From Meteor Craters to Zhao Dai: Swedish DJ Jessie Granqvist Talks Playing Sets the World Over

Kyle Mullin | Dec 19, 2018 5:30 pm | Add a comment | 2002 reads

If you think enjoying a night out in Beijing can be tough, with the sporadic drug raids and closures of your favorite hotspots, then hopefully Jessie Granqvist can offer a bit of consolation.

The rising Stockholm DJ, who will perform at Zhao Dai on Friday, Dec 21, has been to many a party and show shut down by the police in the Swedish capital. However, such frustrations are often offset by the unique beauty of those spaces, not only nightclubs but also outdoor fields, opera venues, and of course the occasional dingy warehouse. Below she tells us more about the unique Stockholm scene.

Your bio describes you as "a well-known face all around warehouses, fields, and forests” in Stockholm. Tell me about one of the strangest shows you've played and why it was so memorable.
Three years ago I played an outside venue called Dalhalla. It is an amazing outdoor opera concert venue and is one of only three places in the world where you can see how the natural surroundings have been formed by a meteorite. I was playing there as part of a big festival together with many of my idols and made for a very memorable experience.

Please tell us more details about this place, and what it looks like. I’ve never seen a place formed by a meteorite.
It was a big festival in 2015 called Into The Vellay. The venue is a big crater, and in the middle of it there is a beautiful little crystal green lagoon, and the stage next to it is surrounded by mountainwalls.

You mentioned sharing the bill with some of your idols at that festival. Who were the big standouts?
Jeff Mills, Nina Kraviz and Ricardo Villalobos to name a few. I like their styles as both DJs and producers.

What's the biggest challenge of DJing in a warehouse in comparison to a nightclub?
As a DJ there is no big difference, I think. I can play similar sets at both nightclubs and warehouses. But as a promoter, it is a lot of hard work to make a warehouse party happen. You have to find a location far away from where people live to avoid disturbing someone. And you have to book DJs, hire staff for the bar, and rent lights and a sound system.

What are the best aspects of Stockholm's nightlife scene? And what are the drawbacks that you'd like to see improved?
There are many talented DJs based in Stockholm, so every week there are many chances to hear both local and international DJs in both nightclubs and at warehouse raves. In the summertime, there are many open-air events in the forests and fields of Stockholm. Unfortunately, the police close those events down sometimes because there is no permit or because the music is too loud. My wish is to make it easier to get these permits, so we can continue to make the techno scene in Sweden grow.

How did you get started as a DJ, and what has kept you passionate about it over the years?
I have always brought CDs to every party I have been to since I was a kid. About seven years ago, I went to my first techno nightclub and fell in love with the music and the vibe instantly. I borrowed a mixer and started to practice at home. And just a couple of weeks later, I got my first gig at a nightclub.

It went very fast. I spent my first year as a DJ learning while I was playing at clubs. I was very nervous throughout the first years, and can still be. That’s whats always keeps it exciting in one way.

I am always exploring new music, visiting clubs around the world, and trying to update my music all the time. I will never stop being passionate about music. It's everything to me.