Common, infuriating comments women DJ/producers often get are something like "a man actually produced their music" or "they're only popular because they're hot." Thus, women producers are often forced into the defensive, giving studio tours and slogging away at every aspect of making a track on their own.



Of course, men are not held up to these same standards.




As Femme House co-founder and piano house queen LP Giobbi pointed out in a poignant 2021 conversation with rising tech house star J. Worra, most men at the top do not do everything alone. And having tracks mixed and engineered by someone else is standard across all genres of music. Also, no one is going to be stellar at every part of the process. Collaborating with a skilled instrumentalist or songwriter, for example, can offer a new perspective, nuance, and sonic diversity to music that you wouldn't get working solo.

"I think there's a lot of value for you as an artist working through it and figuring it out on your own, but I've been producing for eight years now, [sigh] and it almost hit a point where I just need some help," J. Worra said.


The "Check Out" producer revealed that it was an impactful conversation with tech house king Chris Lake that made her reconsider her commitment to doing everything by herself. While sitting next to Lake at Sound nightclub in Los Angeles, she told him she was doing everything independently.


"He was like, 'Why are you doing this to yourself? That's great and all, but why are you trying to do every single thing on your own? I've had instances where I've had full years where I've sent tracks to Marco Lys to mix down or Chris Lorenzo to fix something,' she said of the advice Lake gave her.


"That made me shift my perspective, because for the longest time I thought if I didn't do everything on my own, I'm not going to be a real artist and people aren't going to consider me. So, it takes a while to kinda let go of all of the control."


It's only fair that all artists have access to the tools that can help them and their music thrive and grow, including being able to collaborate and ask for help.

Chris Lake Inspired J. Worra to Shift Her Perspective 

Classically trained jazz pianist LP Giobbi has been pioneering her contemporary piano house sound for over a decade. Her singular performance style puts her many talents front and center, combining DJing, live sampling, and piano. The enthusiastic Deadhead has mastered her take on melodic piano house, championing a lane that’s all her own.




Her genre-bending brand of piano house is inimitable mainly due to the improvisational nature of her compositions. Her upbringing included a steady diet of piano lessons and an unconventional yet spiritual weekly Sunday morning practice.






“Every Sunday, instead of going to church, we would put on the Grateful Dead as a family and listen to music and dance. And that was my spiritual practice,” LP told Festival Insider in 2021.




Today, the composer—who studied jazz piano at UC Berkeley—is notorious for crafting piano-laden dance cuts that are as bold as they are emotive. Soulful, vibrant, and forward-thinking songs like “Togetherness,” “These Are Your Children,” “Meet Again,” “Move Your Body,” and “All In A Dream” demonstrate her ability to infuse classical sounds into contemporary works. She has wholly recontextualized what piano house can sound like in the modern era.






After her stint at Berkeley, where she discovered her passion for the cathartic nature of electronic dance music, house music specifically, the artist moved to Los Angeles to immerse herself in the music and hone her sound.




Now, straddling the responsibilities of a DJ, activist, label head, and entrepreneur, LP Giobbi is recognized as one of the most innovative American house music producers. True to her upbringing and Berkeley education, her piano house works often feature themes of acceptance, optimism, and rallying cries for more inclusion.




The talented jazz pianist-house producer continues to lead her peers and inspire fans in transforming and reinventing the classic sound of American house music.

LP Giobbi: Queen of Piano House

Renowned for her enthusiastic keyboard improvisations over shuffling 4/4 beats and her commitment to championing inclusion and diversity, LP Giobbi is a beloved house producer hailed globally at all tiers of the music industry. The activist-DJ is notorious for her piano house cuts and engaging personality.




Get to know LP Giobbi's discography a little further with these five of our favorite dance cuts from the charismatic-altruistic artist. 




1. Togetherness 

Featuring visceral, drawing vocals, a blazing piano loop, and a thumping kick, this song is acceptance, tolerance, and altruism rolled into one. This track, released in the Spring of 2022, is part of a glorious compilation of house music created collaboratively with an array of artists from LP Giobbi's phenomenal Femme House collective. Togetherness is a feel-good house cut—quintessential listening for fans of LP.




