Jax Jones is a force to be reckoned with. The South London born producer, DJ and songwriter has sold over 40 million records, garnered over 20 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and worked with a roster of artists that includes Bebe Rexha, Saweetie, and Charlie XCX. He’s topped the UK dance charts again and again with his house and electronic-focused bangers, and his latest single “Out Out” is no exception.
But Jones’ meteoric rise to the top of the charts hasn’t come easy. Sitting down for an exclusive interview with fellow DJ, Jodie Harsh, he says, “I got kicked out of my house because I wanted to pursue music, and I had a very turbulent upbringing. I don’t speak to my family. People always treat it like a tragedy but sometimes, if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. If I’m being honest you need a bit of shit in your life to get some drive, it’s hard to build drive if everything’s perfect.”
In Rollacoaster’s AW21 issue, the two artists discuss how they’re similar in wanting to create a dance floor where everyone’s welcome - one that unites people and celebrates dance music’s roots in queer, black, and Asian culture. Jones talks about his upcoming track on the Pokémon album, why he wants to both manage and mentor a new generation of raw talent with his record label, and gives advice to young people wanting to follow in his footsteps.