Your name is popping up all over the place Jess. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and how you got started as a DJ?
I’m a 25-year-old progressive and deep house DJ and producer from Liverpool.
My dad was a DJ so there was always a pair of decks around the house. I learnt how to DJ around nine years ago then started doing house parties and local events.
Where was your first professional gig?
My first gigs were playing house music in bars and clubs around Liverpool, going back around three or four years. It gave me great experience playing out live and taught me how to read a crowd.
Which DJs inspired you?
I first got into progressive house by going to a 909 night at the Invisible Wind Factory with Steve Parry headlining. I fell in love with the tracks he was playing and it gave me a complete change of direction.
Steve is still a big inspiration with his Selador label, but others would certainly be the likes of Gai Barone and Jamie Stevens, both of who I’ve been lucky enough to play with recently.
How would you describe the sort of music you play?
I suppose it depends on where I’m playing and what time I’m on. Recent sets have been warm-ups so I tend to play more deep house and organic, quite funky. But I’ve got some headlining gigs coming up which will be a lot more progressive and techy, allowing me to play what I really love.
You are one of the residents at one of the city’s biggest progressive parties: 909. How did that come about?
They asked me to play on the Sasha line-up earlier on in the year at WAV, in the tunnels, and after getting some great feedback about my set, I was asked to play for them at Balance (festival in Croatia).
Being asked to be a resident has been a huge highlight for me, as it’s my favourite event.
What do you enjoy about their parties?
Firstly it’s the music, they bring in some of the biggest DJs from around the world, and the line-ups are always something to look forward to. But just as important is the crowd. It’s a really knowledgeable crowd with a great vibe. If you’ve not been to one, you need to give it a try.
You just played at Balance in Croatia. What was that experience like?
It was incredible. By far the best festival I’ve been to. Seeing all of my favourite DJs play and getting to meet a lot of them was a great experience and so inspiring.
Then to play at the Balance hotel, for such a huge brand that is known all over the world was another great stepping stone for my career.
Any other great gigs or shows this year?
I’m headlining at Pulse in Milton Keynes on September 26 and have a lot of gigs waiting to be announced, taking me up to the end of the year and into early next year, which I’m really excited about.
And you have a radio show too. Tell us a bit more about it please.
My Motion radio show is on the last Friday of the month on Yana Electronica 9pm till 11pm. It can be heard live on the night on Mixlr, with the shows then uploaded to SoundCloud. This is a great new station that promotes mainly progressive house and breaks. I’ll also be having a new guest every month, which is something I’m really excited about.
And what about producing… Any plans to make music?
I’ve been spending a lot of time in the studio working on tracks. I’ll be testing them out at my upcoming gigs to see how they work and would love to get them released at the end of the year.
Next month you are going to be playing in Ibiza. Please tell us more about that…
This is something I’m really looking forward to. I will be playing for 909 at Cafe del Mar with fellow 909 resident Sheldon, the WAV DJs Kev and Fidge, and a rising star of the progressive scene who will be announced shortly.
Is that a bit of a dream to play there?
It’s a huge dream to play there. I’ve been to Ibiza a couple of times and it’s always such an amazing experience. To be able to play at somewhere as iconic as Café del Mar will be a massive moment for me. It is such a legendary name in dance music, known all over the world.
Looking to the future, what are your career ambitions? Any clubs or countries you are eager to play?
I am really grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had this year and I’d love to keep building on what I’ve achieved so far, playing at some great events with some amazing DJs. If that can continue into next year and beyond, and I can add some more gigs abroad and get some of my tracks released, then I’ll be very happy.
*Follow Jess on Instagram @jesssillitoedj and SoundCloud
