EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Joëlla Jackson’s path to the decks was never linear, but it was always bound by a magnetic pull toward rhythm and sound that she couldn’t ignore. Her story is one of self-discovery, fierce independence, and an unwavering passion for music. From organizing her club nights at a local club to becoming an internationally recognized DJ, Joëlla’s journey illustrates how curiosity and perseverance transform into artistry.
Her musical beginnings were not born in a studio or behind a booth at a festival, but rather in a humble setting where she was entrusted with curating Thursday nights at a club. But it wasn’t just about picking the right artists for the night; it was about the deeper connection she felt with music from a young age, a connection that would ultimately lead her to the decks. Over time, as she started learning the ropes, it became clear that her intuitive sense of sound, rhythm, and crowd energy would shape the distinctive signature style she’s known for today. Her approach to house music, which blends groove-heavy layers with emotional vocals and percussive rhythms, tells the story of an artist who is not afraid to explore, experiment, and evolve.
THE BEGINNING: FROM BEHIND THE BAR TO BEHIND THE DECKS
Joëlla Jackson’s introduction to DJing began in the most unassuming way—behind the bar of a local club.
“When I was 18, I was working in a club behind the bar, and in a short period, they asked me to organize my own Thursday nights. I was in charge of finding artists and marketing that night. Then,
before the DJ arrived, I was putting on some music on the mixer. That was the first time I’ve touched it.”
every Thursday,
But Joëlla’s relationship with music started long before that. As a teenager, she wasn’t immediately drawn to the decks—rather, she found herself the one who always seemed to be playing songs for friends at gatherings.
“DJ’ing was something that got my interest, also mainly by being always the one who was asked to put my phone on the Bluetooth speaker or share new bangers with friends. But I never thought of it as a job—just more for the fun of playing music.”
However, a pivotal moment came when she was invited to a house party, and what she saw changed her perspective.
“I remember clearly that I was sitting on a couch and just looked at the guy who was playing, and then I stood up and went to him to ask how it worked. He told me the very basics of choosing a track, clicking on it, and then how to mix that track into the other one. And so I played that whole night.”
“They told me I had to do something with it because I picked it up so quickly. After that night, I bought a USB and started playing at gatherings for fun.” It was the beginning of her DJ career, though she never imagined how quickly it would take off.
Family’s Influence on Her Musical Identity
Growing up in a household steeped in music had an undeniable impact on Joëlla’s artistic development; music was a constant presence in her life. She explains:
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“My mom listened a lot to soul & disco, Latin music, reggae. She was a fan of Earth, Wind & Fire, Luther Vandross, and Marvin Gaye. It’s hard to name all the artists because she just listened to all the legends from back then.”
It was this blend of sounds that shaped Joëlla’s understanding of rhythm and groove, which she would later incorporate into her own DJ sets.
“In my opinion, as a kid, if you grow up with such music and different genres, you just learn how to appreciate music differently. The influence it has on me today is that in house music, there are a lot of elements that are coming back, whether it’s rhythm or vocals. It all comes back to the great music from back then.”
Besides her musical household, she was later on always busy with music herself. I would spend hours downloading songs and burning them onto CDs to go upstairs to my room and listen to them. On rainy Sundays, that’s all I would do.”
“I had a keyboard that I asked for as a birthday present, and my neighbors had a piano I used to play on all the time. I never took lessons, but I watched YouTube tutorials and taught myself. I always felt like I wanted to do something in the music industry. I knew I wasn’t a professional piano player or singer, so I figured it had to be something else. Even to this day, my mom always tells me she’s not surprised I ended up doing what I do—because I was constantly surrounded by music.”
As a young teenager, Joëlla’s musical tastes expanded even further when she stumbled upon DJ Chuckie’s “Dirty House” mixtapes.
“Just before I was going to high school, the era of LimeWire
downloading music to put on my MP3 to listen to when I was going to school. At some point, I got in touch with dirty house music, and I can’t explain what it was, but it brought me a certain energy.”
This raw energy resonated deeply with Joëlla, and it wasn’t long before she found herself sneaking into clubs where DJ Chuckie’s beats ruled the night.
“The first time I was in a big club with loud house music, I fell in love with it. From that moment on, I always wanted to go to big festivals and clubs with this music.”
It was the foundation of her passion for house music—an energy she continues to channel into her sets today.
Joëlla Jackson’s trajectory into the world of DJing is a masterclass in organic progression, marked by an almost poetic intertwining of fate and passion. Her story,
how the unassuming beginnings behind a bar or at a house party can subtly propel a young artist toward a remarkable career. In her case, there is an undeniable elegance in how the craft of DJing seemed to find her, rather than the other way around. Her story feels not only personal but universally relatable, capturing that moment when you stumble upon something that feels destined, something that resonates on a deep, almost spiritual level.
rich with moments of serendipity, showcases and MP3 players began, and I was
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