Jaguar: Stepping Into a New Era
Jaguar has long been one of dance music’s most trusted curators – from BBC Introducing to UTOPIA to unforgettable DJ sets across the globe. But her 2025 debut release marks a new creative chapter. We caught up with her ahead of IMS Ibiza to talk about finding her voice as a producer, battling imposter syndrome, and reflecting on the evolution of the scene.
ICN: Thanks for taking the time to speak to us – and thank you again for sending over that mix. It was an hour of very enjoyable music. When Lydia reached out last week and said it was your debut release, I had to double-take. You’ve been in the conversation for so long that it stood out to me – it was a surprise. Why now? What took it until 2025 for us to hear the first Jaguar music?
Jaguar: That’s really interesting that it was a surprise. I guess, yeah, I’ve been doing this a long time. I got into the industry quite young – when I was like 19. I started my journey on student radio when I was at uni in Leeds and just loved playing artists on the radio with like three listeners. I did an internship with the BBC, with Radio 1, when I was 19, and that was like the real start of everything – and learning to DJ. I guess I’ve been mainly known for curating radio shows and DJing for 10 years now.
I think it’s two things. I’ve found some more time – and I really felt the need to make stuff and make art. I love how that makes me feel.
And I also think… I’m turning 30 in two weeks. I’ve just kind of been entering this new era in my personal life. Last year I really felt ready to step into new territory. I think I overcame a bit of imposter syndrome, which I’ve had for a long time about producing. It’s just very daunting. It’s a lot to try and learn. You think, “I don’t know how to do this, so who am I to try and make music?” But actually, my friend pointed this out – she was like, “No one is more or less worthy of making music. You’re just making it because it feels good, and you want to.”
So those are kind of my goals for this. I’ve just really been enjoying diving into Ableton for hours, working with my friends, having fun, and pushing myself. I just feel really proud of what I’ve been making. We’ll see – I hope other people like it as well.
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ICN: That’s beautiful. I thought it was really nice that you named the imposter syndrome and called it out. In another role, I help artists with development, and this is one of the most recurring things we see. If you don’t have imposter syndrome, you’re probably not doing anything creative. And when people realise everyone feels that way, it frees them up. You naming it will really help a lot of artists, because if your ear isn’t good enough to produce, whose is? Did you have to have an honest conversation with yourself to slay that beast a bit?
Jaguar: Yeah, to be honest, I think a lot of personal growth over the last few years. I’ve been doing therapy for two years. I have no plan on stopping. Being in my late twenties, I found it quite difficult – with my mental health. There’s just a lot of hard things I had to get through and overcome. Especially last year, I think things started to really align. I just felt like… I don’t know, in control in my life – the happiest I’d felt with myself. I was just going with what felt good last year.
A lot of that was leading to making music and creating and writing. I love writing in my journals and creatively – that was my first love in terms of being a creative person, when I was a kid and a teenager. So I’ve been doing that a lot more and it just naturally led to this. But I think that goes hand in hand with me being in a good place and reconnecting with myself – now I’m in a spot where I feel able to… yeah, brave enough, almost, to create something and put it out.
ICN: Yeah, put your name on it. What I’m hearing is, it sounds like – and this happens to a lot of people approaching their thirties – all the different parts of you are combining and being okay with each other. Is that right?
Jaguar: Yeah, I think that kind of reconnecting with my inner child – she’s like a badass, bossy six-year-old who doesn’t give a shit, do you know what I mean? I kind of like to call upon that side of me.
I’ve had a bit of fun connecting with that side of me, but also growing as the 29, nearly 30-year-old me. I’m really proud of the person I am and where I’m at, personally and professionally. I’m so proud of my career, but genuinely, I’m so happy with where I’m at. I think I’m just leaning into that in every way I can right now.
ICN: If we could give everyone that advice – be your badass six-year-old – I think we’d all be unstoppable. On the writing side, I saw in the press release that you’re also doing vocals and there’s some spoken word. Can you tell us a bit more about that?
Jaguar: Yeah. So this first track, WILD!, that’s out – that’s not me on the vocal. The next track is just me and my partner messing around, basically, which is really funny. That’s coming in June.
