Jade was inspired to play and produce electronic music after attending shows in Toronto while attending university. She quickly established herself in the local scene and started playing regularly alongside locals Jonny White, Kenny Glasgow, Nitin, James Teej, and more. Her first record, "Try Again," was released on Toronto based label, No.19, and her talent has brought her around the world to places such as Toronto, Detroit, Mexico, and more. The future is bright for Jade. We got a chance to catch up with her to chat about how she became involved in the scene, some of her diverse musican influences, the evolution of her sound, being part of the No.19 family, and what else is on her horizon.
For people who don’t already know you, can you tell us a little about yourself? I was born in Berlin and moved around at a very young age. I spent some time in Israel and moved to Toronto, where I have been based for the past 16 years.
How did you first get into electronic music? When I was 19, I went to The Guvernment (one of the city’s biggest clubs) and heard Paul Oakenfold. He was dropping stuff that was totally new to me and felt a deep connection with the music and the people. From that point on, I realized that this was something that I wanted to be part of. Despite the fact that I was attending university at the time, I spent the next few years immersing myself into the scene and lifestyle. Eventually I realized that I could be more than just a consumer. Once I felt that I was proficient at DJing, I started to take it to the next level and began to teach myself the art of production. I enrolled at Dubspot a year later and took a certified Ableton course to better my technical skills. This course was a key stepping stone in my future plans in the world of electronic music.
What are some of your musical influences? Thievery Corporation, Pink Floyd, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Delirium, and Nicolas Jaar.
What has been the most gratifying moment so far in your career? It was this year’s Sonar in Barcelona at the No.19 party at Bloc, performing alongside Art Department, Deniz Kurtel, Louie Fresco , Eric Volta, etc. I was honoured to be part of this world-class event.
Is the stuff you play now what you’ve always played or has your style evolved over time? As one gets more experience, it's natural to grow and learn. Music trends change constantly and I was always in tune with the current sounds. Over the years, I found myself playing a more organic style. My music philosophy is “less is more”. Deep and dark has pretty much been my sound and I don't see that changing any time soon.
You’ve been playing a lot in Toronto, where you grew up. What has that been like? I grew up just north of Toronto, but I spent every weekend at local clubs and after hours in downtown Toronto, where I established myself as part of the local underground scene. The 'Milky Way' was one of the main spots I used to play at every Friday alongside Jonny White, Kenny Glasgow, Nitin, James Teej, etc, It was definitely a very special time in my life. We have a very tight scene here in Toronto. Everyone is very close with each other so it's super fun when you get to play for all your friends .
Which clubs have you been playing at recently? Recently I have had the privilege of playing with Francesca Lombardo in Detroit at the Grasshopper Underground which is a pretty sweet spot and played at the 'Blue Vendero' in Mexico which is pretty much a hidden gem by the beach . Nothing better than watching the sun rise as your about to drop a nasty tune.
What are some of your dream gigs? I would love to play at my mother's 60th birthday party in the hall of the local synagogue.
How did you become part of the No.19 family? Toronto has a very small underground scene, so as a passionate female DJ, I started to nurture a musical connection with Jonny White and his crew. There weren’t many female DJs at the time so I stood out and made an impression. This eventually led to me getting included in the No.19 crew, which I considered to be my true musical family. Jonny is like my big brother and I feel very blessed to be party of this label.
What record labels do you hope to work with in the future? Ultimately, I would like to be involved with a label that has the same artistic mindset. I don’t want compromise my talent for the sake of a fast payoff. Labels such as Touch of Class...
Who would you like to collaborate with? To be honest, I prefer to work alone. But I would love to work with Tiesto and David Guetta!
Can you tell us a little about how you decided to approach the exclusive mix you made for Pulse? I stayed true to my sound in this one. It's pretty deep and minimal .
What else is on the horizon for Jade? I always strive to grow and better myself as a producer and DJ, so my aim is to keep on working hard at my craft. I just want to be myself and keep on doing what I love. The most important thing is to be true and to follow my passions... everything else will unfold on its own.