2. These Are Your Children

Acid house meets piano house for a contemporary and indulgent composition. Oozing with rich textures and cheeky, engaging samples, this 2018 single is a resounding, classic house number —perfect for the pregame, the afters, and all-hours. "We're all just living our fantasies…"




3. Meet Again

Poignant, moving, tenderly euphoric—this is "Meet Again." Pinned by optimistic tones by electropop singer-songwriter Little Boots, the song is a percussion-heavy delight. Released in 2020, the song sees LP's production at the height of maturation. After a decade of working in clubs and dingy venues, this track feels like she primed it precisely for the mainstage. This is the tune one would hear played at 2 am for a crowd of EDC or Coachella festival goers.




4. Move Your Body

Featuring a motivational sermon by acclaimed collaborator (and Femme House co-founder), hermixalot, "Move Your Body," is moving and reflective. The producer often enlists the singer-songwriter for projects, but this composition shines above the rest for its pacing and creative soundscape of samples and percussion. It is one of the classically-trained jazz pianist's best works to date.




5. All in a Dream

Introspective and laden with the melodic sounds of looped piano chords and guitar thrumming, All in a Dream is as mesmerizing of a composition as it is stellarly produced. All the nuances carefully arranged throughout—the shimmering synthesizers, percussion, and subtle kicks—amalgamate and create a spectacularly romantic dance tune.

5 Tracks that Define LP Giobbi's Classic House Sound

Fuelled by support and encouragement from friends, family, and a sense of altruism, many dance artists contribute their time and energy toward philanthropic endeavors. Whether through volunteer work, scholarships, educational programming, or advocating for important issues like suicide prevention and mental health, many of your favorite artists are championing efforts for good across their communities and abroad.




Here are ten artists lending their efforts and wallets to noble causes when they’re not in the studio producing music or commandeering the decks at the club.




1. Ida Engberg and Adam Beyer



Techno, a genre notorious for its hedonistic sounds and stoic noir-clad DJs, isn’t often associated with philanthropy. However, one techno heavyweight who isn’t showy about her philanthropic work is setting out to make this world better with her partner. Since 2019, Swedish DJ Ida Engberg, along with her husband, Drumcode founder Adam Beyer, has headed Drumcode Festival in its efforts to raise money for an environmental cause close to their hearts. The event doubled as a joint Greenpeace project, with funds raised at the festival going directly to Amazon Watch—a nonprofit whose work supports indigenous Amazonians and the rainforest they call home.




2. Avicii



Though he is physically gone, Tim Bergling, aka Avicii’s legacy, lives on through the Tim Bergling Foundation and its charity work. Since his early days of notoriety, Tim’s altruistic nature led him to raise funds for food security in cities across the US. After his sudden death, his family vowed to continue the artist’s philanthropic work by launching the aptly named foundation, which continues to advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention and, most recently, raising awareness to the climate crisis and other environmental issues.




3. LP Giobbi & Lauren Spalding



The Femme House founder has made it her life’s mission to make the world of electronic dance music a more equitable place for women and LGBTQ+ artists to grow and thrive in. LP Giobbi and Lauren Spalding founded the Femme House nonprofit organization in 2019, vowing to “create safe spaces to learn, and always keep marginalized communities first and foremost in our minds,” she explained in an Instagram post announcing new programming aimed at creating new pathways for LGBTQIA+ artists. Through the new Theresa Velasquez Memorial Scholarship honoring DJ and Live Nation executive Theresa Velasquez, LP Giobbi will donate a portion of her booking fee for every LGBTQIA+ centered event she plays.






4. Shimza



South African DJ-producer Shimza’s penchant for philanthropy began at an early age. Today, the award-winning Tembisa-born artist has turned his large-scale philanthropic fundraising event into an annual event. Shimza’s One Man Show is an immense outdoor party in the DJ’s hometown in South Africa and often features the latest and greatest names in dance music. Proceeds from the charitable showcase benefit the town’s underprivileged children and drive job creation.