But the track where I’m doing spoken word is coming in September with the EP. It’s much more introspective and it talks about what I just touched on – reconnecting with yourself and your inner child, looking back but also looking forward together, and how far you’ve come. It’s essentially me talking to that part of myself and doing spoken word – using my voice in a different way to how people know me from the radio. It means a lot to me, that one. I also think it’s a bit of a banger – kind of crying in the club banger. We’re just finishing that one off now.
I’m excited for this EP because it shows the kind of clubby stuff you’d expect me to play in my DJ sets, but also more meaningful, deeper stuff. I think people will connect to it – that’s my hope, anyway.
ICN: Love that. Putting imposter syndrome to one side – with ten years of curating radio, hearing the good, the bad, and the ugly – does that give you a bit of a superpower when it comes to producing?
Jaguar: I think so. I feel like I’m good at being like, “Oh, I love this,” or “I love that part of this song.” I’ve got millions of references flying around my head constantly. I guess I’ve got a good ear and a wide breadth of knowledge. I like to bring specific elements from different tracks in mind to sessions, or when I’m thinking about things in Ableton.
But equally, maybe it’s difficult, because I’m like, “What about this? What about this?” There’s so much flying around. But subconsciously, I know when a tune’s good – or it’s good in my opinion. That’s the challenge. Especially at first, you’re like, “Why does everything I make sound really bad?” I want it to be a sick tune if I’m going to put my name on it and release it.
ICN: And there must be that level of expectation too – do you feel pressure?
Jaguar: To be honest, I actually don’t feel pressure right now. I did put a remix out, but in terms of solo stuff, this is the first thing. I don’t really have anything to compare it to. It’s not like, “It’s got to do better than my previous.” There’s none of that – because there’s been nothing. I’ve just been having fun, and I’m really proud of what I’ve made. So at the moment, there’s no pressure. But the next thing – like in a year’s time – there might be.
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“No one is more or less worthy of making music. You’re just making it because it feels good,
and you want to.”
ICN: These days, artists have to be so creative just to get their music heard – or at least persistent. And you’re in one of the best seats to speak on this. You’re discovering so much music and championing new talent. What are you seeing from the artists who cut through? What do they have in common?
Jaguar: I get sent a lot of music – from my DMs to promo emails to the BBC Introducing uploader. That’s how I curate my radio show. Anyone in the UK can send over two tracks a month, and I go through all the electronic music ones – which is about 600 tracks a week. That’s a lot of music.
In fact, this week I’ve been doing Introducing Dance for five years. So God knows how much – I can’t even work it out. Six hundred tracks… let’s not do the maths. Oh God – I should definitely do a post about that. That’s a t-shirt waiting to happen.
Most of my weekly music discovery is from the uploader, because there’s just so much, and it needs most of my attention. The whole point of the show is to play unsigned and emerging artists. I’m just looking for something interesting. High-quality production is key, but it doesn’t always have to be the most polished thing. I love an amazing bassline. If it’s got a vocal, I love a catchy, intentional vocal. Solid drums.
But really, if it makes you feel something – whether that’s as simple as, “F***, this would go off in a club,” or something more emotional, or funny, or just fab – whatever it is, I think that feeling is really key. Anyone who’s UK-based – definitely send your music to BBC Introducing. It’s a free way of getting your music across the BBC on radio, which still really does help a lot of new artists.
ICN: I see so many people sharing that – it’s more than just a feature, it makes their week.
Jaguar: Yeah, it’s beautiful. I get a lot of messages from people saying, “I was having a really crap week,” or “I was going to give up,” and then I played them on the radio. Or, “I got played and then I got signed to a label or an agency.” There’s a lot of that. That’s all I can hope for, really – even if it just gives someone confidence. I’ve definitely been in places where I felt so deflated or sad about things, and then one person can completely change it around by saying, “Listen, you’re good. I believe in you.” So I always want to try and do that for people.
ICN: It’s like a little injection of hope, and because it’s the BBC, they believe it. It’s powerful.
