something universally enjoyable. Deep house is accessible to almost everyone, which was important to us, but incorporating fun elements like the saxophone kept it exciting and dynamic.
This song has a more downtempo, melodic vibe compared to your high-energy sets. How did you decide this was the right introduction to Dr. Romance as producers?
Although this track differs from our usual style, we envisioned something that could resonate with anyone at any time. We have never preferred to confine ourselves to one genre, and we felt this track would immediately show that. But hold tight—many more releases are on the way. Our performances span multiple genres, from bass house to techno, tech house, and even dubstep. We want our audience to always expect the unexpected!
What were some of the biggest production challenges you faced when crafting “Chemistry,” and how did you overcome them?
We went back and forth for nearly two years, producing music together, before deciding this was the track we wanted to release first. The biggest challenge was determining how we wanted to make our mark in the industry. That is exactly why we chose “Chemistry”—it is a song for everyone to enjoy.
“Chemistry” features soulful vocals that add a hypnotic, emotional layer. How did you connect with the vocalist, and what was that creative process like?
We worked with an incredibly talented singer-songwriter from Toronto named RX, whom we connected with through our good friend and producer Aggrey a few years ago. She had the perfect voice and vision to bring this track to life. Aggrey had worked with her before and has an amazing ear for talent.
When producing “Chemistry,” did you have a specific setting or crowd in mind? How do you see this track fitting into your DJ sets?
As previously mentioned, this track is definitely different from our usual style, but we will incorporate it into our sets, especially at the beginning. We tend to start with a slower BPM and gradually build up to heavier sounds, so it will naturally fit into that progression.
Do you have any pre-show or post-show rituals to get into the right mindset or decompress after a high-energy set?
We are both huge UFC fans, so if we have a Saturday show, chances are we are watching the fights before heading out. We do not like to plan our sets too much because we want them to feel organic and be in sync with the crowd’s energy. Most of our preparation happens in the days leading up, selecting tracks and making sure we are ready for any vibe.
Pure Intentions Entertainment has become a driving force in New Orleans’ dance music scene. What was the initial vision when you launched P.I.E., and how has it evolved?
The vision was to bring something fresh and dynamic to New Orleans—something other cities already had but was missing here. We wanted to create fully curated house music events with a distinct artistic direction. From the beginning, it was important to us to produce our own events because our goals extend far beyond just DJing and producing.
Pure Intentions will always deliver one-of-a-kind electronic music experiences, not just to New Orleans, but eventually worldwide. This city has embraced us, and we are so grateful. We cannot wait to show everyone else what it means to party, “The Pure Way.”
How do you balance growing your DJ career with running a successful event brand? Do you ever feel one takes priority over the other?
For the past three years, Pure Intentions and event production have been our primary focus. This year, we are bringing Dr. Romance to the forefront. We have been sitting on music for two years, carefully planning and waiting for the right moment, and we believe that moment is now.
Running Pure is our full-time job, so instead of shifting focus, we are making space for Dr. Romance to flourish as an artist project.
With “Chemistry” marking your debut original single and more releases on the horizon, what is the next big goal for Dr. Romance in 2025?
Our biggest goal is consistent music releases. We want to expand beyond New Orleans, introduce Dr. Romance to a global audience, and showcase what we have to offer as artists.
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