5. Alok



Brazilian dance music artist Alok is one artist looking to give back tremendously. The producer recently founded the Instituto Alok to combat poverty and other issues in his home country, Africa and India. Alok initially kicked off the initiative with a whopping $5.2 million donation from his wallet. Since its founding in 2020, the foundation has focused on food security, entrepreneurship, and human development.




6. DJ Bone & Ahnne Dulan



World-renowned Detroit artist DJ Bone officially began his philanthropic project in the early 2000s with support and encouragement from his wife, Ahnne Dulan. Together, they run the Homeless Homie charity organization, raising money for local homeless shelters. After years of charitable work, the nonprofit finally caught traction in 2018, as the philanthropic pair raised funds and collected toiletries for local shelters during the Christmas season. In years since, the Homeless Homies initiative has developed into a large-scale music event in Detroit and several other cities, with their biggest iterations happening at ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event) in 2019 and 2021.




7. Porter Robinson



After his younger sibling was diagnosed with a rare iteration of lymphoma, indie-electronic dance artist Porter Robinson founded the Robinson Malawi Fund to raise funds and awareness for the cancer most prominently found in Malawi, Africa. The artist continues to donate proceeds from his Second Sky Festival, now in its third iteration. At the festival’s inaugural event, the dance music producer raised around $150,000. Today, Robinson’s fund continues to raise money for research and directly provides resources for children suffering from the rare form of cancer.












7 Dance Music Artists Using their Platform for Philanthropy

LP Giobbi’s come-up might be the hottest of the year. The momentary pause on her launch two years ago due to the Covid-19 pandemic is now just a speck in the rear view mirror. In fact, her domination of Twitch streams throughout the pandemic may have even accelerated the process.




The Femme House leading lady has been on a tear in 2022 taking her brand on tour nationwide, gracing main stages worldwide, and releasing a slew of new singles and remixes. Recently, LP achieved another career milestone signing her first record to the prominent independent record label, Ninja Tune, via their Counter Records imprint.



“All In A Dream” is the deep-rooted dance track you never knew you needed with a piano-laden groove that only LP can provide. This foundational piece took on new life with a bit of help from her friends, as LP shared in a statement:



“All in a Dream came together in such a fun and fluid way. I started working on the idea of the track with one of my favourite producers, Le Chev (Michael Cheever) and I was in Miami with Sofi Tukker, and they walked into the studio and heard the record and Tucker immediately said ‘I have this vocal sample that would be perfect.’ I threw it in the session and it was in the same key and fit perfectly. I eventually played it for DJ Tennis and Ashworth, and Tennis suggested we record live drums for it so we spent a joyous day in the studio trying out all sorts of beats with a live drummer. Tennis and Ashworth then ran the track through outboard gear that made me want to crawl into the frequencies of the piano and never leave.”



This hybridization of organic instrumentation with synthesized enhancements culminates in a track just begging to be rinsed on a warm summer’s evening while soundtracking the setting sun.



Follow LP Giobbi on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

LP Giobbi Captivates With Powerful New Single 'All In A Dream'

We tapped forward-thinking Femme House founder LP Giobbi for this Mix of the Week, a vibrant live set from DJ Tennis for Sunday Sunday. With fresh tunes, driving basslines, and groovy beats, this two-parter is perfect for any day of the week. 

“DJ Tennis is one of my favorite producers and DJs and has become a true mentor of mine in this industry. I always learn something new about DJing after attending a Tennis show so getting an eight hour set is like a full course of knowledge! Even though I didn’t get to attend this particular party, you can feel the energy shifts in the dancefloor throughout the day based on the mix and are immediately transported to a joyous flowing dancefloor!” said the producer-activist about the Italian producer.

