Just to give you eager rabbittos an idea of what this is, here’s a quick explanation: we here at the Cottontail Dynasty know that DJs drive nightlife. Without them your parties would be silent. And unless that’s some sort of weird gimmick, you would be left high and dry and hating life. But thankfully, you usually aren’t. Some of these talented folks are Cottontail fam, some we just know by reputation. But the point of this bi-monthly blog segment is to let you get to know a little bit more about some of your favorites and to put you on to some bangin up and comers. So, with that… Jubilee!!
Photo by Kareem Black
.
Jubilee grew up in Southern Florida listening to freestyle and Miami bass on the radio, primarily on her favorite station, Power 96. While grooving to the sounds of DJ Laz, Jubilee grew musically and started to get into drum and bass and electro and the parties that showcased them. After college she moved her little bum bum to the East Village to pursue dreams of TV and radio but ended up doing makeup and DJing here and there. Along the way she started her own label, Nightshifters, with DJ Donna Summer, coproduced and lent vocals to the Paypur EP with Udachi, DJ at the New Yorker festival, made an INSANE mix for Mishka called Bad Decisions (download it here)
and started one of my favorite monthlies with DJ Ayres and Nick Catchdubs, the infamous Dim Sum Rave: Flashing Lights. Long story short, she is super cute, super talented and lives with a lizard called Cam’ron. If that doesn’t make you want to read on, I don’t know what will.
Here’s what she had to say to a few of my own questions, I enjoyed her answers a lot. Hopefully, you get a kick out of them too.
….
When you don’t want to “go in to work” what makes you go out there and do it?
I usually listen to “Number One Stunna” by Big Tymers and then I am fine.
Do you feel like DJing is a joy or a bit of a chore?
Like anything else it has it’s ups and downs. It’s a job and you have to work hard. Just like any other job. People see your Facebook pictures and see you out all the time and say things like, “Oh yeah, you’re lucky. You just get to party all the time.” They have no idea how much work it takes. I am really, really lucky that I am able to do this for a living and that is a joy. I am never upset that I have to go to work and not a lot of people can say that.
Basically, is DJing your lover or your spouse?
I am still in my honeymoon phase and as long as new and exciting things keep happening in music I think it will stay that way.
How old were you when you first DJed a party officially or unofficially?
First time I ever officially DJed outside of my bedroom was a party called Enter the Dragon in the basement of Direct Drive in New York City at Rothko. I think I was 23. It was a drum and bass party and my roommates and I would play all Miami Bass and Booty house downstairs. It was awesome.
What’s your first music memory?
When I was really young my mom was an aerobics teacher. She would take me to work and I would stay in the day care center while she taught classes. I still hold a special place in my heart for Gloria Estefan and The Miami Sound Machine and then there’s the obvious ones like Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, and of course Madonna and Michael Jackson.
How did you get/come up with your name?
Ok don’t laugh, but when I was a little Miami raver I was usually in or around the “breakdance circle.” And of course we all had nicknames. I am a huge nerd and a huge X Men fan so mine became “Jubilee.” I always wore yellow and I guess I just looked like her. She is rad and was Wolverine’s sidekick and got to hang out with Gambit. So I’m not mad.
Who has influenced your style?
I have been through so many phases in my life and I think at this point it has all warped together into my “style.” DJ Laz from Power 96, in south Florida, is definitely my biggest and oldest influence. It all started with him. He is definitely my hero. I could go on and on and on and make the longest list and it would probably take days for me to make. But I will keep it short with him.
Any moments out listening to another DJ when you knew you had to be the best you could be?
First time I saw DJ Craze I was probably 17 years old, Mind=Blown. And sure enough I see him now and I feel the same way. The fact that he put my record with Udachi, Paypur, in one of his top 10 charts this year made me realize I am doing the right thing.
DJ Craze
What is the decision making process like from crowd to your head to the tables?
If you have a connection with the crowd there is no decision making process. You just do it and they go with it, and you just KNOW what is right. And it rides like that. If you DON’T have a connection with the crowd your thought process is more like “Fuck!!!! Where’ is my secret stash of Lady Gaga?” Luckily I haven’t had that happen in a while.
How did you and Roxy meet?
I met her at an epic Winter Music Conference party a few years ago on the roof of the Raleigh. She saw my nails and immediately knew where I got them done and who did them.
Any predictions for who or what will blow up next?
Kingdom is on his way to being the next big thing and I cannot wait for that! If we could hear his DJ sets everywhere we went life would be good. The Night Slugs kids, Lvis-1990 and Bok Bok will do well with their label. 2010 will be a good year for them. The Dutch house sound is replacing a lot of electro and “blog house.” I really hope this love of UK Funky keeps up because I am into it. Dubstep is still goin strong, ask the Wu Tang Clan about that, and I really like that people are into Untold, Rustie, Joy Orbison, etc. Trouble and Bass will continue to kill it and I have full confidence in my label, Nightshifters, we have some good releases coming up. Also there’s these two really young French kids named
Riot Kid and
French Fries that are about to blow up big time. Their music is ill.
If you had to bring 5 things with you to a desert island and only one could be a record, what would you bring?
1) Laptop
2) My pajamas with bananas on them
3) Stila Hair Powder
4) Transmetropolitan comic book series
5) My lemur hat
And can I bring Paloma?
What’s the biggest mishap you’ve ever had out at a gig and what did you do to fix it?
Clearing the floor… then bringing it back up again.
If you could tour with one artist dead or alive, who would you tour with?
Squarepusher.
If you could play any club in history what club would you play?
I still haven’t played Fabric. After I play there I am sure I will have a new dream.
A lot of times on flyers DJs are billed as “music selectors” but there’s a lot more to it than that. How do DJs influence the direction of music?
It’s not what you play it’s how you play it. You need to tell a story. If you scatter your tunes around with no vibe it’s gonna throw people off. Even if you are playing the best songs in the world you still need to do it right.
Photo by Carrie Miller
.
Damn skippy. Don’t you love her so much? Yeah, you do. Don’t front and get your bunnytail over to one of Jubilee’s sites and find her schedule and get yourself to one of her gigs near you. You will not be disappointed.
xoxo
-Pebbles van Peebles
.
www.jubileelovesyou.com
www.myspace.com/jubileeownsyou
www.itsbadmanor.com
