Interview #171 — Jade Zoe

by yeo

Jade Zoe is a DJ, presenter and event curator based in Naarm/Melbourne. Her dancefloor-friendly sets span R&B, hip hop, dancehall, grime, pop, and everything in between. Her scorecard lists numerous European residencies and festival performances alongside her presenting work, which has seen her interview the biggest names in the music industry.

Jade is currently studying Chinese medicine and acupuncture. She presents House Party with Triple J.

She spoke to Yeo about work ethic, quizzing Craig David, and managing expectations.

Your resume outs you as a globetrotting multitasker. Proving yourself in a singular pursuit is an achievement on its own, yet you’ve established a career that traverses many. To me and many others in our scene, your longevity is inspiring. How have things evolved, and what’s your source of motivation?

When I first started DJ-ing, it was just for fun. I never thought I could make a career out of it or that it would provide so many opportunities. I’ve been really lucky. While I’ve grown as a DJ, so too have the aspects of the industry. Growing up, I never saw DJs in restaurants, shopping malls or in advertising campaigns and such. This kind of thing is common now, which is great because there are more types of work—not just in clubs and touring.

I especially love DJ-ing store openings because so many young girls come up to me and ask about my work. Sometimes they mention that I’m the first woman they’ve seen DJ. I believe it's really important for young girls to see women in all types of work, so they know they can achieve anything they want to. That’s one of my sources of motivation. The other is music itself. There is so much great music being made and I love sharing it. I love the reaction from the crowd when you play a banger. It's really fun and I still really enjoy DJ-ing so much.

Let’s rewind to the genesis of your relationship with music. Jamming to your mum’s cassettes, kicking it in high school with a discman, learning drums and sneaking into underage gigs—it sounds like the trailer for the teen movie I needed in the early 2000s. What role did your Malaysian Chinese heritage play in your earlier musical years?

Only recently did I realise how much my mixed background has affected my sense of identity and how I see myself. I’ve always been proud of being Asian. Raised by a strong and independent Chinese mother, I grew up proud of my culture and loving the traditions that came with it. Being half-Asian, I’ve realised that even though I love my culture, I feel constant pressure to prove that I belong to that world. This has influenced me to preserve my traditions and culture in the hope that one day people will stop saying, ‘You don’t look Asian.’

On reflection, I see your point. Music was a parallel, independent passion which spoke to my soul when nothing else could. I’d like to unpack your realisation of the effects of being of mixed race. Can you describe it? Like, was there a moment?

The realisation that I had embodied a ‘halfie’ identity–being one half Malaysian Chinese and the other half white Australian–has been complex. When I think about the work I've done over the years, I notice I've never really focused on just one thing. I’ve always had multiple interests or jobs. I draw lines of influence between this behaviour and my simultaneous existence in two separate cultural worlds. It feels like this energy flows through many other aspects of my life too.

I love reading about people's experiences, but unfortunately there is less visibility of stories from individuals of mixed race. The first time I heard another mixed Asian person speak out was at the launch of the first issue of LIMINAL. Melanie Cheng shared her piece On Liminality and it was so relatable. It was like she had read aloud something I’d written, and I was almost in tears because I felt validated. Finally, I’d heard someone share thoughts, experiences and emotions similar to my unspoken own.

Circling back to my question about your early years, what eventually led you to really pursue your career in music, events and media?

I was quite ambitious from a young age but felt lost because I didn't know what I wanted to do or be. After falling into DJ-ing, I kept with it because I really enjoyed it and it led me to more opportunities while I was still figuring out my life. Eventually I moved to London. While working there, I was inspired by the parties being thrown and I decided I'd start my own when I came back to Melbourne. I was sick of the all-male lineups and wanted to highlight the women here because there are so many amazing non-male DJs.

You’re always bursting with creativity when it comes to fostering engagement and effective collaboration between brands, artists, promoters, and venues. How do you bridge the challenging gaps between the conception, development, and execution of an idea?

When I decide to do something, it consumes me, which is not necessarily a good thing. I go from zero to 100 really quick! I don’t see challenges between the conception, development, and execution when I’m putting something together on my own. The main challenge I have is working with other people that don’t share my vision. I was brought up with a strong work ethic, so the issues arise when I work with people who don’t have the same drive. In saying that, I know I sometimes expect too much from people or I am too full-on.

Being able to reflect, acknowledge and understand who you are and how you work is necessary to form successful collaborations between individuals. People are so different and work differently, so being able to understand each other and adapt is super important.

Take us through a career highlight.

Interviewing Alicia Keys and Craig David. I just never ever imagined I would even be in the same room with either of them, let alone interview them! Craig David is one of my all-time favourite artists. I grew up listening to him, so it was a full-circle moment doing the interview. It was also wild to find out that we share the same favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I highly recommend it!

There’s no hiding your passion in advocating for diversity, especially your strong focus on women of colour. All progress is valuable when it comes to dismantling the societal structures of our white, male-dominated workplace. How do you approach these issues?

I’m honestly still learning how to approach these issues. I tend to react quickly without thinking and sometimes that is not the most beneficial way. A friend recently taught me to pause and reflect. In taking time to gather my thoughts and digest everything, I can give a more helpful response that will move things forward. It can be frustrating at times to work with people who have huge egos. I’ve been in spaces where men have shot down my ideas like they are garbage and then literally five minutes later, make the exact same suggestions as their own ideas. Depending on the situation, my reaction to this can differ. If I want to keep the peace; if what I need done outweighs my own ego, I will let it slide. However, on occasion, I’ve also shut it down and called these men out.