Recorded live at Sunday Sunday, Manfredi Romano, aka DJ Tennis, perfectly encapsulates the Life and Death label founder’s range within electronic music production and DJing. Sets by DJ Tennis often carry an intimate, warm feel to them. And with over two decades of experience to draw from, this mix from DJ Tennis includes elements of post-rock, synth-heavy electronic cuts, and plenty of good vibes.

Sunday Sunday is a venue in Mexico City notorious for its consistently vivacious crowds and Sunday Funday energy. The alfresco rooftop party is only steps away from the capital city’s vibrant Downtown area and only hosts the freshest regional and local acts. Check out more live mixes on Sunday Sunday’s Soundcloud. 

LP Giobbi Curates Mix of The Week: DJ Tennis

It's always a blessing to see a DJ really work it. Not just playing breakdown to breakdown, but really getting after it and crafting a narrative with the beat. Los Angeles-based HoneyLuv does just that in this mix for LP Giobbi's Femme House and Killed With Kindness.





Born in Cleveland, HoneyLuv got her start spinning R&B and hip hop. And it shows as she breezes through bass-forward house, thumping tribal, and high energy disco beats from Proper Villians, Mark Knight, Illyus & Barrientos, and of course her own club busting productions. 

There's a clear distinction between dance music DJs and open format DJs who play house music. Those who move into house music, just do it better. There's swag in the style and an undeniable precision that carries over from learning on some of the hardest music to mix. HoneyLuv stands out because not only does she know her way around the decks, she's a dynamite producer as well with releases on Insomniac Records, Thrive, and Popgang.

Mix Of The Week: HoneyLuv's Blazing Tech House for Femme House

It's about time again for our monthly takeover of Diplo's Revolution. Yes, that's right, OCHO 3 is coming on January 22, 2022, to Sirius XM. We're serving up eight hours of non-stop exclusive sets by eight extraordinary artists from across the globe.

This month's diverse lineup features eight artists from across the spectrum of house sub-genres. Andrea Oliva, Cloonee, J. Worra, Layla Benitez, Meduza, Paco Osuna, Shermanology, and Wax Motif all come from different corners of the worldwide house music community. And while their sounds may vary, each one encompasses the words of Chuck Roberts from the 1988 anthem "Can You Feel It" by Fingers Inc., "house music is a universal language."



Tune in to Gray Area OCHO on January 22, 2022









Andrea Oliva

Born in Switzerland, Oliva taught himself to DJ at the tender age of 13. The young DJ found a job in a record shop and quickly established himself as a skilled selector, building a carefully curated library of promos and white labels. It wasn't long before he was booked in Switzerland's best clubs and throwing his legendary sold-out Banditz parties. He's since become a staple of the Ibiza scene cemented by residencies with elrow at Amnesia, Music On at Amnesia, and ANTS at Ushuaïa. His lauded production skills have seen him on remix duties like Luciano and releasing club weapons on Defected, Moon Harbour, Relief, Hot Creations, and 7Wallace.







Cloonee

One of the tech-house scene's most potent stars, Cloonee, has seen an unprecedented rise since the release of his 2017 Estes EP on Elrow. What's followed in an unstoppable tear of genre-defining releases on labels like Sonny Fodera's Solotoko, Desert Hearts, Big Beat, Michael Bibi's Solid Grooves, Mark Knight's Toolroom, and Chris Lake's Black Book Records. With an unsurpassed sense of rhythm and soul-shattering basslines, his releases regularly break the Beatport charts making him one of the site's top-selling tech-house artists of 2021. His back-to-back set with Andrea Oliva at elrow Rowsattacks! in December blew us away; we can't wait to see what tricks he has in his bag for OCHO.







J. Worra

Even before being named the 2019 Breakthrough Music Producer of the Year by DJ Mag, J. Worra's technical abilities, trademark swag, and imitable ability to create body grinding beats were well known. Her performance in December at Rowsattacks! in New York was a showstopping moment, proving once again why she's rocked major festivals like EDC and Coachella as well as every major club in the US. She discovered house music in Chicago and, while she may LA-based, brings a hint of that classic vibe to everything she does. Her dynamic catalog includes releases on labels like Higher Ground, Realm, Sweat It Out, and Sink or Swim. And her remixes for GRiZ, Gorgon City, and deadmau5 have elevated their work to new heights.



