Newcomer Jess Bays took the house scene by storm last year with stand out sets at the likes of We Are FSTVL and Tribal Sessions as well as picking up an award for Best Ibiza Newcomer DJ Runner Up. Known for her unique chunky house vibe, fused with a fresh old school twist and big bass lines, Jess is the A&R head for Sam Divine’s hot new label D-Vine Sounds and has also served up some heavyweight guest mixes for Kiss 100 & Rinse FM. With a slew of big dates for summer already in the diary, we catch up with Jess ahead of her set at Egg LDN’s Ibiza Send Off party alongside Jey Kermis, Ellie Cocks and Martin Ikin and hear about her favourite Ibiza moments, how she started and her career highlights to date. A mighty musical talent that’s sure to be making waves for the foreseeable future…
Interview by Nicky Trax
You are coming to play at the Ibiza Send Off party on Friday May 20th at Egg LDN, can you tell us about your association with Ibiza and what’s your favourite memories as a DJ there?
Coming to Ibiza is when I really started to understand the true meaning of house music. The whole island is absolutely absorbed by it – it’s insane! Last summer I played a 3 hour set at Bora Bora Beach which was really special for me as there were about 25 of my best friends there supporting and dancing in the beautiful sunshine.
Did Ibiza change you in any way?
Ibiza made me fall in love with tech house and really solidified my love of disco! I went to VIVa Warriors at Sankeys and was completely captivated by Skream’s tech to disco closing set! It inspired me to learn how to do exactly that and to also mix different genres together. I love a challenge. Outside of the decks I guess absolute nothing beats leaving Defected at Amnesia and watching the sun come up on the beach with your best friends. That right there is MAGIC!
What do you love about Egg LDN – what have you in store for us?
Egg LDN is one of my favourite London clubs to play at – the vibe is always bang on and the crowd are ready to party! You can expect my usual vocal self with some old school twists thrown in somewhere. A secret weapon I’m dropping a lot at the moment is Claptone’s ‘Another Night’ and people go mad for it still 4 years later. Timeless track!
It’s a cracking line up!
What’s really special about this line up is that all of us are good friends! The Mistaa has been doing bits at Egg LDN for years now and he was the first person to give me a set at the club so it’s going to be really special to headline alongside him! Ibiza will see Ellie Cocks blow up this summer so we’ll give her a send off in true style! And Francis, one of the masterminds behind new label Hippie’s is one of London’s biggest up and coming DJs at the moment. I have no doubt that this guy will be headlining Ibiza in years to come. Jey Kurmis & Martin Ikin’s music speaks for themselves! The sound will be on point all night, I’m super excited!
What are you looking forward to in Ibiza this summer?
This summer I can’t wait to see Sam Divine smash her new residency at Sankeys for The Redlight! She will absolutely own it like she does everything else that comes her way and even more solidify herself as an Ibiza BOSS!
Originally from Middlesex, can you tell us how you first got started?
I’ve been DJing for 3 years now and started by doing a course at SubBass in Waterloo. They taught me the basics and also gave me my first ever set at Ministry Of Sound in London. From there I met many promotors from going out to gigs, also from being Sam’s Tour Manager I met a lot of people on the road who gave me a shot too. Sam has also pushed me to be the DJ that I am today. I gained a residency at Warehouse LDN before it’s closure which opened a lot of doors for me, and the rest is history! I had a CRAZY 2015 playing so many unreal parties and have made life long friends with many promotors. I would say summer 2015 is when things really kicked off for me! I also have my parents love of great music to thank too, being brought up around!
Is production on the horizon?
2016 will see the beginning of my production career! I’m working on a few bits at the moment with other producers but nothing is anywhere near ready for release yet, maybe toward to the end of the year, early next year. I’d love to produce music like Waff or Armand Van Helden one day. No pressure! Haha!
What are the 5 highlights of your career so far and why are they special to you?
1. Playing to a sold out Dicken’s World for The Social alongside Annie Mac & Sam Divine has to be the biggest highlight of my career so far!
2. Playing to a full capacity Studio 338 Terrace on my Birthday for ABODE last summer! Absolute vibes!
3. The Steelyards in London! This venue is a little hidden gem, it’s wicked.
4. D-Vine Sounds first Tour Date at EGG LDN. We were so nervous about bringing our label to London for the first time and to arrive at the venue and see a queue round the block at 11:30pm was PRICELESS! 🙂
5. Radio appearances on Rinse FM and Kiss 100! Kiss was super surreal hearing my name being mentioned throughout the day, I even shed a little tear of happiness!
The big 5 in your box this weekend…
1. Green Velvet & Patrick Topping – When Is Now – I’ve been playing this track out for months now, anything these 2 do together is pure gold!
https://soundcloud.com/reliefrecords/patrick-topping-green-velvet-when-is-now-available-11232015
2. Pimpo Gama & Jean Bacarreza – 937 Messages – real disco feel to it that absolutely pumps!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysHvYq5qzdU
3. Redondo – Gonna Do – love the saxophone on this bumpy vocal house track!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8cRUULJZrE
4. Gene Farris – Weekend Warrior – re-edit of an old school bomb!
https://soundcloud.com/farris-wheel-recordings/07-genefarris-weekendwarrior-fwr100
5. Pele & Shawnecy – Better For My Brain – groovy track that just grows and grows!
https://soundcloud.com/peleandshawnecy/pele-shawnecy-better-for-my-brain-snatch
Finally, what should we be listening to before we head off to the Ibiza Send Off party on May 20th?
4th Measure Men – Given (MK Dub)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSOR_jxJIeA
This track symbolises good times, happy vibes and summer! What more could we what to bring to Egg LDN on the 20th May?. Let’s party!
Jess Bays is joined by Ellie Cocks, Jey Kurmis, Martin Ikin, The Mistaa and Francis at Egg LDN Ibiza Send Off on Friday May 20th
All info at www.egglondon.co.uk
