Holy Priest Responds to Allegations of Playing a Pre-Recorded Set

Accusations of ghost-produced music or fake DJing have been a fixture of the dance music scene since the golden age. Some of these claims have merit, and some of them do not. The latest DJ to face these allegations is genre-bending bass and hard techno DJ Holy Priest. An Instagram account for LoudLife magazine, a European outlet, alleged that Holy Priest was playing a pre-recorded set. View this post on Instagram A post shared by LoudLife.eu (@loudlife.mag) The caption to the post already assumed the allegation to be true, but the video actually tells a different story. In the video you can see two different tracks on 2 different channels, with one ending and another beginning, and there is definitely some performative knob-twisting going on. Today, Holy Priest took to Instagram to squash the rumors with an informative and cheeky response. He addresses recurring “fake DJ” allegations by arguing that the modern artist’s role has evolved into a blend of producer, storyteller, and entertainer. He emphasizes that for many contemporary performers, the focus is on showcasing original music and custom edits prepared over weeks of studio work rather than just technical turntable skills. While he acknowledges that some artists use pre-recorded sets to synchronize complex visual and pyrotechnic displays—a practice he respects due to its difficulty—he explicitly states that he has never played a pre-recorded set and continues to mix live with a focus on being present with his audience. Regarding the specific criticism of “fake knobbing,” he defends the habit as a subconscious physical extension of his mental preparation. He likens touching unnecessary knobs to a boxer’s rhythmic footwork, describing it as a way to stay “in the fight” and ready for the next transition while reading the crowd’s energy. Ultimately, he dismisses the “hater” narrative by leaning into the irony, signing off as “Your fakest DJ” to signal that his priority remains the live connection with his fans over the opinions of those who don’t understand the nuances of the craft. He also includes the video in question and shows how there are two channels and two tracks being used. View this post on Instagram A post shared by LoudLife.eu (@loudlife.mag) What do you think? Was Holy Priest unfairly targeted with these allegations? The post Holy Priest Responds to Allegations of Playing a Pre-Recorded Set appeared first on EDMTunes.