During the Hi Beach Party 2 evening, on the beach of the same name, an extraordinary DJ was in charge of the nightly entertainment on Friday night. This was Jennifer Cardini, who has been DJing for about 17 years. While she embraces the atypical side that characterizes her, she dismisses the clichés that reduce the DJ profession to men.
Jennifer Cardini, how did you become a DJ?
- I’ve been a DJ since 1994. I used to go out a lot and bought a lot of turntables, records. Those were the only formats offering electronic music at the time. It has always been a passion. Organizers knew that I was mixing, and since I am a girl, I think my atypical side convinced them.
Isn’t it too difficult to make a name for yourself in this industry when you’re a woman?
- (Annoyed) It annoys me that people ask me this question! We are no longer stuck in these clichés. This inequality between men and women is not just about DJs. Look at the number of women in the Government (sic)!
Did you need a mentor to learn the ropes?
- No. (She softens her tone after a hesitation) Of course, I met people who helped me. But I owe my career mostly to my strength of character and my emotional drive to create.
Could you collaborate with artists whose style is the polar opposite of electronic music?
- Yes, of course! I love collaborations because they are often enriching. Especially when it involves people who don’t share the same universe. Among French artists, I would love to work with Françoise Hardy or Charlotte Gainsbourg. It could be an enriching exchange on a personal level.
If you had to choose between David Guetta and Martin Solveig, who would you want to work with?
- (Quickly) Neither of them! They are doing very well, they have their universe, but it doesn’t really match mine. I hate having to choose. And frankly, I think they couldn’t care less (sic)!
