Jaguar
Jaguar
26-09-17
The latest in incredible guests to grace the decks of our lazerpit is Mixmag, Radio 1 and Reprezent Radio wunderkind Jaguar! She's spent her summer lighting up stages from Secret Garden Party to V Fest, as well as hosting her own radio show and regular Lab LDN parties! Her enviable energy and pure love of music is undeniable in her banging sets, which span the breadth of house, disco, techno and beyond! In between duties in her crazy schedule, we caught up to chat dream radio guests, career highlights and plans for Friday's Wut Club!
Hi Jaguar! We’re so excited to have you join us soon for Wut Club! How has your 2017 been?
Hey! Thank you for having me. I’m really excited to play, as I love going out in Dalston!
2017 has been a bit mad. I moved to London from Leeds back in January and since then I have completely immersed myself within music and radio. My day-job is with BBC Music Introducing – which involves listening to a lot of undiscovered artists and helping get them played on Radio 1 and 1Xtra. I’m also a writer for Mixmag and have started hosting our weekly office party, The Lab LDN – so if you’re ever in need of a Friday afternoon sesh, let me know!
DJ-wise, I’ve been playing loads of festivals this year including Secret Garden Party and V Fest. A highlight was at Parklife in Manchester back in June. I played the Smirnoff House stage before My Nu Leng and Barely Legal and it was the biggest crowd I’ve ever played to. Everyone was going for it! This was actually where I met the amazing ABSOLUTE who hooked me up with the WUT Club booking.
Can you tell us a bit about your new show on Reprezent Radio?
So I’ve just launched a new show on Reprezent Radio which is every other Saturday from 9-11PM. Rep is such a vibrant station to be a part of, and the show is pretty much an extension of my personality. It’s upbeat, bouncy and full of brand new, electrifying tracks from the house/disco/techno world. I bloody love a night out, so this show is all about bringing the vibes on Saturday night! The reception has been great so far. I had Phonox resident HAAi as my guest last week, which was super fun, and I’ve got Fono doing a guest mix for the next show on 7 October!
You have already achieved so much as a young DJ and radio presenter – what has been your career highlight so far?
The ultimate highlight was last November when I won two Student Radio Awards. I owe so much to student radio which I became engulfed in during my time studying at Leeds Uni. This is how I got into DJing, broadcasting and throwing parties, so to be nationally recognised by the industry was a huge deal for me! I was awarded Gold Best Specialist Music show and Silver Best Female – I remember 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq gave me my awards and was really complimentary. It felt a bit like a dream but it was honestly one of the greatest moments of my life that I’ll never forget and has led to some amazing opportunities. I am so grateful.
You are a member of Carly Wilford’s amazing Sister crew. How important are collaborations like this for you as a DJ?
Carly is such an incredible woman who I really look up to. She gave me my first London gig earlier this year which was in the main room at XOYO. Sister is an amazing movement to be a part of and I’m excited to see what happens with it.
I think collaborating is super important for a DJ – whether it’s putting on nights together, playing back-to-back, or doing guest mixes on your mate’s radio show. I always learn so much from working with other people. I also go to these amazing monthly, all-female workshops that Red Bull Studios put on called Normal Not Novelty. I’ve made some genuine friends at these events who I’ve ended up collaborating with. I’d really recommend going to stuff like this!
Who are a few of your dream radio guests?
I’m a huuuuge fan of The Black Madonna. Musically she is perfection, but I also love everything she stands for, so she would be number one! I’d love to have Fatima Yamaha do a session as he’s one of my favourite producers and has a sick set up when he plays live. Would also love to have Annie Mac on, as she is my broadcasting hero.
Favourite track of 2017?
I mean it changes every day but have been rinsing Big Miz – The Bomb a lot in my sets recently! Lauren Lo Sung’s Tresor is one of my favourites too.
What is your earliest musical memory?
When I got an iPod for my tenth birthday! I used to religiously listen to CDs on my little Walkman but then suddenly had all of my music in one place and I became obsessed with it! I was always infatuated by music from a young age, and new technology only enhanced that. My first album was Black Eyed Peas ‘Elephunk’ and I remember I would listen to it on my iPod on repeat haha!
You host Mixmag’s weekly Lab LDN show – who have been some of your favourite guests?
It’s an honour to be able to introduce the best DJs in the world to the Lab LDN audience. It’s a real milestone for DJs, and there have been some amazing sets. Rex The Dog earlier this year was incredible, Flava D was fun, Erick Morrillo was cool, and Gideön last week was sick too. It felt like a real house party vibe in our office!
If you had a time machine and could go dancing anywhere/anywhen, where would you go?
I’d definitely go back to Paradise Garage in New York and get silly in the 80s.
One track that you can’t wait to unleash on the Superstore lazerpit?
Fallout - The Morning After (Purple Disco Machine Re Work)
Catch Jaguar at Wut Club this Friday 29 September from 9pm-3am at Dalston Superstore!
Jaguar