Q&A: Jazzy Brings the Heat to Portola 2025
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY FAITH LUEVANOS ☆
Photo Credit: Portola Music Festival
DUBLIN-BASED DJ JAZZY TOOK PORTOLA BY STORM – twice in one week, bringing the perfect high-energy beats to the Portola stage. On Thursday, September 18, Jazzy gave festival goers a taste of what was to come in the following days. She described the experience as an insane one; One she hadn’t predicted to be as large as it was; One that felt like a festival crowd of its own.
Her latest release, “Hypnotic,” transports listeners to the dancefloor and turns it into a playground for love and lust through fast-paced beats and trancelike rhythms. As she rapidly becomes a notable global act, Jazzy remains true to her sound and lets her music flow like crystal clear water.
Her newest endeavor is the creation of GEWAH SELECTS, a compilation of songs old and new, paired with remixes from friends that capture the soundscapes she loves. The project is set to release October 3.
When we caught up with Jazzy after her set, her feel-good energy radiated throughout our conversation, in which we discussed “Hypnotic,” her experience playing two Portola shows, GEWAH SELECTS, her North American tour, and more. Read the full interview below.
Photo By Christina Posztos - @forhysterics
LUNA: Thanks for stopping by today to chat with Luna! Your new single, “Hypnotic,” is out now, so I’m curious to know if you experiment with crowds before the release of a new song and potentially make changes in the final hours?
JAZZY: Usually, the song is completely finished. If there are changes made, they're usually minor, and it won't be subjective to how the crowd reacts to it. But I definitely will test the songs before they come out. I've been playing “Hypnotic” for a couple of weeks now, and the reaction has been really good.
LUNA: Before the festival began, you played a part in throwing a Portola pre-show party Thursday night. What was it like to get the crowd hyped for this weekend?
JAZZY: It was insane. I found myself a little bit blindsided, because I don't know why, but I just thought it was going to be a smaller place and a smaller amount of people. When I got there, it was so many people. It was basically its own festival. The district attorney was there to introduce me, and I was super flattered. It was insane. I don't even know how to explain it. They were amazing.
LUNA: What were some of the highlights from your set today?
JAZZY: You know what? I never played with KILIMANJARO before, and he hadn't had that much time to prep beforehand, so the deal was just going in and vibing out. I think just that in a hall, playing with him, I really enjoyed the set. We vibe with each other really well. The crowd is amazing. Just the experience of playing Portola as well was really, really nice.
LUNA: Is it nerve-wracking playing with someone for the first time on such a grand scale?
JAZZY: If I didn't know them at all, I would say yeah, it probably would be nerve-wracking, but we're really close now. We've worked together a lot in the studio and stuff.
LUNA: You have a new DJ project out now called GEWAH SELECTS. What’s your intention behind this new project, and how will it differ from your current one?
JAZZY: The fourth track has already come out, which is “Hypnotic.” So basically, it's going to be a little something different, because I've done a couple of EPS now, and I just wanted to do something a little bit different before I jumped into album mode. So, it's going to be a compilation of music that I love and some songs that I've hand-picked from over the years that mean a lot to me. Some of my new songs are going to be on there, and also some remixes that I've reached out to some of my favorite artists to do for me. I just thought it was a really cool idea to do before I jump into an album. I'm really excited with how it turned out, and I hope people love it as well.
LUNA: I know we’re only halfway through day one, but what were some other highlights of the day for you? Besides your own set, of course.
JAZZY: I went up and saw Prospa and KETTAMA, I got the end of their set, which was amazing. Wherever I am in the world, if they're on the same lineup, I always try and go, I know the lads, they’re lovely. After this we're going to try and catch Dabeull’s set. My partner's a really big fan. If I end up staying that late, I would like to see Mau P as well, because I haven't seen him before, but I'm a really big fan.
LUNA: Amazing choices. Any final messages for fans and our readers?
JAZZY: I'm about to kick off the North American tour, and it's the first time [touring in] the US, and I feel like I've had so many people reach out about this, and just people listening in the US in general. So just big love to those people, and I'm really looking forward to come to play for everyone.
