More than 1,000 people tuned in to a live DJ set as would-be clubgoers hunkered down at home for the duration of the coronavirus crisis.

DJ iBreeze attracted listeners from all over the island and further afield for his “private party” on Instagram on Tuesday.

The 38-year-old said yesterday that he had streamed sets from his studio before.

However, he added: “Now that everybody’s home with nothing to do, it’s exploded”.

He said: “I did the first one last week Friday and got about 350 people. I think. Then I did another one Saturday night and I got about the same number.

“But on Tuesday, we got to about 1,020 or something. My goal was to get to 500, but we doubled that. It was crazy.”

The DJ, whose “government name” is Bakari Smith, explained the fun came from engagement with his audience.

He said: “The comments are flying in there and people are really acting like they’re actually at a party.

“They’re saying stuff like ‘I’m going to the bar’ and ‘somebody’s spilt their drink’.

“I feed off those comments, I act as they comment.

“The one I did on Friday night, I stopped the party and I told somebody they had to go and move their car because they were blocking people in.

“The comments are what really make it amazing, for me, anyway.

“The people come in for the music but, for me, it’s the comments.”

The Pembroke father of two said his social-media sites were “exploding”.

He added: “The response is amazing, I’ve never had this kind of feedback for anything I’ve done.”

DJ iBreeze, who works in the marketing department at The Phoenix Stores, played mostly reggae tracks for two-and-a-half hours on Tuesday night and the audience included a friend in the Bahamas, as well as followers in the UK.

He said others performers such as DJ Rusty G, DJ Fresh Kid, DJ Jim Brown, DJ Mystro, DJ Sheep and DJ Hersey had also taken to social media amid the coronavirus lockdown. The DJ hoped the sets would help to relieve boredom and frustration for people unable to socialise in bars and clubs.

He said: “It’s definitely helping people take their minds off things for a couple of hours, especially now that everybody’s home with their kids.

“They put their kids to bed and then they get on their phones, some people are even hooking up Bluetooth speakers and really having a good old party.”

DJ iBreeze added: “It’s definitely making me feel warm inside, making me feel very humble and I’m proud to be able to make people happy and help people keep their sanity right now.

“I know being locked inside is not for everybody, especially in Bermuda.”

DJ iBreeze’s next set is scheduled for Friday at 9pm.

His social media handle is @djibreeze.

Update: This article has been updated to include DJ iBreeze’s social media information.