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Grayson Repp, a former competitive swimmer, turned his passion for music into a career as a top sports DJ, working with FIFA, the Olympics, and major leagues like the NBA and NFL. He shares insights on preparation, cultural sensitivity, and creating the perfect game-day atmosphere.
Grayson Repp was not supposed to become a DJ. Growing up in Vancouver as the son of a former professional hockey player and coach, he spent his childhood training to be an athlete.
After high school, he attended Arizona State University to swim competitively. On the team, he was always the music lover, making mixtapes to pump up his teammates. It wasn't until some Scandinavian teammates introduced him to the burgeoning EDM scene from Norway and Sweden in the late 2000s that he found his true calling. I like to go all-in on things, he says.
So I retired from swimming, packed up, moved home, and spent the rest of my student loan money on DJ equipment. I just mixed in my parents' basement for a couple of years, teaching myself how to do that. After the pandemic, he was a professional DJ in Berlin trying to make ends meet when a new opportunity arose: he was asked to curate music for the FIFA Arab Cup in 2021.
Following the tournament, FIFA offered him a role as the stadium music curator. Since then, he has become one of the most sought-after sports DJs globally, creating playlists for the 2022 World Cup, the 2026 Winter Olympics, the NBA, NFL, and F1. It's a career path I didn't know existed, he says, but it allows him to focus on music full time and fund his artistic projects. Repp brings his background as a former athlete to his work.
Preparation is key, he says. Before the World Cup, he started working on playlists six months in advance, often putting in 10 to 12 hours a day. He talks to team delegates and players to understand what music pumps them up. He also uses AI to analyze the top 50 songs played on Spotify over the last decade.
During a match day, he begins playing three hours before kickoff: the first hour is low-key for stadium staff, the second hour features pop hits, and the final hour is a power hour leading into pre-match protocol. The process is demanding but rewarding.
Repp emphasizes the importance of cultural sensitivity, recalling his work at the Arab Cup in Qatar, where he had to be mindful of political undertones in Arabic music and avoid songs that could cause tension between rival nations. He researches lyrics and consults local friends to ensure appropriateness. Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across Mexico, the United States, and Canada, Repp is creating Vancouver's city theme.
For this, he collaborated with musicians from the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, incorporating Indigenous sounds and stories into the soundtrack. The process took months of learning from elders and community members. Repp believes that music is the best vehicle for moments of extreme emotion, and he strives to enhance the atmosphere in stadiums, arenas, and venues worldwide.
His journey from a basement bedroom to the world's biggest sporting events is a testament to following one's passion and the unexpected paths life can take. As he puts it, he never imagined this career existed, but now he cannot imagine doing anything else
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The Art of Sports DJing: Grayson Repp's Journey from Clubs to World Cup StadiumsSports DJ and music curator Grayson Repp shares his unique journey in the intersection of sports and music. From playing local clubs to becoming the official DJ for major sporting events like the World Cup and Olympics, Repp discusses the intricacies of creating the perfect setlist for different matches, crowds, and cities. He also delves into his preparation process for the World Cup and how he handles performing in front of world leaders.
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