“I believe today, new DJs can get away with playing other people’s mash-ups and edits, or even blow up without their own music. Having my dad teach me about it all helped shape my mindset and belief that DJing is still an art form.”

Sky Jetta

Detroit taught her to grind, Chicago taught her to brand, and New York taught her fearlessness. After chatting with Sky Jetta about her debut EP Hoochie Palace, some of her favorite looks and albums, and how she curates a set, it’s even clearer to me that DJing is a unique art form that blends personal style and taste with something you can’t really plan for: the energy in the room. 

Her genre is infectious, liberating, and body-moving, and her debut EP Hoochie Palace puts it on full display. The EP is designed much like a DJ set. The songs bleed into each other perfectly, all boasting high energy and salacious attitude. The only question I didn’t get to ask Sky Jetta, and am dying to know the answer to, is: Where is “Hoochie Palace,” and can I bring my friends? 

Congrats on your debut EP! Hoochie Palace is femme forward, flirty, and electrifying. I can get ready for a night out while listening, dance to it, and drive to it, with the promise that feeling like a baddie the entire time is a given. How did you curate these tracks? Do they all have a common theme or vibe that inspired the project?

Crazy enough, W$Kharri (westside-kharri), who helped me with this project, got together for some sessions. We first created one song, then got together and made another with no intention of a theme. But by the last record, we both realized we were telling a story without even trying. That’s when we decided the intro would be a skit about arriving at this mystical venue: “Hoochie Palace.” Every song on the EP naturally folded into the next.

Your looks are as iconic as your DJ sets. I see a lot of eye-catching hats and a fabulous mix of streetwear, but also dress/skirt combos. Have you always been into fashion? How do you go about figuring out your look for each unique show? 

Lots of people don’t know this about me, but I went to school for fashion design. I ran full-production fashion shows at 16. I love fashion and always incorporate it into everything I do. Sometimes I collaborate on looks with my great friend who’s an incredible stylist, Sal Lee. We actually met in college, and she was in the fashion department too. Other times, I choose looks so last minute, and they just happen to work. It’s not too hard for a Detroit girl to get fly with sometimes little to nothing.

From Detroit to Chicago to New York, what did each city teach you about your artistry that you carry forward into your career?

Detroit taught me to grind, Chicago taught me that marketing and branding are important, and New York is teaching me fearlessness. I’m becoming more of myself in New York, and as an artist I’m happy to be experiencing this.

What would be your Letterboxd “Top 4” of albums? 

This is the most difficult question ever, and it probably won’t be consistent; however, The Emancipation of Mimi by Mariah Carey, Troupeau Bleu by Cortex, Hotter than July by Stevie Wonder, and Who Is Jill Scott? by Jill Scott.

Your dad was also a DJ and had a big impact on your musical upbringing. From the equipment and tech to the community and audience, what do you think has stayed the same, and what do you think has changed about the art of DJing from when your dad was a DJ to today?

The art of DJing was more exclusive to those who could cut, scratch, and produce their own records. I believe today, new DJs can get away with playing other people’s mash-ups and edits, or even blow up without their own music. Having my dad teach me about it all helped shape my mindset and belief that DJing is still an art form. He would tell me about Jeff Mills and how his connection to the audience made him the legend he is today. He would say, “The Wizard, aka Jeff Mills, would break a record over his head if it started skipping…then he would bring out another record and start playing again, and the crowd would go nuts.” I try to use some of those tidbits and crowd engagement to create my own world and lane too.

Listening to Hoochie Palace, I can hear rap verses from Doechii, voiceovers from RuPaul, and endless collabs. Do you have any dream collaborations?

Doechii on Hoochie Palace would actually be sick! But this is the goal. I want to get to the point where most of my songs are features. I’d love to work with Rihanna, Santigold, maybe even SZA. Getting the girls on a ghetto tech track is my goal.

You mentioned in your Paper Magazine feature that you’re leaning into more experimentation as you continue releasing original music. Are you experimenting with any musical genres or elements that will surprise your audience? 

I’ve gone from drum and bass to electro bass to gritty ghetto tech music. I’m not too sure if anyone would ever be surprised by my flexibility and desire to create in any genre at this point. But we’ll see how many more lanes I’ll hit in the future. I actually have gone to create some fun Jersey club vibes with producer Kaotic, a member of the Project X producer team. It’s hot too!

I watched your Audiobae video on curating the perfect vibe and loved your insight on balancing audience/event research with the flexibility to feel the energy live in the room, and more. If you could curate your ideal event/party, what would it look and sound like? Who would be there? 

If I could create the room and the vibe for a party, I’d love to have all the tastemakers, unapologetic dancers, and definitely a safe environment for my femme/queer baddies. Nothing too industry, unless you’re fun. And vibe-wise? We’re taking it back to Studio 54. Anything to make you dance. No discrimination. I’m bringing those vibes soon with my debut “HOOCHIE PALACE” tour, produced by NYC-based collective D*CK APPOINTMENT.

Have you ever had a set that challenged you when it came to curating the vibe, connecting with the audience, or being yourself? How did or would you navigate the challenge?

I’ve definitely had a few misses on some DJ sets, but I think that’s the name of the game sometimes. Not everyone loves what I play, but I always watch the people who do and feed off their energy.

From the US to Paris to Tokyo, which has been your favorite place to DJ so far, and why?

Paris has been my absolute favorite crowd so far. People weren’t just engaged with the music; they were deeply interested in the genre’s roots. I played in Paris last year at Palais de Tokyo, and the crowd barely had any phones out; they were moving, learning, and so open to my sound. There were at least a thousand-plus people there.

Production Credits

Photographer: Exavier Castro

Producer: Gilberto Ortiz

MUA: Amanda Tomczak

Stylist: Sydney de Vere

Hair Assistant: Deannelys Corcino