Jazzy on Longitude: “I’ve never seen Central Cee, so I’m excited for him. And my brothers Belters Only of course!”

Jazzy has had to start taking notes, she tells me – with tongue only slightly in cheek – just to consciously capture, and remember, everything that’s happening around her. That gives you some idea of the whirlwind of milestone moments the Dublin dance-pop star is currently in the midst of.

“It really has been crazy,” she reflects. “Sometimes I struggle to remember it all, because things happen so fast.”

Following hugely successful collaborations with her friends Belters Only, last year saw Jazzy step into the spotlight as a serious talent in her own right. Our interview coincides with the one-year anniversary of her debut solo single ‘Giving Me’ going No.1.

“That has to be my highlight,” she nods. “It’s the statistic of becoming the first female Irish artist to be No.1 here in 14 years – that’s mad to me.”

Her Constellations EP followed soon after, and the accolades have continued to pour in ever since – including two big wins at the Choice Music Prize in March, for both Irish Artist of the Year and Irish Breakthrough Artist.

Jazzy at the RTE Choice Music Prize 2024. Copyright Peter O'Hanlon.

“I had a great night out to celebrate,” Jazzy recalls. “The Belters boys had a lovely table set for us. It was so nice to be able to dedicate those awards to them, because they gave me my first shot in the game.”

There’s been plenty of international attention too, including a spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Europe List, and nominations for the BRITs and the Ivor Novello Awards. But the Crumlin-raised artist has always found time to support her community in Dublin – recently putting together a special one-off show in Dublin’s 3Olympia Theatre, in aid of Children’s Health Foundation.

“That show was so important to me, for so many reasons,” she tells me. “I realised that, with all my DJing and club shows, I hadn’t done something for the young crowd who’ve supported me from the start. So I knew I wanted to do something they could come to with their families. I did a meet and greet for the charity too, I got to meet lots of them and take some selfies. I loved it.

“We raised a lot of money for the charity,” she adds. “It’s great to be able to give something back in that way. I actually wound up in Crumlin Children’s Hospital myself when I was kid – I only remembered when I went to visit the kids there before the show, and we stopped by A&E!”

Jazzy’s currently gearing up for another seriously busy festival season with a healthy mix of “excitement and fear…”

Jazzy supporting Becky Hill at Virgin Media Park, Cork, 14 June 2024. Copyright Trevor McGrath/hotpress.com

“I get scared looking at the diary these days, so I try my best not to look more than a week ahead,” she admits. “But I know there’s a lot of travel in the next few months, and I’m ready for it. I can’t wait to see all these different places and faces.”

One of the highlights of her summer schedule – alongside multiple appearances in Ibiza – is her Longitude set, having put on one of the stand-out performances of the festival in 2023.

“Last year, my label presented me with the first platinum plaque and No.1 trophy for ‘Giving Me’ backstage at Longitude,” Jazzy notes. “That was special. They said it had gone three-times platinum by the time the plaque had been made, which is so funny. And now we’re at ten!”

Given her position at the forefront of a bold new wave of dance talent in Ireland, she agrees that having a world-class festival like Longitude in Dublin is crucial, to properly celebrate and recognise that culture.

“And what a buzz it is!” she says of the weekender. “It’s special to me because it’s a hometown show, but it’s probably special to every artist, even if they’re not local – because it’s such a great crowd.

“I’ve never seen Central Cee, so I’m excited for him,” she adds. “And my brothers Belters Only of course!”

Belters aren’t the only Jazzy collaborators on the bill. Australian house DJ Sonny Fodera, who she teamed up with last year on the track ‘Life Lesson’, is also set to play – as is UK sensation Cassö, who she recently joined forces with, alongside Tottenham rapper Headie One, on ‘Zeros’.

Another major star on the line-up is Becky Hill – who Jazzy supported at her massive Cork and Belfast shows this month. Would she be an inspiration to the Dublin artist, as a trailblazing woman in dance music?

“It goes without saying, really!” Jazzy enthuses. “She’s a force, and I’m so chuffed that she picked me for those big shows.”

While she’s already chasing Becky Hill impressively when it comes to chart success, Jazzy’s also been busy embracing her long-standing love of DJing on the side, by sharing her own series of GEWAH mixes online.

“We’re taking GEWAH global now,” she reveals. “We’ve done mixes in Los Angeles and Ibiza that are both coming soon. I’m going to try to film one every time I’m somewhere cool, then people can feel like they’re coming with me, and having a party in all of these places.”

But when it comes to her ultimate goals as an artist, Jazzy is, true to form, remaining loyal to her roots.

“Off the back of my charity show, and seeing all those young kids having the time of their lives in the crowd, I’ve realised I’d love to inspire something in the next generation with my music,” she reflects. “I’m proof that music can change worlds, and it was all because I was encouraged to pick up a violin in school. So maybe we can get some more young ’uns picking up instruments. I’d love that."

Jazzy plays Sea Sessions, Co. Donegal (June 21); Longitude, Co. Dublin (29), and Electric Picnic, Co. Laois (August 16-18).

Read our full Longitude Special in the current issue of Hot Press: