DJING... good electronic house music!
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In 2008, DJ and producer Jo Mills managed to pack more action into her schedule during the summer season than others pack into an entire career. But this is simply business as usual for Jo – jet setting across the globe simultaneously spending time in the studio and holding down one of the most highly coveted residencies in Ibiza.
Pete Tong’s Wonderland residency at Eden was Ibiza’s number one summer success story and Jo was as much a key player behind the scenes on the project as she was behind the decks. Making the most of the opportunity to host her own room, Jo was at the helm of ‘The Looking Glass’, while Groove Armada hosted ‘The Lovebox’ and Tong controlled the main room. From developing the concept and consulting .., décor and sound to programming the music and of course, headlining the room each week, this was a welcome challenge for the long-time Ibiza resident, consistently in high demand worldwide.
‘It was fantastic hosting my own room after so many years of playing as a resident in Ibiza,’ she says. ‘It was refreshing to create my own vibe and build a stable of DJs – the intimate atmosphere meant we always had a brilliant party with upfront and underground music, with classics thrown in for good measure.’ Plans are already underway to continue working with the Wonderland team in 2009, expanding on The Looking Glass brand and continuing with its winning format.
Jo describes her trademark style as house music with depth and fluidity. ‘I love deep, techy house with good grooves, rhythms and melodies and I enjoy building my sets to draw people in as I play - I love to keep the dance floor moving.’ It’s this style that has seen Jo maintain an extremely loyal fan base over the years, ensuring she is constantly invited to return to her favourite venues across the globe.
A regular on the European club circuit, 2008 saw Jo play standout gigs for Tribehouse in Dusseldorf, Superfreq at Southampton’s Junkclub, the legendary Coco Rico in Italy, House and Terrace’s first birthday party in London, Le Follies de Pigalles Halloween party at Raggio Emille, a full moon party at Ibiza’s infamous Las Dalias Hippy Market amongst others and she is looking forward to spinning in the new year at Glasgow’s Byblos, followed by a string of dates across the UK.
Gaining her extensive musical knowledge during the early 90s at London’s famous Flying Records working alongside DJs such as Clive Henry, Rocky, Ashley Beedle and many other talented artists, Jo’s success comes as no surprise. Becoming a DJ wasn’t her intention but between work and regular visits to Soho’s Flying Club, it was only natural Jo developed the desire to ‘put two tunes together,’ as she describes it, citing DJ Pierre and his Wild Pitch sound along with Strictly Rhythm as her original influences.
It wasn’t long before Jo became a regular behind the decks at the infamous Sunday afternoon Full Circle parties alongside heavyweights Deep Dish and Tony Humphries, going on to warm up for some of the biggest names in dance music, including Danny Tenaglia, Roger Sanchez, Sneak and David Morales.
By the late 90s, it was the dawn of a new era for DJs, when they began travelling all over Europe to play some of the greatest clubs in the world. For Jo, this was when she went from part-time DJ to professional, scoring main sets all across Europe - from Denmark, Amsterdam and Italy to the island she now calls home permanently, Ibiza.
After gracing the decks at almost every major club, including Pacha, Space, Cream and Dance Valley at Amnesia, it was clear Jo – who was awarded the coveted Best Ibiza Electro DJ Award at the M8 Ibiza Dance Awards in 2006 - had firmly stamped her mark on the island. In 2001 she began the famous weekly Circo Loco residency that would span five years and propel her to the next level, giving her the opportunity to tour the world over. Miami’s Winter Music Conference, Serbia’s Exit Festival and London’s SW4 are just some of the unique places Jo has wowed audiences and from South Africa to South America, Asia to Australia, Mexico, the USA, Canada and even Russia, her popularity is continually increasing, meaning annual world tours are becoming a regularity.
Not content with simply spinning in the world’s greatest clubs, it is in the studio where Jo’s musical talent flourishes and 2009 looks set to be a big year for her production-wise. Naming contemporaries such as Jamie Jones, Steve Lawler, Tigerskin, Bookashade and Sebo K as inspirations, Jo is currently producing with Tomas Hedberg under the name Fearless Ears.
Her most recent studio credit is a remix of her successful track Dancing In The Dark, alongside Matti Schwartz as 4Tune500. With remixes by Hedberg and Kamishake also receiving rave reviews, it’s easy to see why the track has been signed to over 30 compilations and sold 15 000 copies worldwide, played by everyone from Radio 1’s Pete Tong to Circo Loco’s Cirillo. Previous studio credits include tracks under the monikers Pyroplastic Soul, Gingergrooves, Hill Sixty and a successful track with Steve Mac called House Arrest released on Junior Boy’s Own.
Jo has a string of compilations to her name, including Pacha Ibiza 2001 - mixed alongside legendary Pacha icon Pipi - followed by the first (often cited as the ultimate) DC10 Circo Loco mix, with good friend Cirillo. In 2001 this album went to number one, selling 7000 copies in Ibiza alone in its first three days. In 2007 Jo was invited as the international guest DJ to mix the latest Attica Shanghai compilation meaning her fans around the world can continually get a taste of Jo’s notorious underground house sound.
With plans in the works for a radio show, global tour dates and moving forward with The Looking Glass for 2009, there’s no slowing down for Jo Mills heading into the new year. And she wouldn’t want it any other way…
roight luv? Nice to see you, great night, I ended it with MGMT 'electric feel' and then did a karaoke version of Madonna "get into the groove"...singing into my shoe. Madness. I love Lithuanians. hope ur good! x