It’s important to speak up about these issues, but as a woman, you have to pick your battles wisely. It's too easy to be labeled a diva, difficult to work with, emotional, or a straight-up bitch. You’re expected to be nice and in a good mood all the time, otherwise you’re considered rude and unapproachable. It’s tiring to approach these issues, but it needs to be done and I truly appreciate every person who has had to deal with them before me.

In saying that, I’ve been in DJ-ing for so long and I’m lucky to have experiences with men who actually care about dismantling these societal structures, and men who truly respect and uplift women.

You’ve seen and done it all–vinyl, CDs, USBs, Serato, annoying dudes coming up to the booth, power failures, unpaid invoices, and so on. If time-travel were a thing, how would Jade from today coach DJ Jade Zoe before her first set at Favela Rock?

Little Jade Zoe would never have imagined that she’d still be DJ-ing now, nor all the opportunities she’d be given. I was lucky to start DJ-ing with a friend, so we had each other for our first set. I don’t think I would have said anything different to my younger self, because it all worked out and here I am. I guess I’d just tell her to keep trusting herself, because it’s really going to pay off and life is going to be sick.

Looking to the future, you’re currently studying to be a doctor of Chinese medicine. Why did you choose to explore this path?

I never pictured myself being a DJ forever. In the context of my upbringing, creative work wasn’t really seen as a valid option. I always knew I had to do something afterwards. It just took me a while to figure that out. Before studying Chinese medicine, I’d had acupuncture and I was pretty intrigued by it. I was also intrigued by the theory behind Chinese medicine. When I started studying it at university, a lot of what I was learning I already knew from growing up with a Chinese mother. It was so cool to already feel connected to it. Looking back, I think another reason I chose this path ties into my desire to prove my Chinese identity. It’s probably something I should discuss with a therapist, but I feel like it has set me on the right path.

Do you have any advice for emerging DJs, producers, event curators, or presenters?

A friend once gave me advice about DJ-ing. She said, 'work hard and get so good that no one can mess with you, or say shit.’ This is true to an extent, depending on individual privilege and circumstance. Whichever craft you choose, work hard and consistently. It will inevitably pay off. Stay humble and be polite. No one wants to work with an entitled and arrogant person—no matter how good you are. The way you treat people is a big factor in whether you will be booked again. Manifest it, draw a vision board or make a list of goals. You can make them as huge and wild as you like. The bigger the better! You can’t achieve what you want if your desires are unclear. If you’re unsure of your goals or what you want to do, that’s ok!

It took me a while to figure it out. You can start by writing down what you don’t want to do. Once you know what you don’t want, it starts to get easier to figure out what you do want. Focus on yourself. Don’t compare yourself to others and their achievements. You usually only see the great things going on in people’s lives from social media, so you’re comparing your whole life to someone’s small snapshot of good things. You can use other people’s achievements for inspiration, but don’t use it for comparison. Be grateful for opportunities and be nice. We all have bad days, but you don’t know what someone might be going through, so don’t be an asshole.

Who are you inspired by?

People who are trying to create change, push boundaries and fight for a seat at the table to make a difference. I’m honestly so obsessed with Oprah and find her so inspiring. I appreciate her existence so much. I’m inspired by women. The older I get, the more I realise how tiring it is to be one in this world. I admire all women for making it work, getting it done and living their life how they choose. I admire the strength of women and I am inspired by the strength of women.

What are you listening to?

At the moment, I’m listening to some local artists that I believe everyone should be listening to! Pookie, Jessica Jade, Vetta Borne, Jordan Dennis, FOURA and Clypso. And also, piano covers of K-pop songs.

What are you reading?

I’m trying to finish a Chinese medicine book I started four years ago: The Web That Has No Weaver.

How do you practice self-care?

It varies. Meditating, running, doing acupuncture on myself, listening to Eric Nam’s Runaway on repeat, lying in the sun, hanging out with my dog, eating a whole pizza and watching Netflix. I also practice gratitude. I used to be quite a negative person in my early twenties, and it took a long time for me to change my mindset. I found that it really helped to look for things to be grateful for, no matter how small. My life isn’t always going to be a happy one and when it’s not, I am able to see the positive side, regardless of the situation; because of the gratitude I have now.

What does being Asian-Australian mean to you?

It’s the privilege of being a part of two worlds, even if sometimes those worlds don’t see me. In my mind, it’s incredible and I love my culture. Yet, Asian-Australians still aren’t represented here like we should be. There are hardly any Asians in the mainstream media. When I walk around, I see so many different Asian cultures, and yet on TV, their visibility is minute. So, to be Asian-Australian is to know we exist. We are Australian, yet we are still on the outer and not really accepted.

It means that even though I don’t speak my mother tongue, I’m still Asian. The experience of racism growing up as an Asian-Australian meant that it was easier to only be taught English. Being Asian-Australian has its great sides but also its complexities. To be born here, and yet, to be told to go back to your country. To be asked ‘where are you really from?’, when I’m from here. It’s to realise and accept that the majority believe ‘real’ Australians can’t be anything other than white. I've been thinking about this term a lot recently and I'm still not sure how I feel about it.