It’s 1990 and after attending early raves and illegal parties, an
enthusiastic Jo is smitten with the euphoria that is sweeping through
the youth of the UK. She has the bug and, noticing the lack of female
DJs at the forefront of this musical movement, decides to buy a set of
turntables and learn to mix.
It’s while working in the Gaultier shop in London’s Soho district that
she makes her first mix tapes, giving them to friends and customers to
get a response to her efforts, resulting in early appearances playing at
fashion show after parties around the city before making her debut at
the legendary Trade party in Turnmills in 1991. Taking her name from
boxer ‘Smoking Joe Frazier’, in an attempt to mask her female identity,
Jo went about building her reputation, trading solely on her ability to
spin. Smokin Jo would become a regular throughout the UK’s finer venues,
playing at the likes of Puscha, Tribal Gathering, Back To Basics, Cream
and Full Circle, to name only a few, earning her the DJ Magazines much
coveted ‘DJ Of The Year Award’, the only female DJ to have won the
award.
1993 sees Jo make her debut in Ibiza, when the club scene on the island
is still in its infancy, playing in Amnesia, Ku (Privilege) and Pacha as
well as throughout the island at exclusive villa parties. Nowadays Jo
resides in Space on a Sunday with We Love and has become an integral
part of the legendary islands musical tapestry, her understanding of
underground dance music coupled with an ability to make people dance has
seen her become one of the most popular spinners on the island.
