While playing out the best parties and generally having a riot of a time, house/techno visionaries Visionquest are quietly cultivating an immaculate reputation for discovering new talent and championing said talent on the VQ label. Enter protégé Laura Jones.
Laura is not quite your average DJ. Aged four, she was already tinkering a mix of jazz and classical music on the piano keys, a talent she nurtured for 12 years until taking up vocal tuition after university. The lady is trained in most genres from jazz to rock so has a sound ear when it comes to creating music magic. Throw in some DC10 inspiration and a spell in music college to polish her production skills and Laura’s ready to make her mark on the thriving UK house scene. To date she’s played Mulletover in London, Below in Birmingham and Asylum in Leeds. With Dan Ghenacia, Dyed Soundorom, Robert Dietz, James What and Sebo K all behind her, Laura is set to become one of the hottest young producers over the coming year.
Listen in to Laura’s exclusive mix for i-D online on the link to your right. It should have you shaking your tail feathers in anticipation of the fun filled summer months ahead!
Tell us about your musical upbringing and how you got into producing? It all started with classical piano lessons at the age of 4. I think the early introduction to music certainly made me more curious as to what else was out there so I also tried cello and clarinet, got involved in a school orchestra and eventually took up singing lessons years later. It wasn’t really until I discovered Ibiza in my late years of uni that the penny dropped with the whole DJ’ing and production thing. I was watching Tania Vulcano & Clive Henry play at DC10 which was the epicentre of a musical trend and almost like the paradise garage of our generation. It was all very inspiring, so much so that I took up DJ’ing a couple of years later in 2005. This was the first on the list then production followed naturally a couple of years after that, around 2007.
What sets you apart from the crowd as an artist? The things people say I stand out for most are my vocals and use of melodies. I’m still pretty new to production and still in the process of finding and developing that sound so maybe ask me this again in a couple of years! I think being classically trained from an early age is bringing a different perspective to my production for sure.
What does it mean to you to be part of the Visionquest family? So so much! I feel super fortunate to have them backing and supporting me. They’re the crew that are doing it for me more than any one else right now so it couldn’t have worked out better in all honesty.
What do you hope to achieve in the coming year? I’m currently working on my first artist EP’s for both Leftroom and Visionquest so the plan is to get those signed, sealed and out there while continuing to develop my sound with the use of my vocals. Then maybe even start looking toward doing my own live set, although that’s probably more a 2013 project once I have a few more releases under my belt. It’s good to set targets but I’m learning it’s not good or productive to put pressure on yourself so I’m happy to take each day as it comes and see where it takes me.
Who is your hero? Stevie Wonder without a doubt. I was told in 2008 that I’m losing my sight due to a genetic eye disorder and it was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to deal with. This time last year, I was ready to pack it all in until I saw Stevie perform at Glastonbury and to say it blew me away doesn’t come close. He is living proof of the fact you can do anything you want in life when you put your mind to it despite any obstacles that get thrown your way.
Where is your favourite place to party? It’s hard to pick one favourite. Ibiza will always hold a special place in my heart as it’s where I discovered it all and where I was inspired to do what I’m doing. But I also love Barcelona and Berlin and never fail to have an amazing time whenever I visit. To be honest, there are still so many places in the world that I’m yet to see let alone party in so this may very well change over the next few years. I’ve still not made it to Detroit yet and I’ve heard that’s meant to be a pretty amazing place to party so roll on the next few years and we shall see!
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