Jaguar: Especially at the moment, where the nightlife scene is in crisis – globally, really. Times are tough financially, politically, and it’s just an oversaturated market. The amount of tracks that are released every day… It is amazing that it’s easier to make music now, and it’s more accessible – but then, the chances of breaking through are a lot harder. So I think something like radio is still really impactful and important.
Jaguar is co-hosting IMS for the four consecutive year alongside Pete Tong MBE.
ICN: You’re about to turn 30. How do you feel about dance music now, compared to when you were 20? The scene has changed in some ways, but stayed the same in others.
Jaguar: I love that question – really do.
You know what, I’ve been in a bit of a reflective mindset, obviously. When I think about when I was 20 – I was at uni in Leeds. At that time, dance music was just about going out, having the best time, being wild and free. I just loved it. I still love that – the sense that anything could happen. My favourite kind of night is like: pop out for a drink, then maybe dinner and some nice wine with friends, and then you end up at a club. And it’s just fab. Do you know what I mean? There’s just so many possibilities.
But I think, you know, when I was younger I was just so crazy – as you are when you’re 20. Now… I’m so passionate about club culture. I think the bit I’m most passionate about – more than partying – is the music, and the connection. The community. Whether that’s a physical community – DJing to people, feeling everything together, giving them a good time and getting something back – or the community I’ve built through UTOPIA. Working with artists, helping them shine.We’ve got a UTOPIA WhatsApp group with like 400 people in it – all music lovers and artists.
That coming together, that community feeling – that’s the most important part of electronic music for me. I find this scene so special because we can do things that other genres don’t. We have things like conferences – like IMS – where we can actually speak about things and create positive change. I think the whole point of electronic music is to disrupt. You can interpret that however you want – but that’s my 30-year-old view. That’s my favourite part.
ICN: There’s a wellness vibe to what you’re saying – is that something you lean into more now?
Jaguar: Definitely. I love sleeping. I love meditation and sound baths. I do still go out, but it’s not about getting messed up and drinking. I go through periods where I don’t drink at all. And honestly, I’d rather have a nice glass of wine at dinner than a random vodka Coke in a club – you know what I mean?
ICN: It’s happening to us all. We’ve been talking about something we’re calling “counter clubs” – coffee shop raves, pizza parties. It won’t replace clubs or festivals, but it’s another way to engage with music.
Jaguar: That’s like an opportunity at all times of the day. I love it. Why not?
DJing is so huge now. It was still big 10 years ago when I started, but it’s really boomed. And now there’s all this extra stuff – like how much time you need to spend on social media, or getting new press pics. I guess any artist has that now – it’s all so visual. But that extra element adds a lot of pressure. It’s another hurdle to jump over, beyond just doing the thing you’re meant to be doing, which is making music or DJing.
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ICN: Let’s talk about representation. You’ve been a massive voice for better gender balance in lineups. From where I’m sitting, it feels like things have changed a lot – especially compared to 10 years ago. Does it feel like it’s working?
Jaguar: Yeah, I think again – reflecting on the time I’ve been doing this – 10 years now. The conversation was already happening before I got involved. In 2022 we did a report on gender, funded by Sony. It was a huge splash, showing the disparity in the UK statistically – which hadn’t really been recorded before to that extent. That’s something I’m very proud of. I think it helped. It became a kind of benchmark for people to refer to, and opened the door for more conversations.
But I am aware that while things are changing, I’ve also seen – especially over the last year – things stall. Maybe because of how difficult the economics of nightlife are right now, but I’ve noticed more male-heavy lineups than in 2022 or 2023. Probably because people are focusing on getting people in the club and selling tickets. It’s a challenging time. But I want to keep the conversation alive.
I never want to come across as having a go at anyone for not booking women, or trans and non-binary people – but I think it’s something we all need to be conscious of. Especially if you’re a man. Especially if it doesn’t impact you directly. It’s hard to see at first, because you haven’t had to think about it. But being open – that’s the point. Equality is a joint mission, do you know what I mean?
ICN: Exactly. It’s a joint mission. So: progress made, but lots more to do?
