True House Stories® Youtube & Spotify Video Podcast
TRUE HOUSE STORIES W/ SMOKIN JO
Smokin Jo interview podcast hosted by Lenny Fontana # 135 - True House Stories®
Biography Smokin Jo
Smokin Jo is one of the most talented DJ’s to emerge from the British dance music scene, her undeniably cutting-edge sound has carved her a niche in clubland.
Jo has had a truly successful career and 35 years of experience, she has played at numerous renowned venues around the world, including Space/Hi (Ibiza and Miami), Fabric (London), Womb and Aghea (Tokyo), Panorama Bar (Berlin), Warung (Brazil), and Pacha, Crobar, and Vinyl (New York).
She is the only female DJ to have won DJ Magazine’s DJ of the Year Award. In recent years, she has played at events such as Glastonbury, Glitterbox at Hi Ibiza, Defected Croatia Festival, Pacha Ibiza, Cream Weekender, Clockwork Orange, and Fabric. She has also appeared in a documentary for Ministry of Sound and headlined the Ibiza Space final opening and closing parties.
Jo has written an autobiography called You Don’t Need A Dick To DJ, about her life growing up without music in the 70’s, through to her DJ career and the struggles with drink, drugs and life on the road being a black female DJ. The book is released on May 23rd 2024 on White Rabbit.
Jo has collaborated with iconic figures in the music, film, and fashion industries. She has opened for Grace Jones, played at The Pet Shop Boys’ end of tour party, Skunk Anansie’s album launch party, Smokin Jo’s expertise extends beyond music, as she has been invited to perform at various fashion shows and events. She has worked with renowned designers such as Alexander McQueen, Julien Macdonald, and Melissa Odabash. Notably, she had the honor of playing at Naomi Campbell’s villa party in tribute to the legendary Quincy Jones, further solidifying her reputation in the industry.
One of her career highlights was being flown to Prague by Daniel Craig to perform at the wrap party for his first James Bond film, “Casino Royale”. This was a significant achievement and a testament to her international credibility.
Jo’s DJ career began in 1990 when she noticed a lack of female DJs in the rave and illegal party scene. She bought her own decks and started mixing, with a preference for soulful tracks that take listeners on a journey. Her first gigs followed at fashion after-show parties, and she later gained a residency at the legendary after-hours party Trade. This led to bookings at various events and clubs, paving the way for her DJ of the Year Award.
She played in Ibiza for the first time in 1992 and quickly became a global sensation, regularly traveling around the world for gigs while maintaining a busy schedule in the UK. She was also involved in reporting on the Ibiza scene for Pete Tong’s Essential Selection on Radio 1.
In 2004/2005, Smokin Jo was part of the duo NastyDirtySexMusic, which gained a significant following and performed at We Love… Sundays at Space in Ibiza. Following NDSM, she co-promoted her own club night called “Nude” hosting parties in London and at Space in Ibiza. These parties were known for their outlandish performers and cutting-edge DJs.
With her energy and wealth of experience, Smokin Jo continues to make waves in the music industry, with many exciting things to come in the future.
