Crossword Genius

Protean spirit of record spinner in Islington area (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

djinni

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'record spinner in islington area' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how one could define the other.

'protean spirit' is the wordplay.
'protean' becomes 'd' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'spirit' becomes 'jinni' (jinni is a kind of spirit).
'd'+'jinni'='DJINNI'

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for djinni that I've seen is " Arabian spirit".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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