Tune in to Gray Area OCHO on January 22, 2022









Layla Benitez

It's clear from watching her perform that Layla Benitez has a potent understanding of how music moves people. Her visceral connection to dance music extends beyond the dance floor. It's in her soul. Her father, Jellybean Benitez, is an acclaimed DJ and culture-defining producer who was a pillar of New York's nightlife community throughout the 80s and 90s. Yet Layla's abilities are more than a legacy. Her distinctive blend of afro house, deep house, and world beats create peak dance floor moments for fans from Ibiza to Miami, New York to London, and Mykonos to Los Angeles.










Meduza

House music's recent domination of commercial radio is bookmarked by young producers who understand what underground dance music fans have known for decades. That house music is a feeling. Leading the charge is GRAMMY-nominated Italian trio, Meduza. Their debut single "Piece of Your Heart," with Goodboys, was a worldwide phenomenon topping charts throughout Europe, US, and Asia. The boys have gone on to dominate the charts with radio-friendly beats that have touched millions, streamed in the billions, yet pay homage to house music's underground roots. They masterfully walk the tightrope between the often protective, tight-knit house music community and the mainstream with grace and style, effortlessly bouncing from remixing for the likes of Ed Sheeran to releasing on legendary imprints like Defected.










Paco Osuna

For over two decades, Paco Osuna has steadily built a reputation as one of dance music's most respected and revered selectors and producers. The Mindshake Records founder has been a fixture of the Ibiza scene since the late 90s and held down residencies Richie Hawtins ENTER, Sven Vath's Cocoon series at Amnesia, as well as an endless array of prestigious events all over the world from Electric Zoo to Space Miami, Time Warp to EDC, and Watergate Berlin to WOMB Tokyo. In the studio, his imitable rhythmic timing, sophisticated sound palate, and imaginative spirit have made him a sought-after award-winning producer with releases on Mood, Plus8, Minus, Defected, Moon Harbour, and Get Physical.










Shermanology

Brother sister duo Andy and Dorothy Sherman's ability to inject tech-house with the soul and spirit of their Caribbean heritage has made them a uniquely genre-defying pair. Dorothy's distinct and stirring vocals transport the dance floor to the days of diva house. And Andy's production and DJ experience have traversed genre barriers from UK garage to bass house. Together their sound is boundless, impressing the underground and the mainstream alike. Their 2020 release "Boyz N Da Club" was an unstoppable club slumper. Yet they continue to prove their diversity working with artists like Will Clarke on the emotive "Searching" and scoring over a million plays on "Bon Bini," performed entirely in Papiamentu, their native language. 













Wax Motif

Known as a leader in G house and UK Bass, Wax Motif has more recently established a wider range of sounds. His recent release "Koalack" on his Divided Souls imprint shows a softer, more reflective side. And while Waxy continues to move dance floors with his trademark dirt nasty bass house, his emerging diversity proves his talents in the studio. He's also recently stepped out as a leader in blockchain and community building as one of the first dance music artists to create his cryptocurrency, $WAXM. The industry-leading move gave fans access to exclusive music, one-on-one Zoom sessions, and even the chance to collaborate with the producer who has released on labels like Confession, Night Bass, and Musical Freedom.



Tune in to Gray Area OCHO on January 22, 2022



Get Ready for Another Bumping OCHO on Diplo's Revolution

 We caught up with LP Giobbi at elrow’s Rowsattacks! show in Brooklyn earlier this month. And as always, it was fantastic to speak to the queen of piano house. Her set was a blazing ride through classic house beats, Grateful Dead remixes, and of course, her vivacious spirit and expert improv work on the keys. 

After her set, we sat down for a bit of fun and asked her some totally random questions. We covered everything from her connection to 70s music to her favorite track of 2021. Check the video out below and read on to see how it all went down.


What was your first thought this morning?


