Jazzy: "I’d like to hope that someone will come after me who will want to be like Jazzy. That’s a nice thought!"

In just a year-and-a-half, Jazzy has broken more records, and made more international moves, than most artists could dream of in a lifetime. In 2022, she became part of one of Irish music’s most extraordinary success stories in years, by featuring on fellow Dublin dance act Belters Only’s chart-topping ‘Make Me Feel Good’ – which she followed up this year with her own single, ‘Giving Me’.

The solo track made Jazzy the first Irish female artist to go No.1 here in 14 years, as well as the first Irish woman to ever hit No.1 on the Spotify Ireland Top 50. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Irish Sea, ‘Giving Me’ reached the Top 3, and spent an impressive seven weeks in the Top 10.

But there’s no sense of ruthless, unyielding ambition driving the Crumlin star. In fact, one of the secrets to her success appears to be her remarkably easy-going nature. Her current mantra, she tells me is: “Tomorrow’s another day. Keep going with the flow…”

Now, as she marks another milestone in her career, with the release of her debut EP, Constellations, Jazzy reveals that, despite her chill demeanour, it’s been a major adjustment, coming to terms with her new career.

“I struggled a bit at the start,” she acknowledges. “When I first did the session with Belters, I hadn’t really done stuff like interviews before. I was quite timid and shy, so it was a big step for me. But when ‘Make Me Feel Good’ blew up, I just had to get over that.

“It was like being thrown into the deep end,” she adds. “Going into the studio with people you don’t know, trying not to be shy, and just getting the best you can out of the session. I decided I couldn’t let it beat me, and it was the best thing I could’ve done. I’m doing better stuff now, and I’m not shy or timid anymore. To be honest, you can’t really be, in this industry!”

Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

For Jazzy, the best way to deal with the sudden success – including hundreds of millions of streams, online stardom, and people regularly stopping her in the street  – has been to give herself time, and ensure she’s doing things her own way.

“The way it happened, with the No.1s, it was like, ‘Well, now I’m after setting the bar kind of high… and I need to keep it there!’” she remarks. “But it’s about not putting pressure on yourself.

“My way of dealing with it now is to not even really think about it,” she continues. “Or even let myself process it, because it can be scary when you think about it! So I try to just play it down.”

Constellations’ list of featured artists and collaborators – including production from Belters Only, Hannah Laing, D.O.D, Jacob Manson, Jordan Riley, and Karma Kid – also reflects just how far Jazzy has come.

“It’s been really surreal working with people who I’ve been listening to since I was younger,” she reflects. “So many people have gotten on to me through Instagram, it’s just crazy.

“I’ve spent the last year-and-a-half going into the studio with different producers, and you definitely have to vibe with people,” she continues. “You need to be 100% comfortable with them to get what you want out of the session. When you’re in the studio, there’s just a kind of air to it, when you make something special. Especially with Belters – they have a sixth sense for that kind of thing. They’ll go, ‘This is going to be big.’ And it does be!”

Jazzy first embraced music as a violinist, working through all her classical grades, and dreaming of finding success in a big orchestra. Growing up, her listening was largely confined to that classical world, as well as the reggae played in her house – especially John Holt, Bob Marley and UB40. Her first proper brush with dance music in a club didn’t come until she was 18.

Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

“I was a very good child, so I never went out, or went into a nightclub, before the age of 18,” she laughs. “I swear, hands up! So when I turned 18, my friend brought me out to my first nightclub, to see a DJ duo called Amine Edge & DANCE – and I just had the best time.

“After that night, I went straight onto YouTube, Spotify and SoundCloud, trying to find other songs I liked, that I’d listened to that night,” she adds. “I just fell in love with it, and it all stemmed from that first night out.”

Of course, Jazzy's been disappointed to see that Ireland's current golden age of dance music has come with a time when nightlife options in Dublin are rapidly dwindling – a subject Belters Only also discussed with Hot Press earlier this year.

"There’s not really enough support available for the amount of talented DJs and producers in Dublin at the moment," she says. "There’s nowhere for them to go. Even there a couple months ago, with Tramline closing down. That venue has been there for so long – I can’t believe that’s gone. I feel like the nightlife definitely needs more support from the community and the Government. It’s an important thing for everyone."

Another formative musical experience for Jazzy was her first gig: Nicki Minaj in the 3Arena. In a proper full-circle moment, Jazzy played there herself at the end of October, as Belters Only’s special guest. Did she dream she could be on that stage one day, when she was looking up at Nicki back then?

“Maybe in the back of my mind, but I don’t remember thinking that at the time – because I never thought that could happen,” she reflects. “But that’s why you have to trust your gut, and not be afraid to try things. Because you never know…”

Jazzy. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

While there’s an obviously strong line of Irish women in music who have come before Jazzy, when it comes to dance music in Ireland, she’s had to step up to the plate herself as a trailblazer.

“I feel I’ve definitely made a little bit of history with the No.1,” she smiles. “I’d like to hope that someone will come after me who will want to be like Jazzy. That’s a nice thought! But it’s crazy, in dance music around the world at the moment, how many women are absolutely killing it at the top of the charts, like Hannah Laing, Peggy Gou, and all these names.”

Thanks to her own success, Jazzy is now perfectly at home alongside those stars – despite having only quit her job at a Tesco bakery last year.

“I was still in Tesco when I heard ‘Make Me Feel Good’ went to No. 1,” she recalls. “I was making my croissants, and I got a phone call. That was one of the bigger milestones for me. Getting to leave my job when I got signed to the label was a big one as well, and kind of scary at the same time – because I didn’t know what was going to happen.”

And her family’s response?

“Even now, my ma understands it, but I don’t think she completely understands it,” she laughs. “But my family were like, ‘Just do it – because you’re probably never going to get this opportunity again.’

“I was actually really close with my manager in Tesco, and she was very sad to see me go – I was a great worker, I’ll say that much!” she adds. “But she always said, if I ever needed a job, I could come back. So it was just a case of having the confidence to go and give it a chance.”

Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

With some phenomenal accomplishments under her belt so far, Jazzy is hoping to plan a tour, and create a debut album, in the near future. But she also remains fixed firmly in the moment.

“I try not to stress myself out with things like that,” she says. “Stuff happens better naturally anyway, when you’re not writing it all down, and looking at it as a plan. I just let it come organically.”

• Constellations is out now. Jazzy supports Becky Hill at Musgrave Park, Cork (June 14) and Belsonic, Belfast (June 15).

Jazzy styled by Zeda The Architect