There’s many ways I thought about introducing Jane Fitz, and no-matter which way I went, I couldn’t do her accolades justice. A DJ’s DJ, a producer, a respected digger, event curator, and doing it all for years now… the list goes on. I came back to something very simple. Jane is the first DJ I thought of when we organized our upcoming London Label night. Someone who could spin records in an intimate setting; on an amazing system; have the trainspotters out in force; transition between ambient and [insert pretty much any genre] and ensure everyone has a good time.
My request to Jane to complete a mix for us actually came before the event was on the horizon, but it was serendipitous to say the least and mean’t I would hunt her down every day until she got this one out into the world to give you all a preview of her infamous sets. Those who follow her already know, her live mixes and podcasts are often a deep and winding journey between techno, acid, abstract experimental, straight-up electronica, psychedelia, ambient and more. As a result, they often stretch for multiple hours at a time. Jane likes to take people on a journey - a DJ in the truest sense of the word honing her craft and with a smile to boot. Jane is also a vinyl enthusiast, and I regularly see her name supporting ASIP releases and many other likeminded labels so it’s a true honor to have her a part of the isolatedmix series.
Thank you, Jane, for the considered effort and time that went into all of this. Of course, in true Jane Fitz style, we’ve been treated to a bit of an extended session at 1hr 44mins. We look forward to seeing Jane spin next week. To accompany the mix, I sent Jane a few quick questions, below.
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How did you approach your isolatedmix? Is there a concept in mind?
JF - Less of a concept and more of a mood - I wanted to create a moment in time with this mix and it's definitely reflective of how I feel currently - a little winter-weary and hungry for sunshine and longer days. I have been playing a lot of long and all-night sets recently and the beginnings generally sound like this, atmospheric, thoughtful, but heady and trippy too, which I set out to capture. It's something I'm enjoying more and more - and I guess this mix takes that long slow build from the set, and just stays in that space, rather than kicking it up a notch. Now it's finished I see it as part of a bigger whole, I have a part two in mind but for something and somewhere totally different.
Where and how was the mix recorded?
JF -At home in my studio in the garden, in one take. Everything is off records. I had been thinking about it for quite some time, trying to describe what I thought makes an ASIP mix and suffering a bit of DJs block. But in the end, once I'd whittled down to about 50 possibles, the records told me what to play and in what order, like they always do.
You're known as a brilliant selector and vinyl enthusiast, how did it all come about?
JF - Thank you! Pure love for music that grew to an obsession and became a longterm relationship. I started collecting records aged 10 and I've had some very full and some very lean periods doing so. But I guess obsessively from my late 20s (so the past 20 years or so) I've compulsively bought as much as my pocket and my space will allow. I just love records, I love the sound of music played on a record and I love storing and filing and rediscovering the music I already own on record.
What are a few of your secret weapons on vinyl?
JF - Now if I told you the secrets would they still be weapons??
In keeping with the spirit of ASIP I give you this. It didn't make it onto this mix but it features on a tape released by Nachtdigital of my ambient set there a few years ago. And this one, a really lovely record with a dark heart I picked up in New York for very cheap two tracks from this make the mix.
What are some of your favorite record shops?
JF - Round And Round - Melbourne; Low Company and the Little Record Shop - London; Redhill - Helsinki; Staalplaat - Berlin. Yugovinyl - Belgrade; Clique and Living Inc - Seoul; A1 - NYC; Seance Centre and Invisible City - Toronto; Snickers - Stockholm; EAD and Los Apson in Tokyo. And I have some really secret ones I won't reveal...
What's your digging process? Looking for something in particular? Browsing by art? By genre? Portable turntable?!
JF - I actually just bought a portable turntable recently so I think this might alter my digging habits. I have different ways - if I'm digging in store I just try and work my way through everything and wait ‘til something speaks to me - whether it's label info or cover art. In more modern stores its straight to the bargain bins. Discogs I have a number of ways - I like to obsessively stalk producers and labels. But I also love to set myself weird parameters using the 'explore' function. I always bump into something brilliant that way.
You're set to play our first ASIP label night in London at Hidden Sounds (I can't wait!) what can everyone expect from your set?
JF - Transcendental brain music that fully intends to kidnap you. I'm a sucker for all things psychedelic and druggy and deep and for a night like this (I can't wait either!) I think I need to take people places in their minds but also do my best to create the horizontal-listening rave. Dancing without decibels. Heat without beats. Something special...for you.
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