JD Twitch, DJ in Pioneering Electronic Duo Optimo, Dies at 57

"Keith McIvor, better known as JD Twitch, of the influential Scottish electronic duo Optimo, died on Friday, September 19. The news was shared on the group's Instagram page with a note written by McIvor's bandmate, Jonnie "JG" Wilkes. Optimo did not specify McIvor's cause of death, but the musician had disclosed, in July, that he was diagnosed with an untreatable brain tumor. He was 57 years old."

"McIvor grew up in Balerno, a village near Edinburgh, Scotland, where he first rose to prominence in the early 1990s as a founding resident DJ at Pure, a party that ran at the Venue. In 1997, he linked up with Wilkes to launch Optimo (Espacio), a renowned weekly party at Glasgow's Sub Club that ran until 2010, bringing in live acts like Grace Jones, Peaches, LCD Soundsystem, Cut Copy, and many others through its doors along the way."

"In 2009, McIvor and Wilkes formed Optimo Music, a record label on which they fostered both Glaswegian artists like Golden Teacher, as well as forward-thinking dance acts like Factory Floor. After bringing Optimo (Espacio) to a close, the duo continued to tour and DJ together across the world, including at additional residencies in Glasgow and London. Optimo also hosted a monthly NTS Radio show and recently launched Watching Trees, a music festival in the North Wiltshire countryside."

Keith McIvor, known professionally as JD Twitch, died at 57 after disclosing an untreatable brain tumor in July. He grew up in Balerno near Edinburgh and rose to prominence in the early 1990s as a founding resident DJ at Pure. In 1997 he and Jonnie "JG" Wilkes launched Optimo (Espacio), a weekly party at Glasgow's Sub Club that ran until 2010 and hosted acts such as Grace Jones, Peaches, LCD Soundsystem and Cut Copy. The duo DJed under the Optimo name across diverse genres and released acclaimed mixes including 2004's How to Kill the DJ [Part II]. They founded Optimo Music in 2009, supported Glaswegian and forward-thinking artists, continued to tour internationally, hosted an NTS Radio show, and launched the Watching Trees festival. Wilkes expressed profound gratitude and described McIvor as life-changing, a partner in music, and a friend.

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