"Oh, fuck." I played in Vail last night. Three days ago, I was in London. Two days ago, I was in LA. Last night I was in Vail and then I had to get up at five in the morning to drive down to Denver to get here. So, my first thought was ‘oh fuck!’ It's all worth it. Tonight was amazing.


Explain Elrow In three words to me like I've never been here.


Fucking next level hyphenated amazing.


If you could pick any era in history to live in. When would you pick?


I mean, this is a complicated one. I would probably pick the '70s because, you know, The Dead, Janice Joplin. But also, the world wasn't as progressive then. So, I feel kind of bad saying that. So, it's complicated.


Because, in terms of music, it was probably one of the best decades of music, let's just say you would mix the 70s with where we're going?


Yes, which is what I try to do in my sets.




If you weren't a musician, what would you be?


I'd be a midwife. I would deliver babies for women because I became a producer to empower other women to do this. And I think like helping a woman deliver a child is also an empowering experience. So I would probably do that.


My wife and I's midwife was absolutely amazing. 


And you'll never forget that, right? Like literally life-changing, like empowering women to like, empower her body to give birth is just, I honestly hope I do in this life.


Would you rather only be able to whisper or only be able to shout?


Definitely shout. That's the easiest question. 







I wrote this question for you. But I gave it to everybody else. And I knew what your answer was gonna be. What was harder? Learning to play a 20 page piano concerto or learning to do a mixdown?


That's a really good question. That's a, you did your research question. I honestly think pretty equal. I mean, it took me a few years to learn the Greek concerto from beginning to end. I would say like the same amount of time to really master production. Just, you know, consistent work. 

Same, same but different? 


Yeah, totally. But that taught me how to work, so for that, I'm grateful.


What sound or noise Do you love? 


Okay, well, I have a white noise [machine] to sleep. I need it to sleep and actually carry around a white noise machine with me, which takes up a lot of my suitcase. That's how much I love it.

Favorite Grateful Dead tune? 


Oh, "Franklin's Tower" I just did a remix of it. His lyrics are so weird. I did some research on them. And they're genius. The songwriter, John Barlow, wrote this crazy essay on it. It's just genius. 


I'm playing with The Dead actually in a few weeks. They do a festival in Tulum, and I'm doing their after-parties. My parents are coming. I've cried about it so many times.

808 or 909?


808. 


Favorite track of the year?


Bicep "Apricot." This whole album is cool. There's no vocals. It's just like weird electronic music and went to number one on the pop charts.



Intimate club or festival? 


Oh, that's easy, intimate club.

Intimate club or rave?


It depends on how long my set is.

Two hours 


Two hours for both? Then maybe rave.



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Dream collaboration?

I think I know the answer to but let me just think … Grateful Dead. 

Would you rather be forced to sing along or dance to every single song you hear?


Dance. I can't sing to save my life. 


One time I went on tour with a band and afterwards I was talking to the lead singer and I said 'I love that one song you do,' and I sang it to her. And she didn't know what song I was singing.


Would you rather swim in a pool full of Nutella or a pool full of maple syrup? 


Yes

New York or London?


I would say London because of the music scene.


Finish this sentence: I love house music because ...


it's body music.


On the Spot: LP Giobbi


Gray Area makes another step in its mission to “unify and strengthen the House Music community around the world,” today by partnering with Spotify for an official editorial playlist on the streaming platform. Gray Area Guest List launched with over five hours of house and techno from the forward-thinking and creative voices that are defining the myriad sounds of underground dance. 



Spotify’s Guest List playlists allow noted brands and artists to take over an official editorial playlist curating it from top to bottom precisely to match that brand’s unique footprint. And the Gray Area list is lovingly selected to reflect the future of dance music.



Included are songs from Gray Area Spotlight featured artists QRTR, LP Giobbi, Vintage Culture, and Will Clarke. Alongside bonafide legends like Ricardo Villalobos, Miss Kittin, Maya Jane Coles, Anja Schneider, Guy Gerber, Steve Bug, The Martinez Brothers, Joseph Capriati, Jamie Jones, Louie Vega, Pig & Dan, Royksopp, and Maceo Plex. 2022 GRAMMY Award nominee Black Coffee, Repopulate Mars boss Lee Foss, Drumcode front-man Adam Beyer, and Godfather of House Frankie Knuckles are also featured.


