“PUMP IT UP” with DJ JESABEL at ULTRA

Sydney based DJ, television presenter and radio host, JESABEL has been preparing for quite a few weeks ahead of her upcoming performance at Ultra Australia, Sydney event on March 7th.

“While the performance aspect will come pretty naturally, track selection is the most important thing. Leading up I’ve been testing new music finds at my club gigs, seeing what works and what the crowd is loving. I’m producing up some edits and putting together my set list.”

The entrepreneur and social influencer is only just getting started in her 6 year young career which includes weekly nightclub residencies for her loyal fan following at Sydney’s Argyle, Ministry of Sound Club and Marquee, and joining festival loops at Stereosonic and Future Music. Her talent has travelled across Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia in support of Martin Garrix, Aluna George, Ed Sheeran, Bliss N Eso, Showtek and Sander Van Doornas.

JESABEL became Australia's first female DJ to mix a Ministry of Sound Compilation CD and in 2015, was signed to iconic dance music label, Ministry of Sound Australia.

Featuring on MTV as a television host and as a personality for MTV’s ‘It Girls’ series, and official DJ for Nova, Channel 9 and Channel 10 at multiple events, JESABEL has also hosted her own radio show weekly on iHeart Radio’s iHeart Dance station, interviewing some enormous electronic talent including Pete Tong on his world renowned ‘Ibiza Classics’ orchestral tour.

JESABEL took time out of her very busy schedule to answer some questions for Music Festivals Australia ahead of her scheduled performance on UMF stage at Ultra Australia Sydney, March 7th.

How do you prepare yourself for an event like Ultra Australia?

I’m actually preparing for quite a few weeks leading up to an event like Ultra. While the performance aspect will come pretty naturally, track selection is the most important thing. Leading up I’ve been testing new music finds at my club gigs, seeing what works and what the crowd is loving. I’m producing up some edits and putting together my set list. I like to capture as much content from the day as possible so I have a videographer/photography team coming along. I’ve been briefing them so we capture exactly what we need.

What can we expect from your upcoming performance at Ultra Australia, 2020?

I really like to keep things different and not only give the crowd the best time but also educate them in a way too. You will hear a lot of different genres – house, bass house, electro with a few classics thrown in there too. It makes the set so much fun for the crowd!

What is your favourite track to perform live?

Anything that the crowd can sing along to can be really unifying so they are always fun to play. A track like ‘Free Your Body’ Chris Lake & Solardo or ‘Work’ by Chris Lorenzo go nuts! ‘Pump it up’ by Endor is also a killer tune to play – the crowd loves it.

Apart from your own, which set are you most looking forward to at Ultra Australia in 2020?

How can you just choose one?! The line up is sick. Deborah De Luca, Zedd and Eric Prydz are it for me. So keen to watch those guys.

If you could collaborate with any artist on a stage like Ultra, who would it be?

Ooooo tough question! Too many. Probably, CamelPhat, Chris Lake, Mark Knight or Meduza. So much talent in the guys.

After Ultra Australia, 2020, what’s next?

Music production and my first release hopefully! I’m working non-stop on this at the moment and loving every minute just discovering my sound. There is also a podcast or two in the works – loving putting these together. There is also lots of shows coming in 2020! There is no slowing down here. Having the time of my life!

Article by Pieta Clarke

Images courtesy of Lucky Entertainment