A conversation with Jess Bays.
As UltraMaroon’s second guest from the UK this year, Jess Bays comes to our house for the big finish to her first North American tour. Having made her mark on decks at Ministry of Sound, Printworks, and WeAreFSTVL as well as in Croatia, Brazil, and Ibiza; Bays is bringing her sound to the world as she also prepares for her first Australia/NZ/Fiji tour that begins December 8. Her work as a producer has been recognized on labels including Defected, Stress Records, Warner, Polydor, EMI, Armada, Dvine Sounds, and Good Company before going on to start her own imprint, Superstore Records. She is a star on the rise that we can’t wait to share with you on Sunday, Nov. 12, at UltraMaroon.
DXD: You’re on your North American tour now, making stops in Houston, San Fran, and Toronto before closing it out with us at UltraMaroon. How does it feel to be at this point in your career to be touring across the pond?
JB: It genuinely still doesn’t feel real! For UK artists especially, crossing over into American territory is such a bucket list moment and I feel so grateful to be doing it! Big love for having me – I’m still pinching myself!
DXD: An interview with Beatportal describes that pivotal moment when you went to the Defected tent at We Are FSTVL 2013 and first heard Sam Divine spinning. Ten years later, what is your biggest takeaway from how house music has influenced your life?
JB: I literally live and breathe house music. It’s the most addictive industry to be part of because it’s forever evolving and changing. The biggest take away from it over the last ten years is to sleep when you can! Haha.
DXD: You’ve hosted radio shows with BBC RADIO 1, Capital Dance and Rinse FM, along with guest spots on several other notable shows. Is there anything you enjoy doing for radio that you perhaps can’t do for a live show?
JB: I love radio! It’s got a special space in my heart. I don’t currently have a show but it’s top of my list 2024! The airwaves connect people together!
DXD: You started producing music in 2020 during lockdown and have found much success on that side as well. Did you already have your sights set on production or was that a reaction to dance floors closing? Or both?
JB: I always wanted to try production, but the pandemic forced my hand and we were shut in our homes; it was the only way I could let my music brain function! So I’m grateful in a weird way for that moment of breathing space for my creativity.
DXD: You founded Superstore Records in 2022 in partnership with Good Company Records. What strikes you most for a Superstore release.
JB: Superstore was created in my mind because I tiptoe between genres of house, in a superstore you can get anything you want, right? So Superstore Records for me was always going to be about creating a platform to bring through new artists of different sounds, but always paying homage to the deep house element.
DXD: What do you feel makes the UK such a strong tastemaker in the global dance music industry despite being a smaller market in general size?
JB: The UK loves to party! It’s such a small country, but the power behind it in terms of music is flawless. We appreciate music for what it is.
DXD: Queer artists tend to have a harder time breaking into the industry at large. As someone that has gone beyond that onto the global stage, do you feel that there are headwinds against or gatekeeping around queer artists breaking through? Has it impacted how you've approached taking gigs or marketing yourself in the world of house music?
JB: Personally I’ve never had any shade thrown on me for my sexuality throughout my whole career. If you go to the right parties that accept who you are and what you are about, for example Defected Records and Glitterbox, it’s full inclusion! Just be yourself. House music is about love!
DXD: Is there an artist/track/set that has been inspiring you lately?
JB: An artist that’s been inspiring me at the moment is Alex Mills. She’s the voice of some of your favourite Sonny Fodera records and has come through now as a DJ too. Big ups my girl.
DXD: What are you looking forward to most about your upcoming set at UltraMaroon?
JB: I can’t wait to see the venue, NYC, and the culture. I’ll be bringing my best set of records for you to close my tour so best believe it will be super special!
Thank you Jess Bays! Follow her on Instagram and Soundcloud. You can hear her on Sunday, Nov. 12 as she joins Someone From Berlin with an opening set by Mitch Ferriono for UltraMaroon at Blue Midtown. Doors open at 5pm. Get your tickets here.
Xx,
DavidXDaisy