“Genreless at heart, heavy on the bass!”, reads Tailor Jae’s IG bio. Fresh off the back of a successful summer, the rising name DJ is making her way through the crowds and shining as one of the big names in London’s night scene. Hailing from East-London, she’s got a crowd-favourite Boiler Room concert in her pockets, along with a handful of standout performances.
Now, she’s setting the grounds for even bigger projects, unveiling her forthcoming new HOTB (Heavy On The Bass) brand launch in 2024, and a new single, “The Wheel”, that presents an audio experience that captures the essence of her journey and her profound connection to East London’s musical heritage. On the same note, she also unveils her new show with Rinse FM, a place for experimenting with different sounds and exploring the depths of her artistry.
Here, we connect with Tailor Jae to discuss her new musical endeavours, standout career moments and what’s to come in 2024.
Listen to “The Wheel”…
Read the interview…
What inspires you to create?
A lot of my inspiration comes from being in the club and experiencing tunes that make me go crazy. It might be a bass drop or a groove and that always inspires me to take the feelings felt during those moments home, and channel them into my own ideas. I’m also quite an emotional person, so depending on certain emotions I may be experiencing, I can be lead at times to put those feelings down somehow.
How did you first find your passion for production?
In all honesty, production isn’t necessarily a passion for me, it’s more a side of things I felt I should do because the industry sort of makes you think you have too in order to get far. That’s the raw honest truth. However as I have began to let go of the expectations of the industry I’ve now began to find the passion in it by looking at it as a way of sharing a part of myself with others in a more personal way. Less so about producing for an outcome and more of a way of garnering connections with other producers and the fans – a way of giving back and creating memories.
How did you start to build a fan base for yourself?
I’d say when I ask a lot of people how they discovered me it’s often from a clip I’ve posted online. Very early on in my career, before tik tok lol, i’d always make a lot of short clips of myself djing or doing cool tricks on the decks and share them online. I think a lot of my fans appreciate my passion for djing and can see that I view it beyond just playing music but actually using my tools to deliver the music in a unique way. Creating mixes as well as my live streams have been really instrumental in growing my fan base too! Winning the Mixmag DJ competition and playing a lab in particular was a great starting point and then my first Keep Hush set as well also helped too.
How would you describe the essence of your sound?
My sound is raw. I’d say very gritty, very London. There’s a certain energy I believe you pick up and exude depending on your environment and where you grew up, being from Newham particularly I know there’s certain vibrations and frequencies that resonate with me more. I think that definitely can be felt and heard in my sound.
What’s been your standout three shows to date?
Of course my Boileroom is number one that’s because of how much it took for me to do it. I almost didn’t go through with it because I was dealing with a lot personally and mentally and felt I couldn’t give my best. But I’m grateful to have done it, I had a great time and so many memories and connections were created that day, it also taught me that there’s an inner strength I didn’t know I had. I especially loved the close interaction with the crowd feeling and experiencing their energy is such close proximity made it all the more special.
Number two is getting the call to open for Chase and Status at Koko Camden for their ‘What Came Before’ album launch party. I got the email a few days before whilst at work and I couldn’t believe it. I’d been such a massive fan from such a young age, I went to a show of theirs on my own because I didn’t have anyone to go with lol, I had the best time. I always knew in my heart of hearts I’d either meet them or work with them in some capacity. So to be told that I was opening for them was sick. I also then got to open up for them at their sold out Outernet show so I guess that’s joint 2nd.
Number 3 is Getting the invite to play Fabric Room 1 for JME’s GrimeMC FM. It’s funny because I was going to go the event as a fan anyway. And then the night before I got the message asking if I’d want to play room 1 and of course it was a no brainier. I grew up on grime and it’s a genre that means so much to me and is responsible for why I dj and my style of djing in particular. It was great to be among people I class as my heroes, I get so much inspiration from them. A whole sound and movement was built off of such DIY creativity and it paved the way for so many today. On top of that having Maximum play one of my tunes and Jammer spitting on it, made my night. Epic.
Talk us through your new show on Rinse FM?
My show is called “ Heavy on the Bass” with Tailor Jae, which is an extension of the Tailor Jae brand. I’ve always said if I do radio it’s because I want to do something different that’s not being done or just in a different way. The show is gonna be a great way to express the music that I resonate with but also a side of me that I don’t necessarily get to share through playing in clubs. Radio is intimate , it allows for more of your personality to be experienced so I’m looking forward to sharing lots of myself, music and giving a platform to artists that deserve to be heard.
You can catch me every 2nd Friday of the month 6-7pm (GMT).
What does the platform mean to you?
It’s great. When Rinse was a pirate radio station it pioneered a lot grime and underground sounds. It allowed local artist djs and MCs to hone their sound and skills and grow into who they are today. I have a lot of respect for the risks taken to get that station to exist. It’s now a legit station but the sentiment is the same. I look forward to honing my skills on the platform and using it to be a beacon for other people like myself who want to express themselves authentically and share their music around the world. It’s an honour.
Talk us through the creation of your new single “The Wheel”?
It’s a track that combines a little bit of everything heavy bass, modern breaks and a nostalgic sample that resonates with me growing up a kid in East London. It was inspired by the energy I felt in my Boiler Room, the energy in that room was insane and I wanted to make a track that exudes the same energy. It’s one of the first tracks I completed fairly seamlessly. I’ve had an uphill battle with trusting my ideas, it was actually down to some close friends of mine that this is being released finally lol, they convinced me and i’m excited to be able to share it.
What are you trying to convey with the new track?
I guess that there are no rules. I coin myself as being genreless at heart, heavy on the bass. I think this track conveys that perfectly, because I wouldn’t say it’s programmed in the most typical way. It combines different elements and genres all in one.
What’s to come from you this year?
Of course more radio shows. I’ve got quite a few nice dj sets rolling in for 2024 Sharing my brand extension – Heavy On The Bass – which will consist of radio, curation of events and merch. The aim is to collaborate with brands and create unique moments. It’s a movement that I want to be a hub for expression without rules. It definitely isn’t going to be for everyone. I don’t want any industry rules dictating or surrounding it. No pretentious opinions or energy will be tolerated, just pure vibes. The hope is to curate for stages at festivals and work with brands in the UK and internationally, creating community.
There will also be more music. I have been collaborating over the past year as well so hopefully those ideas will be shared too! Keep ‘em peeled!