Ahead of upcoming apperances for Glitterbox at Space Ibiza and Ministry of Sound London, renowned DJ and producer Smokin Jo discusses the EDM backlash in Ibiza and making her welcome return to the White Isle this season.
Once again she’s on the island that has, in large part, defined her career. Smokin Jo, real name Joanne Joseph, first played Ibiza 22 years ago when club culture hadn’t yet fully taken hold. Space, Pacha, Amnesia and Privilege (back when it was Ku) were all regular destinations, interspersed with frequent dates at exclusive beach and villa parties. Jo lived and breathed an authentic island life. It is little different now. The Brit DJ-producer plays Glitterbox at Space tonight, the night a glamorous return to Ibiza’s early, free-roaming dance roots and therefore familiar ground. Even more familiar considering that she helped spearhead Glitterbox’s first season at Booom! last year. We all know how that went....
But Jo is more than just Ibiza. Her biography offers a full and engrossing tale of playing the highest-profile gigs all over the world (from Womb in Tokyo and Cavo Paradiso in Mykonos to Panoramabar in Berlin and Vinyl in New York - the legendary club at which, famously, Danny Tenaglia invited Jo to play his Be Yourself night), promoting her own cutting edge parties (NastyDirtySexMusic and Nude - both international affairs) and releasing a number of vigorous house tracks and remixes supported by the underground’s great and good.
It was attending early UK raves and warehouse parties in 1990 that first piqued Jo’s interest in electronic dance music. She noted the lack of female DJs, hence taking her subsequent stage name from boxer Smoking Joe Fraser – at a time when men fiercely ruled the booth its ambiguity would help secure her bookings. Jo was soon playing glitzy fashion show after-parties (prompted by giving mixtapes to the customers of Jean Paul Gaultier’s Soho boutique where she’d been working) and then the iconic all-hours Trade at Turnmills. Her assured residency of deep house and tech would lead to work at Cream, Tribal Gathering and Back To Basics, to the accolade of DJ Magazine’s DJ Of The Year (she remains the only female winner ever), to Ibiza and the world....
Jo’s acclaimed We Love... residency at Space ended in 2013 after more than two decades but, as Glitterbox testifies, she is still building a formidable legacy both in and away from Ibiza. Whilst DJ bookings are more selective these days she continues to travel and engage. Behind all of this sits a credible, continual discography of house production for labels including Fluential, Junior London and, most recently, Area Remote (her last outing on the imprint was 2014’s ‘I See Sunrise’); not to mention remixes of Santos, Pet Shops Boys and Skunk Anansie. There are no imminent new releases but then, for Jo, the DJing has always come first. As she reminds us now during a pre-gig phone call....
Jo, you played Glitterbox last year and are back tonight – what’s your take on the event?
There’s a slightly older crowd. Glitterbox is all about having freedom and choice with the music. EDM and tech are huge markets in Ibiza so Glitterbox is different. And, personally, I love Space so I’m really looking forward to playing the night again. The Terrace is a fantastic environment to play in. Glitterbox and the Space Terrace is a real double-whammy and should send the party into the stratosphere this summer.
As an Ibiza veteran how do you view the island’s club scene today?
The island has changed a lot but I’m not someone who’s going to moan loads about that. I mean, for the kids visiting Ibiza for the first time this summer I’m sure they’re going to think it’s pretty incredible – it’s all relative. The whole EDM and VIP thing is a distraction and Ibiza is so expensive these days. It used to be that you could find a cheap holiday here but that’s all gone with a round of four drinks costing upwards of €160 in most venues! Sometimes it feels like the island is only there now to drain the punters of what money they’ve got, but there are still great little things to see and do. Ibiza Rocks House is great; the events are free and a real reminder of the original Ibiza spirit. Then there’s Glitterbox....
Has your approach to DJing changed over the years?
It’s pretty much the same as when I started out. I’ve always been across the board. I love house and techno but will play everything under those labels and more. I’ll play vocals, instrumentals, deep records...all sorts. It depends, of course, on where you’re playing and who for. I’ll look to tailor my set accordingly. But at the end of the day, for me it’s simply about playing good music.
What other gigs are you looking forward to this year?
I’m playing Glitterbox again on 4 September, as well as a special Glitterbox gig at Ministry in London on 25 July. I’m also looking to do some shows in Asia at the end of the year. Generally, though, I don’t hammer it too much; I don’t hammer it like I used to! I used to take six or seven flights between gigs on a typical weekend and that was crazy. I can’t do that anymore and I don’t want to. These days I only play the gigs that I really want. It’s not ‘yes, yes, yes’ any more, I’m more measured. At the same time, promoters tend to book DJs much closer to their events now. It never used to be like that, you were booked months in advance. But I like things this way because it gives me more flexibility.
How are using that regained time?
I’m settled in London and enjoying having the time to do other things. I’m actually a newly qualified Yoga teacher. A few DJs pursue holistic therapies on-off in their spare time. But for me, this is central in terms of helping sustain what I do within music, and keeping a general balance in my life. It’s hugely important to me. Some of the classes I do actually have some form of musical orientation or connection too.
Interesting. Would you like to develop that fusion in the future?
Longer-term, I’d love to do some stuff around Yoga disco. It might sound a little cheesy on the surface but the idea of linking Yoga with music really appeals to me. Yoga disco is basically a sober disco. Groups practise Yoga together before dance parties without alcohol. The focus on the mind, body and music is really powerful. But as well as that I want to host more of my The Electric Tiger Cave parties with Skin [lead singer of Skunk Anansie], do some more gigs at Ibiza Rocks House and generally play the gigs that appeal.
The motivation is still there....
I’m completely motivated. It’s important to keep going out and checking things out. But then there’s also websites and social networks for that. I’m very connected with the music, as I always have been. I don’t feel the need to be connected every single second. To be honest there’s too much going on today and I need some time for other things. But that’s not to say the music is any less important to me.
Smokin Jo plays Glitterbox at Space Ibiza, 26 June and 04 September, and at Ministry of Sound 25 July – full line-ups and tickets
Defected presents Glitterbox Ibiza 2015 is out now (3CD / Digital) on Defected Records - order from iTunes and DStore
Glitterbox makes its London debut at Ministry of Sound Saturday 25 July - full line-up and tickets
