Jenn Getz & Alfie, hailing from the UK, have swiftly made a mark as Dubai’s foremost female DJ duo since their debut in 2020. Their entrance into the electronic music scene has been characterized by a vibrant, unmissable energy. They possess a natural ability to attune to their audience’s mood, turning each performance into an enthralling journey.
Their sets, often infused with the rhythmic nuances of house and tech genres, demonstrate not just skill but a deep passion for the beat that moves their audience.
With their latest single Vibration just out on UK powerhouse label Toolroom, we caught up with the duo for a chat about their past, present and future.
How has your approach to creating and performing music evolved since you first formed as a duo, and how do you balance your individual styles within your collaborative work?
Our sound has definitely matured over the last few years, especially production wise. Also our confidence in performance has grown massively. Interacting with a crowd and getting that balance of educating and pleasing a room has been something we’ve been perfecting. Finding our own sound has been a real focus for us since the first track so we’ve been honing in on our energy of the music for sure. We both have different sounds and tastes but the blend of the two together really brings a distinct style for us in our sets and music. Having a collaboration of ideas in production is so much fun as we can bounce off each other and think outside the box.
As female artists thriving in a male-dominated industry, especially in a place like Dubai, what unique challenges have you faced and how have you navigated them?
There feels like a need for females in this industry to work ten times harder than our male colleagues to gain respect. Dubai is getting there with its level of female dis however there is still some that hire purely for a physical appearance or ‘token’ female. Appearances are still valued over musical talents unfortunately when it comes to female artists. However, this year in general has seem such a rise of female talents its so amazing to see!
Can you walk us through your process of preparing for a live set, especially considering your preference for spontaneous and organic performances?
We do have a vibe that we tailor to our sets and discuss specific tracks that we will play out and some that suit better with each other. But, we love the thrill of working with a live crowd and sensing how the night is going. Every single crowd is different so we don’t create a set to a T as the crowd may not be feeling it and you have to switch it up!
Given your diverse experiences warming up for various artists, how have these experiences influenced your music style and selections?
We are so lucky to have been able to have the opportunity to do all the warm ups and collect the “airmiles”. We’ve learnt so much together which was amazing, one day it would be a Jamie Jones warm up and the next day Claptone so we really had to become knowledgable cross genre wise. Reading the crowd and their energy is definitely the biggest thing we’ve taken from this and its been such a amazing journey. Dipping into various genres and blending them together has definitely influenced our music selections and also production style! We take reference from tracks we would have never heard if we hadn’t of played all the styles.
Looking back at your rapid rise since 2020, what would you consider as your defining moment or biggest breakthrough in your career so far?
Oh that’s really tough as its been a crazy ride for us since we started opening for all the huge acts at Soho Garden in Dubai.
We played a lot in Ibiza this summer which was amazing having been at the iconic Eden and Ibiza Rocks. That was a big bucket list moment for us to play on the island. Radio 1 Weekend in Ibiza was also amazing to be invited and DJ. We played our first UK Festival (We Are Festival) which was really special again another huge tick off our goals. We also played the legendary Ministry of Sound – coming from the UK this was huge for us. In general this year has been our biggest yet so far.
Your involvement with Toolroom began in a unique way, starting with advice from Mark Knight. How has this relationship with Toolroom influenced your artistic direction and the opportunities you’ve encountered?
Toolroom is an amazing label and we love the Toolroom family they are so supportive of us. The opportunities they have brought to us with being able to play in Romania and Miami has only made us hungry for more! They are always there for us with any questions we encounter about the industry as they have such a vast wealth of knowledge. Its really amazing to be surrounded by such talent – we’re in great company when we release with them.
Tell us about your latest single, Vibration. Were there any specific themes you wanted to touch on with this one?
This track was created entirely around the lyrics. They mean a lot to us as they were written for us by a close friend who is a spiritual guide. She talks about the universe and spirituality and how it correlates within people and music – something extremely important to us and our lifestyles. It is the most authentic track we’ve released in terms of the story behind the words. We then wanted to give it the BIG energy it needed with the low-end groove, bass and drums!
In an industry known for its high demands and hectic schedules, how do you maintain wellness and balance?
Could you share some personal self-care practices that work for you? It’s always important to check in with yourself and with each other. Jenn loves an ice bath and Alfie loves yoga. We both try and maintain a gym routine and just a routine as much as possible as health is wealth. It’s really important to listen to your body. If one of us is struggling at all and needs to take some time its good to know we have the other to hold down the fort and allow that person some time to breathe.
In light of your experiences and observations, what changes would you like to see in the electronic music scene to address gender imbalances and create more opportunities for female artists?
There still needs to be more women in music at the top. Label heads, promoters, CEOS – even residents. We are lucky that we know a lot and specifically work with people who are actively encouraging a more equal industry. There are 1000% enough talented capable female music creatives who can do the same role as a man and can be included.
What advice would you give to upcoming female DJs and producers looking to make their mark in the industry, based on your journey and experiences?
Things are changing slowly, we have to work harder so just keep taking the steps forward. Knockbacks will happen but take it in your stride – never give up. Ignore the sexist hate! Every single female (not even as artists just in general) has had it or will have it at some point. Produce what you love and keep doing you as authentically as possible.
How is 2024 shaping up for you, release-wise?
2024 is going to be amazing for us. When we weren’t in Ibiza, we spent the summer this year in the studio and we are sitting on some absolute weapons. We have our sights set on some more huge labels. Manifestation baby.
Jenn Getz & Alfie – Vibration is out now on Toolroom
