So Jakki, music and dancing has always been in your blood – ballet dancing at the age of four, then when you were 11 started taking part in disco Competition dancing reaching Championship stats by the age of 15. Where did the love of music come from?
“I grew up always having music around; my dad was always playing Motown, soul, Elvis (lol) and The Beatles so I was introduced to what I consider good music from an early age so I guess it just got under my skin. Obviously music was a massive factor in my dancing and I’ve spent much of my adult life in studios and around people in the music industry.”
I used to run nightclubs in Wolverhampton and Birmingham… you owned a business in nearby Wallsall, what Midlands clubs were your favorites over the years?
“My friends and I spent most of our early raving days in between Birmingham and Wolverhampton. We used to go to Miss Moneypennys, The Steering Wheel, Gods Kitchen and Stoodi Bakers in Birmingham and The Light Bar and The Canal Club in Wolverhampton.”
So your mother, she was quite important in your step up in your modelling career – what’s the story there?
“She is a typical mum, thinks her daughter is the most beautiful of them all but if it wasn’t for her being like that and entering me into the competition, maybe I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
So why turn to the art of DJing?
“DJing was kind of a natural progression for me; I have always had a passion for music and I have always wanted to be part of the music industry in some way, my boyfriend DJs and one thing just lead to another.”
What are your favourite 10 tunes you love?
01. ‘Sugar is Sweeter’ CJ Bolland
02. ‘Push the Feeling On’ Nightcrawlers
03. ‘Day’N’ Night (Crookers remix)’ Kid Cudi
04. ‘Follow Me’ Aly Us
05. ‘Do you Mind?’ Kyla
06. ‘Show me Love’ Robin S
07. ‘Spells of Yaruba’ Gel Abril
08. ‘Standing’ SIS
09. ‘Cure and the Cause’ Fish go Deep
10.’Who’s Afraid of Detroit’ Vonstroke
Do you want to get into record production?
“I am concentrating on becoming an accomplished DJ first but it is something I would very much like to try further down the road.”
You’ve appeared on shows with comedians, Award shows, visited the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, been cover star on every magazine out there – but who was funnier to work with, Ruby Wax or Graham Norton?
“Ruby Wax definitely, she frightened me to death.”
Who do you think on the Vital Music roster do you think are going to go BOOM and make it?
“Me obviously!!”
What was taking part in the mad celebrity car race the Cannonball Run like?
“It was amazing. I love to travel and I love driving so I had the best of both worlds. It was very intense.”
What musician would you most like to work with in the studio?
“Easy, Jay Z or Missy Elliot.”
Who is the best DJ in the world?
“Jazzy Jeff”
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for charity – what was that like?
“It was the most difficult but most amazing thing I have achieved to date. The view from the sumit was incredible.”
How important is manager, DJ Lisa Unique in your career?
“I think Lisa is very important. She is an established DJ and has been in the Industry for 10 years so I am hoping to learn a lot from her.”
Do you think this huge, sudden wave of models turned DJs is going to last?
“I think it will be the same as anything; loads will jump on the bandwagon just to make money but there will only be a few talented ones that will stand the test of time.”
Best live gig you’ve ever been to?
“Wyclef. Security had to remove him from the stage, he wouldn’t leave!”
What do you want out of your DJ’ing career, what’s more important, DJ’ing or modelling?
“I’ve been modelling for 10 years, I need a new project. I’m hoping to be DJ’ing for a long time.”
