Toronto’s own Jenner joined us in conversation this week. We discussed her pandemic experience and her musical vision, while also touching on the topic of travel and, of course, looking towards the future. What’s more, the rising DJ, who has built her reputation at standout events like Burning Man, SXM Music Festival in St. Martin, and Vujaday Music Festival in Barbados, has delivered an exhilarating exclusive hour-long live mix session. It’s all below!
WWD: We know it’s been quite the adjustment for many artists around the globe over the last 8 months. What has this time period looked like for you?
Like many DJ’s, I have spent a lot of time on virtual streams. There has been a lot of learning and growth from these experiences. I’ve had a lot of fun with them too. A personal favourite this past summer was performing on a rooftop with a fire spinner for Distrikt at the Virtual Burn. This set with When We Dip is also very special to me as the video showcases a gritty/artistic version of my beloved city, Toronto.
I have also been spending a lot of time in my studio working on my production skills. I recently released my first track, a collaboration on Deep House Toronto. I am in the process of completing a few solo projects and strive to finish up an EP by early next year.
WWD: What are you looking most forward to when things return to a semi-normal state?
I can’t wait to perform in front of a crowd. There is nothing like it. The joy you feel from watching people connect to the music, dancing and enjoying life is next level. The freedom people feel when they loose themselves in the music is pure magic. Being a part of that magic is what drives my passion and inspires creativity.
WWD: With the lack of travel the past 8 months, what have you done to explore your current home-base?
I’ve been allowing nature to nourish my soul like I did when I was a child. I’ve been hiking, camping, paddle boarding, cycling, and exploring the outdoors like never before in my adult life. I’m so fortunate to live in such a beautiful country and to have a great group of friends, our ‘quaranteam’, to adventure with. This winter, I look forward to getting back on my snowboard and hitting the slopes. It’s been amazing to connect with myself and the natural world – it’s so healing and so necessary during these crazy times.
WWD: Some people don’t know this, but you have a busy day job too, don’t you?
Yes, actually I am a partner in a busy law firm in Toronto. I have been practicing law for many years and it’s never been easy tying to juggle my work life with my DJ life but I make it work. I have great supports in place and I’m grateful to those in my life who make it possible to do both.
WWD: What brought you over to the dark side?
Great question! The city of Berlin, of course. I had just finished law school and was backpacking in Europe when my friend and I stumbled upon a tiny club… a bit of a hole in the wall and certainly not a place I would have expected to hear the best music I had ever heard in my life (up to that point). I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It was pretty serendipitous.
When I came back to Toronto, I had an appetite for this music that couldn’t be satiated. I started going to all the clubs in Toronto including Boa, Government, Mod Club, System Sound Bar, and Footwork. The more I heard, the more I was hooked. It wasn’t long after that I bought my first set of CDJs and a mixer. The rest is history.
WWD: Tell us about your musical style.
Although I’m known as ‘The Dark Princess’ and tend to gravitate toward deep and dark baselines, I actually play a lot of different genres. I love deep house, deep tech, progressive, melodic techno, synthwave and downtempo. There’s always a time and a place for a certain sound or track. You really have to feel the crowd and the vibe. In Tulum, I played my first downtempo set and it was really well received. I’ve also had amazing opportunities to test out different sounds at Burning Man and at various music festivals.
WWD: What did you miss most this year?
Wow, where to start? There were quite a few things that I was really looking forward to this year and hope we can just have a redo in 2021. Plans for another incredible European adventure, including a return to Berlin, were in the works. I had also planned to hit ADE again. Finally, after skipping Burning Man in 2019, I was really excited to go back home in 2020. Although I didn’t get dust in curious places, I feel grateful to have been a part of the Multiverse with Distrikt.
WWD: Where is the first place you’ll travel when you can?
Dominical, Costa Rica for sure. My friends and I invested in a hotel called ‘Tribe Boutique Hotel’. The town is a yogi/surfer’s paradise and is situated right next to Uvita, where Envisions is held. Think ‘Jurassic Park’ – it’s so beautiful there. It was a dream for all of us involved to finally have our own space and to be able to curate experiences with full artistic control and expression. I can’t wait to go back. Pura Vida Amigos!
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