Jaguar: Definitely. Always. There’s always more you can do, right? I’ll always keep fighting for underrepresented people.
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“There’s so much talent out there that just needs a little belief and platform to shine. That’s what I’m here for.”
Instagram: @jaguarworldwide
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ICN: You mentioned IMS – you’re hosting again this year. I loved last year’s. I think the new venue really suits it. People always ask me if they should go, and I say: at ADE you might not see anyone for days, but IMS, you’re all in one place. It’s a proper chance to meet people. What do you think makes IMS special?
Jaguar: I love IMS. I’m so proud to be part of it. I think it might be my fourth year co-hosting with Pete (Tong) – I’m not sure, third or fourth. I think it’s my fourth. It’s really nice that they trust me to spearhead in that way, and to be part of the curation committee as well.
I think I first went to IMS in maybe 2018 – I was on a panel. I feel so lucky to have experienced that early on because it opened my eyes to this other side of the industry. IMS is special because the team really care about pushing forward positive change and having important conversations in dance music. In the years I’ve been involved, we’ve come a long way in booking more diverse artists and thinking about things intentionally – which I think everyone should be doing.
I’ve always had such a great time connecting with people, having amazing conversations on panels, or just seeing people in the corridor. It’s a fab atmosphere. The connection to the scene is unmatched. And I’m looking forward to this year – I think it’ll be good. It’s the start of the season, there’s real excitement in the air before Ibiza fully kicks in. It’s a special time.
ICN: What are you most looking forward to on this year’s program?
Jaguar: Ooh, good question. I mean, some of the things I’m involved in – I’m doing a panel about radio and why it still matters. I think the answer is yes, it does matter! But I think it’ll be a really interesting discussion.
I’m also hosting a Songwriters Roundtable, which I think is so important. I’m so pleased we’ve got that this year. The discrepancies between songwriters and producers – it’s not a secret that a lot of the time, the producer gets all the credit and the songwriter gets shafted. There’ve been a lot of instances of that. And often it’s a gendered thing – often the producer is a man and the vocalist is a woman. So I think that’ll be a really cool, proactive, meaty discussion.
I also love the Art of Areté wellness area. I always mean to do a proper session but I’m normally too busy. If I can get to it – whether it’s breathwork or something else – I love that area. The whole team is amazing. It’s so important to have a focus on wellness there.
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ICN: 100%. And for our readers – where can we catch you on the island this year?
Jaguar: I’ve actually got my Pikes residency again. I think it’s my fourth year – I don’t know how time goes so quickly. Since COVID, everything has just been in turbo speed. So Pikes – UTOPIA at Pikes – the first one is actually at the end of this month, 30th of April. It’s me and Meg Ward, we’re going to play all night long and have a really fun start to the season. I’ve got another date later on in the year as well. Then I’ve got a few bits – ANTS later on, and Reboot as well.
ICN: And finally – we can’t get you on the phone without asking for some artist recommendations. Who should we be checking out right now?
Jaguar: Ooh! Okay, let me just consult my record box. That’s the hardest question, but also – how do I pick one?
There’s a guy called Skelecta. He recently put out a tune on my label, UTOPIA. He’s an amazing producer, very sick DJ. Garage roots, I guess, but he’s just next level. I think he’s really amazing.
Another artist I’ll give you is Lu.Re. She released on my label last year. I think she’s such a talent – producer, vocalist, incredible selector. I’ll give you those two for now.
ICN: Amazing. And for the current single – best place to listen? Spotify?
Jaguar: Everywhere, yeah. Spotify, Bandcamp, Beatport, Apple – wherever you want, it’s there.
ICN: Perfect, thank you so much for your time. I’ve loved this chat.
Jaguar: Thank you so much – it was lovely to speak to you as well.
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You can listen to Jaguar’s debut release, Wild, on all major streaming platforms now.
To explore the artists mentioned and more breakthrough talent, you can check out Jaguar’s label UTOPIA WORLDWIDE.
Or catch her live at Pikes with Jaguar Presents: UTOPIA, starting April 30th 2025, with Meg Ward.
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