Back in 2020, right at the beginning of her professional career, Jordss’ heart stopped beating. She suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and had to have emergency open-heart surgery, taking 10 months to recover. The experience, terrifying though it was, led the London-based DJ to reevaluate her priorities and fully commit to her love of DJing, whilst also tackling inequalities within the nightlife scene.
As well as starting her own radio show Black Joy Archives, she also founded Girls Can’t DJ, a digital network that connects women in the industry. In the five years since her surgery, Jordss has played at countless global festivals, DJed for Rihanna, and become the first DJ to ever play pitch side at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
Naturally, summertime is when Jordss is at her busiest, hopping from festival to festival and squeezing in a quick holiday to Puerto Rico, too (where she is right now). Earlier this month, she opened for Cleo Sol and Sault at All Points East in Victoria Park, and two days before that, she helped Casamigos take over central London for ‘Casa Soho’. Held last Wednesday (August 13), during the peak of London’s intense heatwave, the tequila brand renamed Soho pub the Blue Posts to the ‘Teal’ Posts, after the classic Casamigos colour.
Casa Soho might have been and gone, but luckily for us Jordss is returning from Puerto Rico just in time for Notting Hill Carnival. Below, we talk career highlights, partying with Rihanna and her exclusive summertime playlist.
You’re currently in Puerto Rico. Are you taking a well-deserved break after festival season?
Jordss: Sì! I went straight to Heathrow after All Points East. I needed some R&R and will be celebrating my girlfriend’s 30th, but I’m back in London in time for Notting Hill Carnival, of course.
Have you been to Bad Bunny’s residency in Puerto Rico?
Jordss: I went to Bad Bunny’s show on Sunday night and it was incredible. Similar to Beyoncé, he’s one of those special acts that really know how to put on a great show. I had the best, best time. Top five performances ever.
Last week was pretty big for you too, you played the Casamigos Soho takeover and opened for Sault and Cleo Sol at All Points East. Firstly, how was the Casamigos gig?
Jordss: The Casamigos party was so much fun. It was the peak day of the heatwave, so everyone was hot, sweaty and down to party.
What track got the biggest reaction of the night?
Jordss: Slida & Swipe’s “Back fi Ya Bend”. August is carnival season, so now more than ever I like to drop soca into my sets. The reaction to this one was electric.
Did you know that Casamigos means ‘house of friends’? What three friends in the music industry would you like to shout out for doing interesting things right now?
Jordss: Born n Bread. We came up in this industry together. I’ve known them forever and they have always been about putting people on. They have an annual stage at GALA festival where they always run a competition to give young aspiring WOC DJs a chance to play the festival.
Then there’s Wilfy D. Whatever the opposite of a gatekeeper is, that is Wilfy! He’s a producer/DJ who has an open-door policy and is helping the revival of UK funky house. And lastly, Bambii – the Toronto-based Producer/DJ that has community at the core of everything she does, from workshops to intentional parties, and is breaking down all the walls when it comes to genre-blending sets.
Earlier this year, you became the first DJ to play pitch side at the Emirates Stadium. You said then that this was your career highlight. Is that still true, or has anything topped it since March?
Jordss: As of now, that is still a career highlight, although doing an official remix for Jorja Smith and then a spontaneous b2b with Idris Elba at Glastonbury all in one month does come quite close in second.
DJing for Rihanna must’ve been a career highlight, too. How was that experience?
Jordss: That was so incredible. She is probably the most down-to-earth ‘celebrity’ I have ever met. She makes you feel really comfortable, so I didn’t feel nervous at all.
Did you play any Rihanna tracks in front of Rihanna?
Jordss: Funnily enough, I got the vibe she didn’t want to hear too many of her songs. She’s honestly so chill.
Beyond touring the world as a DJ, you’re devoted to the platform you founded, Girls Can’t DJ. What is the goal of this initiative?
Jordss: The goal of Girls Can’t DJ in a nutshell is to abolish gender imbalance in the DJing industry and shine light on/nurture up-and-coming talent.
Finally, how would you describe the playlist you’ve curated for us?
Jordss: A fruity yet strong cocktail with friends on a warm summer’s evening.
