When you are a performer of Bobby French’s caliber, and one of the most highly sought after DJs in Hollywood nightlife, you can often find yourself in situations where you are at a loss for words. “‘Puffy wants to talk to you." I was doing an event in Texas and I got hit up to do a party for him. You answer the phone, ‘Yo Puff whattup,’” French laughs. “It’s sort of those weird and surreal moments.” But as a DJ, French’s body of work speaks for itself. Born in France but raised in LA, he became “obsessed” with scratching and battling at fifteen. After years of practice he discovered playing for crowds. “I learned to mix on my college radio station. I came to DJing in a kind of backwards way, I learned to scratch before I learned to mix.”
It is precisely that “backwards” evolution that French prides himself on. Known for his impeccable mixing and technical scratching, his sets transcend genres with a seamless mix of Hip-Hop, 80’s, Oldies and everything in between. Outside of regular gigs at Hyde, Bootsy Bellows, Warwick and countless other LA venues, Bobby is a favorite in Las Vegas, Miami and New York. Celebrity clients include Charlize Theron, Kate Hudson, Angelina Jolie, Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, Janet Jackson and Katy Perry to name a few. French has been named one of ‘LA Best DJs’ by CBS.com and featured in The Los Angeles Times, Vogue, Nylon, Flaunt Magazine, and US Weekly. Bobby French tours globally and has opened for notable acts including Miguel, Macklemore, Kelly Clarkson, and Demi Lovato. He’s also appeared on prime-time mainstays like the Katie Couric show.
Bobby is a fixture in the hospitality industry as well, spinning tracks for SBE’s private events, Viceroy Hotels, The Roosevelt Hotel, and more. Some of his corporate clients include: Apple, Microsoft, Activision, HBO, Fox, Google, Samsung, Tesla, Netflix, Google, NBC/ Universal, Verizon and Vevo. He has played SXSW, Paris Fashion Week and many high profile weddings in LA, Mexico, Santa Barbara and Palm Springs.
Despite his success he has not forgotten his roots in Turntablism. “There is still an incredible subculture on that side of the spectrum and I try to incorporate it as tastefully as I can. There’s this line you figure out. I try and do small subsets where I weave back and forth with a coherent flow. You want to build an audience up and keep them there.”