Jade Edwards, a DJ from Liverpool, has been making waves in the electronic music scene, and her journey began in a small studio flat in Manchester. Now, she's set to play at Glitterbox in her hometown next month, a goal she describes as a dream come true.
From University Decks to First Gigs
Edwards bought her first pair of mini decks at the end of 2021 while studying at university in Manchester. She didn't initially see it as a career path, but rather as a way to express her love for music. She started doing Instagram lives, playing music simply because she enjoyed it, before being asked to play a gig on New Year's Eve. From that point, she fell in love with DJing and realized it was something she could actually pursue.
Her breakthrough moment came when she was invited to headline for Pure House London. Being noticed by someone from London made her think, 'oh, OK, this actually could be a thing'.
Balancing DJing with Barista Work
Despite her success, Edwards still works part-time as a barista, a job she has held for about 13 years. She works at Kiku Hifi in Liverpool, a listening bar where she enjoys talking to people, making coffee, and playing tunes on turntables. She describes it as a perfect little job.
Over the past couple of years, she has played at major events like Creamfields and Forbidden Festival. Last month, she played at Djoon in Paris, a venue she first visited a year ago and described as 'my heaven on earth'. Being asked to play there a year later was 'insane' and a goal she didn't think would come to fruition so soon.
Touring with Annie Mac and Looking Ahead
Edwards has been touring with Radio 1 legend Annie Mac, whom she describes as the first female DJ she ever listened to. She calls the tour a dream and is still speechless about the opportunity, thanking Annie for being 'such a lovely woman' and 'an angel'.
Her upcoming Glitterbox gig in Liverpool is her first for the brand, and she says seeing her name on the poster made her realize it was actually going to happen. She promises a set with disco and soulful sing-alongs, hoping to create a space where people can be free and be themselves.
Looking to the future, Edwards would like to do her own events at some point and eventually produce music, but she doesn't want to force anything. She advises aspiring DJs to believe in themselves, stay true to their sound, and not follow trends. She also emphasizes the importance of making friends, going to parties, and being active in the scene.
Jade Edwards joins Purple Disco Machine, Disco Dom, Jayda G, and Ella Knight at Glitterbox at Blackstone Street Warehouse on November 14.
