Joel Corry reveals how he turned ‘Simples’ into the anthem of the summer

The Head & Heart hitmaker talks to JOE about transforming a beloved TV ad catchphrase into a dancefloor banger 

The North London DJ and producer has spent the last decade soundtracking beach clubs, festivals and holidays with a string of dance hits, including chart-topping smash Head & Heart. 

So when JOE caught up with him in the middle of another hectic summer schedule - bouncing between Ibiza, America, Mykonos and Bali - we asked a simple question: what actually makes a summer anthem?  

According to Corry, the biggest summer songs don’t come along by accident - they're built around a carefully balanced mix of emotion, energy and unforgettable hooks. 

"I think my music really resonates in the summer because it's uplifting, catchy melodies and uplifting beats," he told JOE.  

"A lot of my tracks have got piano house in them, which feels very summery. It's those really hooky melodies and catchy choruses that people just get addicted to and play all summer long." 

He added: "People can play them in the car with the windows down and sing along to them, but then they can dance to them on the dancefloor as well. They've got that emotion in them that people connect with." 

That formula has helped Corry become one of Britain's most reliable hitmakers, and it's now being applied to one of the unlikeliest collaborations of his career. 

His latest release, SIMPLES (feat. Scrufizzer) [Joel Corry Remix], transforms Compare the Market's famous meerkat catchphrase into a full-blown UK funky-inspired dance anthem. 

The track, which features grime veteran Scrufizzer, has already generated more than 1.4 million social media views after being teased during Corry's Ibiza sets and festival appearances. 

While turning an insurance advert slogan into a club record might sound unusual, Corry admits he was immediately intrigued when the opportunity landed on his desk. 

"I remember the iconic adverts from when I was younger and everyone knows that catchphrase," he said. 

"It was definitely a challenge to figure out how it would fit into a song, but I went down the route of making it a UK funky house sort of vibe. 

"Scrufizzer is someone I've worked with for a long time, so I gave him a call and said, 'Let's make something around this Simples catchphrase.'" 

The pair then built the track around festival-ready hooks, grime bars and even a dance routine designed to take off on social media. 

"We put a bit of a dance element in there so people could do a dance on TikTok with it," Corry explained. 

"Those things have a tendency to catch on, so that was definitely part of the idea." 

The track's first major test came in Ibiza - a place Corry describes as every DJ's dream proving ground. 

"I'd say it's the best place to test new music because people are there to dance and hear new records," he said. 

"The crowd are really into house music and they're open-minded. 

"I tested the Simples remix there and it actually went off. Scrufizzer joined me in the booth and did a performance of it and the crowd just loved it." 

For Corry, those moments remain the ultimate reward despite years spent touring the world. 

"DJing is something I've been doing since I was 13 years old," he said. 

"The adrenaline and buzz I get from being on stage and playing records I've made myself, with people singing them back to me, is honestly the best feeling in the world. 

"I still get the same buzz now as I did years ago." 

And while teaming up with a meerkat probably wasn't on his 2026 bingo card, there was another reason the project made perfect sense. 

All royalties from the track will go to Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity Corry has supported since 2023 through fundraising campaigns, music projects and youth initiatives. 

"I never thought I'd be doing a remix with the Meerkats," he laughed. 

"But all the royalties are going to Teenage Cancer Trust, which is a charity I've worked with for many years now. 

"That was really the icing on the cake for me. It's good fun and it's all for a good cause." 

SIMPLES (feat. Scrufizzer) [Joel Corry Remix] is available now on Spotify, YouTube and all major streaming platforms. All royalties from the track will support Teenage Cancer Trust's specialist nurses, youth workers and NHS hospital units for young people with cancer.