The electronic music world is mourning the loss of Keith McIvor, better known as JD Twitch, who died on Friday at age 57 following a brief but fierce battle with terminal brain cancer.
McIvor, one half of the legendary Scottish DJ duo Optimo (Espacio), passed away at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow, surrounded by the care of medical staff who had supported him through his final weeks.
The news was announced Saturday by his musical partner of 28 years, Jonnie Wilkes, in an emotional Instagram tribute that captured both the profound personal loss and the extraordinary artistic partnership that had defined both men’s lives.
“In a 28-year partnership, he changed my life immeasurably, and together we took our work in directions and to places few people are lucky enough to explore,” Wilkes wrote, sharing a collection of photographs that chronicled their decades-long collaboration.
McIvor’s journey in electronic music began in Edinburgh during the 1990s, where he established Pure, an influential club night that would become a cornerstone of Scotland’s emerging dance music scene. It was after relocating to Glasgow that he encountered Wilkes, and in 1997, the duo launched what would become their defining project: Optimo.
Named after Liquid Liquid’s 1983 track, Optimo transformed Sunday nights at Glasgow’s Sub Club into something approaching legend. For 13 years, until 2010, the weekly event became a pilgrimage site for electronic music devotees, hosting an eclectic roster that included LCD Soundsystem, Franz Ferdinand, Cut Copy, The Rapture, TV on the Radio, and Hot Chip. The party’s reputation extended far beyond Glasgow’s borders, drawing international attention to Scotland’s vibrant electronic music ecosystem.
As Optimo (Espacio), McIvor and Wilkes built a reputation for sets that transcended typical DJ performances. Their carefully curated musical journeys, which could span genres and decades within a single evening, became the stuff of dance floor mythology.
The duo’s influence extended globally through their festival appearances and club performances, which consistently demonstrated their ability to read the crowd and create transformative musical experiences.
Beyond performing, the pair maintained an active presence in music production and operated their own record label, continuing to shape electronic music culture through multiple channels.
McIvor’s illness became public knowledge in July 2024, when he shared his diagnosis on social media with characteristic directness. The announcement revealed how rapidly his condition had deteriorated, with symptoms that were initially difficult to diagnose leading to a swift decline in his health over just a few weeks.
“Everyone who has supported me throughout my journey in music, from the early days of Pure in Edinburgh in the ’90s and through the past 28 years of Optimo (Espacio),” McIvor wrote in his July 3 Instagram post, expressing gratitude for a career built around his passion. “Jonnie and I have been lucky enough to play our music at countless clubs and festivals throughout the world, and it has been one of the greatest honors of my life to make a career out of something I love.”
The Optimo community rallied around McIvor during his illness, establishing a fundraiser to help cover costs for private nursing care and support services—a testament to the deep connections he had forged throughout his career.
Wilkes’ tribute painted a portrait of a man whose intensity and passion never wavered, describing McIvor as “formidable” in his commitment to music, creativity, and positive change. “His belief in people and the idea that standing together, that our collective strength is powerful, was unwavering,” Wilkes wrote, highlighting the community-building aspect that had always been central to Optimo’s mission.
The loss extends beyond the immediate electronic music community. McIvor and Wilkes had spent nearly three decades not just performing music but actively nurturing scenes, supporting emerging artists, and demonstrating how DJ culture could serve as a force for bringing people together across cultural and social boundaries.
“Keith left us far too soon,” Wilkes concluded in his tribute. “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.”
McIvor’s death represents the end of an era for Scottish electronic music, but his influence—filtered through countless dance floors, inspired DJs, and the enduring legacy of Optimo—ensures that his contribution to music culture will continue to resonate.
At 57, he leaves behind not just a catalog of memorable performances but a blueprint for how electronic music can serve as both an art form and a catalyst for community.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Keith McIvor (JD Twitch), co-founder of the influential Scottish DJ duo Optimo, has died at 57 from terminal brain cancer after a 28-year career that transformed electronic music culture.
