How did your career start and evolve in berlin?
It actually started a long time ago, like when you go back back. If you go back back it was that i was living in west germany, in the area of Dortmund and during covid I was (staying) in a raver community. We were having afters and raving all the time and at some point we were raving at a friend after and he was so tired, he asked if anybody wanted to play some tracks and give it a try. I said; why no? I would give it a try. I played my first set there. It was not very good, but it was a good first try.
In 2021 I moved to berlin and I think in 2022 I did a dj workshop with Refuge, they offered beginner workshops with Sarah Farina. In between the years of 2021 and 2022 when I was at a friend’s house she had a set up, so we played there. I sometimes brought my music, or we played my friend’s music. She told me how to use a little bit of a record box, or other things. And after the workshop I met Lena Brecht we played a little back to back during the workshop, and then we started meeting up just to play not to talk, and then we decided to start this project called What a Playground, and did it for féte de la musique.
A friend of ours was living there. We asked him to do an open air there. He said yes and agreed to let us use his electricity for the set up (laughs). We posted it on Instagram and asked people to bring their own drinks. A few people came, we did another event in september in a very nice club here in berlin
The theme was, as mentioned, what a playground, and the motto of this second event was to put female, black and brown DJs, to create a very soft environment, and that the music focuses around house music. Also to highlight different house genres by the selection of artists and the curation of the lineup.
Actually I remember I talked with a friend during an after, and one of my friends was DJing (he had his whole set up as well) and I talked about how I would like to DJ. The wish or the aim (To DJ) was always there. I mentioned I wanted to DJ in 2019, but the mindset or lifestyle was not the possibility. I think it was always there but I never pursued it like I do it now.
In 2022 I got offered by anagram music radio station from Birmingham my own show. They reached out to me, and I didn't think they were serious, you never know how people find you. I said yes, because that would give me the time to practice, and I could start telling stories through my selection. Also I could practice how to mix and to express more what I like musically.
I started more with lofi house because is an artist I truly love and because of one of his tracks I also started DJing, because I wanted people to listen to that on the dancefloor. The song is next to you by kent. I do not know where he lives right now… I think he is very hidden (things to herself) but when I listened to his track I knew I wanted to play that.
Lofi during covid was very big to me, its soothing but is joyeux, but is also deep. I think that time in covid, with artists such as Coldstream and Papercrafts… sometimes I miss it.
I think in the year 2023 I had a few friends of mine that invited me to play at their events and with that a lot of opportunities to try out just came my way which i'm super grateful and thankful for. Because I never thought that having the hidden wish of knowing how to DJ and to share some of my music on the dancefloor would also impact people and that they would like it and that they see something in me and within me.
Have you noticed any cultural differences with respect to your cultural heritage?
The cultural aspects are mainly history and roots. Right now in Berlin in general is a good time for black female DJs because they (other black female DJs) paved the way.
What is a different element you believe your creations bring to the table in the Berlin creative scene?
My sort of storytelling through the different house subgenres that I like to put into my sets. I like to always start super slow (...) and then I like to go high high poker. I like to (..) we have an intro, a main part and an ending. a mixture of high power and soft.
we definitely have to be open about it, it is also that im black and there are a few black women DJs but not as many as white. Also because I always loved electronic music and maybe it is the aura that I’m spreading.
Regarding this, my main wish was to empower other black females, I tend to remember where the roots are, in Detroit Chicago, electronic music came from black households. Stacy Hotwax Hale she is the Godmother of the house. It would be nice to also see these roots in berlin. This is why I like to see my fellow black women DJs, I tell them to just start. There will always be people that like what you do, that will resonate with your experience.
We tend to think about a 1000 things, there is a lot of pressure.
How would you describe yourself and all your creative facets?
I would say sensitive, visual and strong. How would I describe myself, I think I love creating things that not only serve me but serve and help others. I love to help others. If I know something that someone needs, I love to give it to them. I love networking although I never knew about it, a friend told me. I love observing things and situations. I am also someone who is very vov¡cal and opinionated.
My creations have to be minimalistic. But in terms of music I like to show this wild side of myself through the selection of tracks and through the different outlets I can show my personality trait.
The music is more the wild child in me
The picnic is more the community , the mother in me, like bringing everybody together, bringing warmth to it.
Do you believe your creations are part of yourself or an extension of your talents?
I think talent also brings something. I believe talent is 20% percent and the rest is personality and hard work
What is a creative piece that you have been loving this month, it can be yours or others:
That is hard because I love everything that I create and do. I have this tendency or this routine that every period of time I clean up my closet of everything i don't like. so now everything that I own I like.
