“made in melbourne”
part iii
jay mayor
“mac mayor”
DJ, dancer,
co-founder of
The Listening Party (TLP)
Jay and Diane invited me and my friend Tae to a “DJ sesh” at Diane’s place a couple of months ago. I didn’t know how to mix or transition at all, nor do I have any proper musical capabilities that was of their caliber. But nevertheless, my curiosity and eagerness to immerse myself in something different led me to get to know Jay. The group that came together was comprised of six total people, including a couple of DJs that have performed at gigs before already, but were along for the ride. Jay took initiative to teach us newbies the works — loading songs into Rekordbox, learning where to do cue points, explaining the basic ins and outs of the turntables — and it was incredibly informational.
Before we ate, both Jay and Diane (who both are amazing hosts and already so fun to be around) got pizza and garlic bread for the us. They sat down, looked at everyone one by one, smiled and said, “Enjoy your food!”
It honestly couldn’t get any more wholesome than that. I’m not just fangirling about their wonderful hosting skills — but their ability to be so welcoming and sweet, and the pure ideation of bringing people together was so nice. The DJ session in particular wasn’t to benefit them at all; it was just so that people could meet fellow creatives that had similar interests. It was the first time they’d tried it out, and I was never so happy to be their test guinea pig. Good vibes, good people, and good music. What more can you ask for?
In a world where it seems that everyone is selfish and will step on/over you to get to the top, people like Jay + Diane give me faith that there are people who truly just want the best for others and want their friends to succeed as well.
Jay has been in this scene for a while, and now he’s got a seat at the table. He co-founded The Listening Party, which has now expanded to The Listening Company, with other talented friends this past year. Now, they have nearly 900 members on their TLP: Melbourne Facebook group that share a love for hip-hop/rnb/”good music taste” vibes, post about newly released songs, and also use the platform to support one another in their creative endeavors. The publicity is all word of mouth, and Jay + TLP have been able to even expand into hosting their own gigs and events. I went to one they did in collaboration with Jazzy Sport, a group from Japan, and the entire event was the definition of good vibes. People are swaying to the sounds, dancing to the beat, and jamming with each other without any judgement. Seeing this all unfurl, even during my short time in Melbourne, I can see how much time and energy it would take to get something like this started — and I already see the movement happening. Jay and his TLP team have been able to reach an audience that is eager to bond with one another, to interact with other humans, to share a space with strangers that, by the end of the night, will become your friends.
“it’s okay to want to explore different creative outlets as long as you’re willing to put in the time and effort”
What was your biggest challenge getting into dance/DJing?
J: I was originally in the dance scene before I started DJing. I’d have to say it was ignoring the limiting idea that I could only do well at a single creative craft at a time. As time went on, I’ve learnt that it’s okay to want to explore different creative outlets as long as you are willing to put in the time and effort towards learning the fundamentals to understand the true essence of a new art form.
“I’m trying to design a lifestyle that will enable me to provide others with unique opportunities”
What inspires you? Where do you draw inspiration for your creative work?
J: I love watching movies — so that’s definitely a big inspiration for me. Sections of my DJ sets can be seen as my own interpretation of movie scenes that have resonated with me. I try to recreate a particular emotion or energy that an amazing director can portray on film.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be at the forefront of a growing music movement in Melbourne”
Currently Jay is learning and immersing himself in the events world, which comes to no surprise as he’s helped TLP with a few get-togethers already. To me, the vision that Jay has for TLP/TLC is incredible. With his team, he’s been around the block enough, and a lot of heads are turning. In particular, The Listening Party has caught the attention of The Operatives, a collective of music aficionados, professionals, and curators that are responsible for various tours and catching in Aussie talent for their new label. TLP + The Operatives actually collaborated on an event a few months ago, which was huge for Jay + his team. Just recently, they also secured a spot in “Let Them Eat Cake” on NYE. These are #bigmoves, and Jay’s only getting started.
How would you define the Melbourne creative/arts community? In your opinion, how have you impacted this community or represented Melbourne?
J: Melbourne is scattered with plenty of top level talent. We just need to believe that our work is worthy of the global stage so that we can continue to excel. I’ve been lucky enough to be at the forefront of a growing music movement in Melbourne. My team and I really want to push the boundaries and make some noise even though different cities around the world may have no clue about the Melbourne music scene.