The Gray Area Guest List is a great way to get familiar with the sweeping sonic footprint of house and techno. Too often, we get stuck in our own lane, and the beauty of dance music is that it encompasses an array of shifting moods and aural textures. So take yourself on a journey through the expanse of underground dance music, turn up the volume and Let There Be More House Music.




Gray Area Takes Over Spotify's Official Guest List Playlist

United States

LP Giobbi

Defected Presents Radio 1 Dance

Spain

Eden

elrow Chinese Row Year

Amnesia

MK Presents: Miami Music Week Pool Party 2022

The National Hotel

elrow NYC: RowsAttacks

Avant Gardner

Quantum Brooklyn

Daylight Sessions 03 w/ Manu Gonzalez, Korolova, Reboot, LP Giobbi

There are few in dance music who combine their musical past and present as effectively as LP Giobbi. The classically trained jazz pianist injects her multi-platform DJ sets with syncopated notes hinting at the roots of house music every time she lays a rhythmic keyboard improv over a looped 4/4 beat. She’s exuberant and charismatic as she twists and glides from piano to CDJs and back, never for a moment allowing the music to stop flowing through every inch of her body. She's harnessed an authentic activist mindset that reminds us of the mere act of getting out there on the dance floor, listening to a diva sing over a 4/4 beat with an acid-squelching baseline, that's fucking activism, man.

“The only time I feel completely present as a human—and that sounds so cheesy, but it's true—is when I'm on stage playing music. “ She explains this as she tries to rationalize the constant struggle of the modern musician. Doing hundreds of things that aren't making music and still finding time for music.

“I'm not thinking about what I have to do on my to-do list. I'm just thinking about getting to connect with the people that I can see in the audience and see their joy. This is where I'm actually living my life.”

Giobbi was always indelibly connected to the stage. Her first big break as a performer came when Peter Franco, Daft Punk's studio engineer, discovered her playing jazz in San Francisco. To have those moments ripped away was devastating. On the eve of joining her best friends Sofi Tukker on their European tour in March of 2020, her manager told her that the next 52 weeks of shows are canceled and it was time to start streaming. She reluctantly took the show to Twitch.

“I remember thinking standing on the other side of this tiny web camera is going to be pretty soul sucking, but I don't know what else to do.”

She realigned with the joy of performance as the community affectionately referred to as the Freak Fam coalesced around her and Sofi Tukker, who spent nearly every day of the pandemic on Twitch. She soon realized how liberating it was to be free of one-hour set times.

“It also allowed me to get a little bit weirder, like sort of see myself more as like a one-person jam band.” It's an important point to note for a woman raised by two Dead Heads. 

The world of dance music united across borders as fans from around the world hopped from stream to stream on Twitch. Giobbi was a huge part of that. “I've never felt more connected in a year where I thought I was not going to be connected at all.” 

With the increased visibility, Giobbi uncovered a larger platform for her 501(c)(3) Femme House, an artist collective and educational platform that is giving more visibility to women in music. 

, and GRAMMY-winning studio engineer Emily Lazar’s 

. With the support of music software giant Ableton, Giobbi’s organization gave 3,000 women around the world access to music production software and classes to get started.

LP Giobbi for After House Livestream

Take our hand and follow us to the next installment of #AfterHours with LP Giobbi on #InsomniacTV! Meet us for a massive 3 hour set to keep your body movin’ late in the night! 🌐✨ Stay home and dance with #LPGiobbi

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LP Giobbi for After Hours Livestream (March 30, 2021)

It was an emotional moment to scroll through the massive Zoom chat for the first class and see greetings from Mexico, Canada, Australia, and Brazil. It’s remarkable to think how many lives were changed she says. 

