She learnt of the healing power of music when she was a teenager. At the age of 14, she remembers being a loner in high school with headphones over her head, always listening to music in a corner.
When a schoolmate who was her senior noticed and heard the kind of music she was listening to at her age, he suggested that she share her taste in music with the public.
And just like that, “Judy Jay was born, and I have never looked back since then. Deep Coste is his name, and I will forever be in his debt for sparking that flame in me.”
Although it started out as a hobby, being a DJ was a natural gravitation for Judy Jay as it grew into a passion and then a business when she realised that she could make a living out of it.
What many not know thought is that Judy Thotong Mahlatji would listen to music to escape from her reality of being bullied.
Acknowledging this, she also says she knows that the music she plays in her sets has healed people just as much as it did her.
“My relationship with music is strong and I can’t imagine life without it. As a young girl I was a victim of being bullied and this triggered depression. During this period, music was my only escape and it saved my life. It keeps me sane, and I know that the music I play has healed many people in one way or another. I like to believe that I have been blessed with the power to heal people through music.”
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While she’s glad that she is heeding to her spiritual call to heal through music, the 21-year-old DJ wishes her success hadn’t become too overwhelming.
When she took a break from the DJing scene over a year ago, “that was a dark moment in my life, and I was truly overwhelmed by everything which resulted in my mind working overtime. This led to me making the wrong decisions which put a dent in my career and affected plenty of the relationships I had both on a professional and personal level.”
She tells Drum that she suffered a mental breakdown because the success was too much for her to handle but after a conversation with her father, she returned to the scene.
“[My father] suggested that we try again and continue where I had left off even though I did not want to come back. He painted a picture in my mind which really opened my eyes, so I decided to give it another shot.”
Brands started flocking to her door again and she hit the decks like she never left.
Speaking about this second wave of success in her life, she says, “Brand alignment is important as it gives you the sense of belonging. It shows that I am being noticed and they believe in what I am doing so much so they want to invest in me. It shows and proves that I am hard working.”
“For me, it is not just about the money or incentives that come with these brand partnerships, it is the enhancement of my passion for music that excites me most,” she adds.
With her consistency, she believes she will not be going anywhere anytime soon.
Taking us back to the experience of her first few gigs, she highlights the power of her resilience.
“There was a point where I travelled to Johannesburg for a gig that only paid me R500, and no accommodation was booked for me, however, I had to do it because my mind was set on a goal. My family was against it at first and at times I would sneak out just so I could attend gigs and perform.
“In my early days as a DJ while performing I was taken off stage after putting in my third song because the owner of the venue said I was boring and chasing the crowd away. This really dented me, and I almost quit. But then I decided to keep going and work harder on my performance skill, about a year later the very same establishment which rejected me came back wanting my services.”
From these hardships, the Limpopo-born DJ has been recognised by the greatest in the game including Lamiez Holworthy, Shimza, Lulo Café and even DJ Fresh, who even gave her his headphones.
“I hold those headphones close to my heart and till today I use them when I perform. They are sentimental to me. They gave me hope that I am who I never thought I would be.”
Of all the achievements though, her greatest is taking the brave step of just starting; starting to work towards her dreams, starting to build her brand and starting the journey of healing.
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The deep house DJ doesn't just want to remain behind the deck, but wants to take it further by sparking flames in other people’s lives as well.
“I know that many young ladies look up to me and are inspired by what I do or what I have achieved so much so they also want to be DJs like me. This to me shows that I have already made an impact with what I am doing. My dad, who also doubles as my manager, also said that we should consider creating a foundation in my name to help those in need and give back. I am really considering this.”
She wants to work so hard that she needs no introduction in rooms and spaces she finds herself.
