JD Twitch, Pioneering Scottish DJ and Half of Optimo, Dies at 57
Glasgow, Scotland – JD Twitch, the esteemed Scottish DJ and one half of the influential electronic music duo Optimo, has died, his partner Jonnie Wilkes announced today. he was 57. The news marks a notable loss for the global dance music community, as Twitch, alongside Wilkes, helped shape club culture with their eclectic and boundary-pushing sets.
Optimo, formed in the late 1990s, rose to prominence through their weekly club nights at Glasgow’s Sub Club, running every week until 2010.The pair weren’t confined by genre, championing electroclash, punk, new wave, soft rock, and a diverse range of styles alongside dance tracks, and hosting live performances by acts like LCD Soundsystem and TV On the Radio. Their open-minded approach prefigured the internet age’s embrace of musical diversity, earning them recognition as a pivotal force in global dance culture.
Beyond Optimo, keith McIvor – twitch’s given name – was a prolific producer and in-demand remixer. Discogs lists 108 remixes to his credit, including work for Franz Ferdinand, Róisín Murphy, Manic Street Preachers, and Florence + the Machine. He also founded the Optimo Music label, and its spin-offs like Selva Discos, and curated acclaimed compilation albums such as How to Kill the DJ (Part Two). McIvor further demonstrated his musical breadth by composing the soundtrack to the 2019 film Beats, set in the 90s rave scene in Scotland, and releasing music under the alias Tomorrow the Rain Will Fall Upwards.
McIvor publicly announced his illness in July 2025, stating, “My symptoms weren’t immediately diagnosed, and my health declined very rapidly over just a few weeks … I am currently trying to process this news and prioritising spending precious time with the peopel I love.”
Wilkes paid tribute to McIvor, saying, “I am forever grateful for everything he bestowed on me, both as a partner in music and as a friend. Keith’s intensity and passion for life, for music, for creativity and for positive change simply never let up. He was formidable.His belief in people and the idea that standing together, that our collective strength is powerful was unwavering. I loved him for that.” He concluded, “Keith left us far too soon. He will go now to travel those space-ways but I know his energy remains in every one of us who had the privilege of knowing him.I love you forever Keith.”
