22/07/2026
Grace Bones (aka James Hancock) is a seasoned DJ, producer, and radio host with over 250 releases to his name, a GRAMMY nod, and two gold records. With a diverse back catalogue spanning labels such as Nervous, King Street, KMS, Dopewax, and Moxy Muzik, the UK-based artist continues his run of form ahead of his forthcoming sophomore album and a collaboration with house icon Todd Terry. Now, he lands on Adesso Music with ‘Times We Had It All’, a standout link-up with Irish soul and house vocalist Leavy.
‘Times We Had It All’ is raw, funky, and direct. The driving percussion and warm bassline hark back to classic house, while Leavy’s soulful original vocals deliver an anthemic hook that will undoubtedly keep dancers on their toes all summer long.
Q: Please introduce yourself
Hi, my name is James Hancock, also known as Grace Bones. I’m a UK-born, LA-based house and garage producer, DJ, and the host of House of Chic Radio.
Q: One person you'd dream to have a coffee with?
I’d say the legend John Candy. I love all his movies, and from everything I’ve heard, he was an incredible human being as well as a brilliant performer. I just know I’d be laughing for hours with him—it would be one of those easy, feel-good conversations you never want to end.
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
If I could have a superpower, it would be to live forever—so I could keep producing, DJing, and spreading the joy of house music to the next 100 generations and beyond.
Q: If you would have been given the chance to do a film score, what movie would you choose and why?
I’ve actually written music for a feature film already, which is hopefully coming out in 2027. Keep peeled to my socials.
Q: Who influenced you the most in your music career and why?
It’s not really one person who influenced me the most. I’d say it’s more the sounds themselves.
Growing up listening to 80s bands, electro, and all those early electronic records, those textures and ideas just got embedded in me. If a sound or an instrument can create an emotion, that’s what really drives me—that’s what I chase in my own music.
Q: Tell us about your journey, what got you to where you are today?
I started out as a recording engineer in a studio in the UK. In my free time, I’d write music with my friend Dan—it was all very organic, sampling movie clips and working with Akai S1000 samplers and analogue gear. Those were really great times.
We were making early liquid drum & bass, and before long we got signed to most of the major drum & bass labels, touring and DJing at some truly iconic clubs. That whole chapter was incredible.
I’ve always loved house music though, and along the way I produced under a couple of other aliases, working with CR2 Records and even putting out an album with them in 2015.
After that chapter came to a close, I felt it was the right time for a fresh direction, so I started Grace Bones and built things from there.
Over the years, that journey has led to 250+ records, 2 gold records, the chance to remix artists like Chaka Khan, Steve “Silk” Hurley, and Jamie Principle, as well as a Grammy acknowledgment… and here we are today.
Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting out their career in music?
Be true to yourself and don’t follow trends.
Q: Can you recall a DJ set or performance of yours that remains unforgettable to you? Where did it take place, and what makes it stand out among all others?
1993—my first ever major rave. Carl Cox was on the same lineup, and I’d never played on Technics SL200’s decks before. I turned up with a bag full of fresh dub plates and white labels and just went for it.
I got on stage, looked out at this enormous crowd—3,000 plus people—and I was shaking. My first mix was honestly pretty rough because I didn’t fully understand direct drive turntables at the time. I was pushing the vinyl, not letting it ride, so it was a bit of a skippy beat mix.
But what I noticed straight away was that the crowd didn’t care. The record I dropped was so fresh and strong that they just went completely wild.
That moment taught me something I’ve never forgotten: anyone can learn to DJ, but you can’t teach taste—what to play, when to play it, and how to connect the records together. That’s stayed with me ever since.
Q: How has your music style evolved over the years?
I’ve produced drum and bass, breakbeat, garage, and now house music, so it’s definitely evolved across genres over the years. I’ve also worked on music for completely different artists and styles outside of that world too.
For me, it’s never been about staying in one lane—it’s always been about following the sound and the feeling, wherever that leads.
Q: If you were to venture into another music genre, which one would you choose and why?
I love the 80s—there’s just something about that era. It’s such emotional music; it can make you feel everything at once—happy, nostalgic, driven, inspired. To me, no other genre really hits on that same level of emotion and impact.
Q: Could you name 3 tracks that got you into electronic music and why?
1- Neneh Cherry – “Buffalo Stance” was the first one that really hit me. I’d never heard anything like it before—I must have played it thousands of times on my dad’s turntable. It just had this attitude and sound that completely pulled me in.
2- Break Machine – “Breakdance Party” (7"). I think that was actually the first record I ever bought. I was living in Essex at the time, and it was all about my crew, breakdancing in the high street in our tracksuits with cardboard mats and a boombox—proper great times. Even now when I hear it, it takes me straight back emotionally.
3- And then anything from the early rave era in the early 90s—especially SMD Series 1. That piano riff, thousands of ravers, pure euphoria… that was it for me. I was completely hooked from that moment on.
Q: Can you recommend a hidden gem in your home country that would be perfect for a rave?
Essex County, where it all started for me. There’s something about that part of the UK—those open fields, industrial edges, and hidden spots that really carry the spirit of the early rave days. If I had to pick a perfect location, it would be somewhere deep in the Essex countryside—an old abandoned farm or warehouse on the outskirts, surrounded by open space so the sound can just roll out into the night.
It’s got that raw, authentic energy that takes me straight back to how it all began—simple, underground, and all about the music and the people.
Q: Could you tell us about your upcoming releases and plans for the year?
I’ve been working closely with Eightball Records over the last couple of months and just finished my fifth remix for them. It’s been a real honour to rework music from true house legends like Mood II Swing, Junior Vasquez, Connie Harvey, and Lectroluv.
There’s also a follow-up single coming on DJ Rae’s label, plus remixes for Jeremy Sylvester, and some really exciting vocal collaborations with Jacqui Bennett and Leavy on new original material.
On top of that, I’ll be hosting my own event at ADE this year under my House of Chic brand, which I’m really looking forward to—it’s going to be a special moment.
Q: Can you share a fun fact about yourself that most of your listeners are probably unaware of?
When I was younger, I was actually selected for the B team at Nottingham Forest Football Club.
Grace Bones, Leavy - Times We Had It All [Adesso Music]