The bag is definitely one of the pieces that I love the most (She shows on screen. She is referring to the hobo bag in miniature in silver)
Is there any separation between Josie as an artist and as a person?
That is also a hard one (repeats question to herself). I would say as a person I learned this year more about setting boundaries and saying no to things concerning my life. And as an artist, as a creative person it is more that I'm not setting so many boundaries, I want to enjoy every opportunity that I'm getting to the fullest and not be scared. My person is more cautious and re asks if that is really for me . The creative side is more “hey lets go, let's do it and try it out”
I've also had moments in which I said no to things as creative but not so many. I don’t have much fear as a creative.
Besides your career as a DJ, you have several projects on the side such as a podcast and radio platform. Let's start there; what inspired you to get involved into the podcast and radio work?
For my first radio show, I named it Private Paradise (later a song with the same name came out). (I enjoy doing radio shows because) you showcase what you like, it is kind of private but you also enjoy the paradise of music that is played there.
When I did the first selection (for Private Paradise) I noticed that the songs always had birds or nature elements, 13 to 15 songs that you can play in an episode, so I always try to find the song for the next radio show. I remember that for the second podcast i tried to find the founder form Esset house (New York) I listened to his music and then i put it into the mix
Is sometimes what I do with my music; I reflect on what is interesting to me, which artist do I want to highlight or (which artist I’m) listening to at the moment. Sometimes it is also friends' suggestions but I tend to dig a lot on soundcloud, youtube and sometimes even instagram.
Sometimes it is also what someone tells me and I keep it in time. But mostly though digging and digging happens to me sometimes visually, if i like the ep cover of something I will listen to it and become interested in their music and art.
(Based on the previous) And how do you combine those several facets of your work; being creative, fashion, radio and music creation and performance in your everyday life?
First of all, when I stopped working at my first job the first thing I had in my mind was that I needed to work part time to work on my creative facets. I also have a life coach, a very nice woman that helped me a lot last year. I believe without her a lot of things would have been possible and manageable. I learned with her what things matter to me, how to organize myself.
I have two days a week, one is for music and one is for my fashion. But the problem is it never works all the time because sometimes you have to do a think for that x2. From my normal work I count hours so I could have more time.
When i started having my gigs i had the idea to create a new garment for each gig so i could also promote that, i got to do a lot of experimenting with fabrics and color so i could also have feedback.
Is very difficult when you do everything by yourself. I'm also a perfectionist, I want the garments, music to be perfect and the performances to be mesmerizing. It was super stressful so I stopped doing that and I tried to structure myself better.
Im create my own garments now only for bigger events to showcase these pieces that are made by me, I still create garments for clients though.
What was the most challenging experience you had while working as a creative in Berlin?
I think doing mostly everything by myself. My studio and then when you are kind of managing yourself. To juggle everything. But creatively…. umm i don't know maybe self doubt and maybe also if people will like what i'm doing, will resonate with me and understand me. Believing in myself more than others.
In collaboration with others what I see as difficult is to put back your needs. To kind showcase and step back. That was also a challenge but is part of the collaboration with other people.
(Based on previous) And the experience that you are more proud of so far?
There is one of my favorite shows that I did. I think (one of) Private Paradise.
Thinks that im super proud is definitely my studio, the picnic, cuz that is for me the first think I did by myself with help from some friends, when I realized what my strength is and what actually resonates more with myself.
Where my persistence is. And being ambitious myself helped me to create this.
But also all the gigs that I already played, that I played at melt, because I had the courage to try something new. That was also part challenge, the eagerness to be wild and the confidence was there.
What was the concept you wanted to transmit through your clothes?
The color palette for me is always very earthy and soft. Before it used to be all black and then just a bit of color, resonating with colors of today such as beige or pastels. White and light blues.
My focus is always on the tailoring, that is on point. Is minimalist but that the tailoring is on point and that the colors are simple.
During school time I thought to myself Zanda Joe is one of my favorite designers, and now the label is doing amazing designs and cuts. it resonates a lot with me and inspired me during school, I think thats why im in this minimalist thing. I also think that when you have this genre tone is more genre fluid, i tend to oversize a lot, as a girl sometimes you have to shop at the men's section. Maybe there is a man that likes my clothes.
Creating gender neutral clothes came along the way, is not my big big focus but i wanted to create clothes with colors that everyone can wear.
Please tell us a sneak peak of something coming up (if possible)
There are a few gigs, the one that I would highlight more would be playing at TIBA Cologne, it's a platform that highlights black artists on electronic music,, and they invited me to play a set that would be aired live, the 7th September: The set that I'll prepare will be a bit softer with a groove, and I always first have a track that I choose to start with, and from there I bould the rest.
