Jaguar exudes positivity: it’s positively part of her DNA. She enjoys the company of fellow music-loving humans and has a can-do attitude that’s seen her traverse various areas of the music industry, from radio production and party promoter to writer, presenter and of course as a DJ both on Radio 1 and bi-weekly on Reprezent and across Europe as part of her burgeoning DJ career on the road and in the rave. An active member of the LGBTQ+ community, she’s just launched her own party brand Utopia – a perfect moment of togetherness, colourful sounds and friendly faces. Like almost everything she’s involved with, she’s super-excited about it. She’s part of a D.I.Y. generation with the ability to do anything and everything, and for Jaguar and her peers, that is exactly what they aim to do. It’s no accident that she has set up a busy WhatsApp group bubbling with daily ideas and ideals for budding and up-and-coming artists, young industry-heads and most importantly, those who love music discover. Jaguar has played an integral part in launching the careers of Prospa, TSHA, Blueprint, India Jordan, Effy and James Organ. In the end, it all comes back to that sense of community.
“The DIY generation,” she muses. “Well, for my generation, there’s so much at our fingertips. You can do anything and everything! These days you’re not just a producer, DJ or presenter: everything is blurred! And I find that there’s a nice community spirit and people want to work together, which is really positive.” As we speak midway through March, the world, as you will have noticed, has changed considerably. And that might be the understatement of the century. But like her peers, Jaguar remains positive about the creative ideas that are being conjured day by day. Does she think things will get better? “I hope so. I’m amazed that artists are so motivated! People seem to be excited about having time to do stuff. My WhatsApp group now has 150 people in it and we communicate in that all the time to share positive outlooks for the future.”
Of course, you could say the same about Jaguar’s own career. Still in her early 20s, she’s just announced her own show on BBC Radio 1: BBC Introducing Dance. It’s designed solely for Jaguar to continue to showcase the next wave of emerging electronic producers on the UK’s primary station. It is a new home for undiscovered dance music that will undoubtably be the genesis for many new acts on Radio 1. We also can’t not mention her other role over at Mixmag, where she’s also the ever-popular smiley-faced presenter of the Lab in London, hosting everyone from Erick Morillo to Hot Since 82. She’s quick to recognize that what she does is part of who she is, and something she takes quite seriously. “Giving someone a platform, an opportunity, that’s how I am. It’s part of my life and I love it.” Jaguar is quick to point to the success of Prospa and ABSOLUTE as examples of how she’s used that platform. “In the end, it’s about connecting with other humans.”
But let’s rewind a little bit. Now 25, this DJ and tastemaker is originally from The Channel Islands. “I grew up in a small place called Alderney where there are 2,000 people! I went to boarding school and it’s been a really cool journey. You can be from a random small place and still enjoy the ride if you have the vision.” Back in 2014, Jaguar was an intern at Radio 1, a position she applied for herself and was surprised to get. “I did student radio in Leeds, and applied as an intern, because it just looked fun – and then I got it! Spent two months working on Annie Mac’s show and at 1Xtra and it was a radio crash course.” She is, naturally, still obsessed with music and radio. That obsession led her to host her own show on London station Reprezent Radio, where Jaguar fast grew her name as a tastemaker, welcoming the likes of Haai, La Fleur and DJ Boring all before their rise to prominence. That came coupled with a stint at Mixmag a year later, and she realized that her groove and lane was honed down to electronic music. “To become the host of The Lab was a HUGE thing.” It was, she says, “an honour.”
She’s excited about the future too. Jaguar wants her Radio 1 show to be about giving opportunities to undiscovered and emerging UK artists, by helping them break out into the scene. She will be an authentic, trusted voice for the next generation of electronic music artists, and will continue to be passionate about unearthing cutting-edge new dance music that she finds through a multitude of sources, not least that WhatsApp group. That new show has just been announced on Radio 1 and as she rightly says, “Stuff is changing. More women are being given opportunities. I have a lot of female-identifying friends like Heléna Star and EFFY and there’s a real nice sisterhood vibe. I’m very positive and I feel things are changing.” The new show on Radio 1 is the first proper step towards being a serious mainstream cultural commentator, not just in dance music but just music full stop. But if there’s one comment she makes that resonates the most as we come to a close, it’s probably this one. “Being with humans dancing to great music is the best.” Rave on.