Jess Farley: The 'Shine A Light On' Mix

Music

The people who exist behind the scenes of electronic music culture are arguably as important, if not more so, than those on the front line. Jess Farley is one such representative of a world which often remains undocumented, now credit is being paid where it is due. We were very pleasantly surprised when a mixtape landed amidst our inboxes some months back, as a selector she seems to be ahead of many and her tastes are diverse and informed. We caught up with her to talk day to day and a life upcoming. Listen to her mix and read the interview below:

You’re pretty new on our radar as a DJ, fancy telling us a little bit about yourself, Who are you and where are you from?

Hiyaaa. I’m Jess, originally from near Glastonbury in Somerset, used to spend a lot of time in Bristol and now live in London. I work for Ninja Tune’s management company Stealth and we look after Midland, Moxie, Dark Sky & Breach and also Team Love doing social media and marketing, and I DJ!

How did you find yourself learning to DJ?

I’ve always seriously loved music and was super inspired to learn to mix after quitting my job at a bank (eek) to pursue a career in music, was pretty shy and awkward about doing it but after a bit of encouragement I bought my CDJs about a year or so ago and here we are! I am luckily surrounded by amazing, talented people in this industry and I spend a lot of time at clubs/festivals so I’m forever finding new music to play. Also always swapping tunes with the guys at Ninja, I have recently acquired an amazing selection of old afro beat records from Coldcut.

How has your involvement in Love International come about?

I worked at Garden Festival for a few years with the amazing Petra (everyone knows Petra) and was just blown away by how amazing it was. It’s hands down changed my life in terms of music, experience and all the wonderful people I met, who are now some of my closest friends. When Garden ended last year and Love International began I convinced Dave and Tom to keep me on.

Where was the mix recorded?

In my living room in my PJs.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

Hmm I reckon on some good headphones on your way home from work, have a good old boogie in the street.

What should we be wearing?

Hands down sequin leggings.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location, system, format?

It’s gotta be the beach in Tisno, or Barbarellas, open air on those funktion one soundsystems – magic.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Argh hard one! Deardrums – Treewave. So weird and wonky, love it.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

Hard one! There’s so many great mixes… I’ll go with the one I’ve gone to the most for house parties and general vibes and it’s MCDE’s boiler set at Dekmantel a few years back. So good.

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

Oo tough. For my kinda vibe either Greg Wilson, because he’s an absolute legend and I’ve had a fair few moments on the dance floor to him or Auntie Flo because his selection is wicked, huge inspiration.

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

I had traktor on my laptop at the very beginning to learn the proper basics and now on 2 CDJ 900s, a XONE DB2 mixer and my housemate Monty has some rather lovely vintage tannoy arden speakers. He said to include this link in this interview ha (he loves soundsystems).

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

End! Hands in the air disco vibes always.

What were the first and last records you bought?

First was Mr Ozio Flat Beat!. I was 9 when that came out and I made my parents to buy it for me, me and my little sister who was 5 used to go mental in my bedroom to it haha. (Well actually before that was the Spice Girls but for coolness factor let’s go with Mr Ozio) Last was the Khruangbin remixes on Boogiefuturo – so excited to see them in Tisno.