“I oftentimes think, ‘Okay, having more female producers. Is that going to change the world?’ And maybe that in of itself isn't, but what it does is it makes you see yourself in a role you didn't think you could be in before. It changes your general concept of yourself.”

With a year of reconning with the social failings of our system, I ask Giobbi if the needle is moving in the right direction. She feels headway is being made, but when she is still the only female DJ across two days of DJing major music festivals, there’s still much improvement to make.

“I understand that as a promoter, you need to book acts that will sell tickets. This is your livelihood, I totally respect that and get that. That being said, only the headliners are actually selling the tickets. That means that there's usually an entire lineup of you know, 40 other acts, below the headliners that people are excited to see but maybe they're not gonna' actually sell the ticket. So, just be aware and make sure that that area is diverse… the bookers and the agents just need to be finally more conscious on how diverse that bottom half looks.”

She does her part by sending notes to promoters on who they should book when she signs a contract to play. She makes sure that talent buyers have contact info for diverse talent in each area.

“Whenever I get booked, we send out a spreadsheet. I'm gonna make your job as easy as possible. Here's a list of artists. Here's their contacts. Here's their social numbers. Here's their Spotify numbers. Here's all the information that you would need to know before you book them, here it is, please reach out if you can.”

Shortly before our call, she's told that she hit the career milestone of having 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Just a year ago she hovered around 10,000, so she's understandably elated at the news. She has more festival bookings than she can shake a fist at, including what she reveals is a special set at Bonnaroo. However, her selfless spirit shows when she discusses how her success relates to her ultimate goal.

She explains how she plans to demand more inclusion and equity in music. “The reason that I keep grinding in the studio and trying to build this platform is not for money. It is because I'm hoping that the more power and leverage that my team and I build, that I can then do that. I'm not there yet. But I do think that, you know, as this builds, that's what I'm going to use my power for 1,000%.”

Gray Area Spotlight: LP Giobbi

Multi-talented artist LP Giobbi encapsulates everything that we love about dance music culture. A dynamic range of unbridled talent, a fierce activist spirit, and a courageous DIY mindset. Find out how the queen of piano house balances a career that sees her doing all the things.

Read the full spotlight: https://grayarea.co/artists/lp-giobbi

▪️Follow LP Giobbi▪️
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lpgiobbi/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/lpgiobbi
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LPGiobbi/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3oKnyRhYWzNsTiss5n4Z1J?si=hRr4WUbERBi_Zyy_aA-iVQ&dl_branch=1
Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/lpgiobbi
Beatport - https://www.beatport.com/artist/lp-giobbi/699908

Connect with Gray Area:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/entergrayarea/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/enterGrayArea
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/entergrayarea
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3nGJIfQ
Website - https://grayarea.co

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
03:30 - Overcoming fear
07:20 - Freak Fam
15:20 - Struggles of being an artist
20:57 - Femme House/gender inequality in dance music
33:50 - How she learned to DJ
42:00 - Having confidence
50:00 - Dance music/activism

#grayarea #lpgiobbi #housemusic

Gray Area Interview: LP Giobbi

There are few in dance music who combine their musical past and present as effectively as LP Giobbi. The classically trained jazz pianist injects her multi-platform DJ sets with syncopated notes hinting at the roots of house music every time she lays a rhythmic keyboard improv over a looped 4/4 beat. She’s exuberant and charismatic as she twists and glides from piano to CDJs and back, never for a moment allowing the music to stop flowing through every inch of her body. She's harnessed an authentic activist mindset that reminds us of the mere act of getting out there on the dance floor, listening to a diva sing over a 4/4 beat with an acid-squelching baseline, that's fucking activism, man.

“The only time I feel completely present as a human—and that sounds so cheesy, but it's true—is when I'm on stage playing music. “ She explains this as she tries to rationalize the constant struggle of the modern musician. Doing hundreds of things that aren't making music and still finding time for music.

“I'm not thinking about what I have to do on my to-do list. I'm just thinking about getting to connect with the people that I can see in the audience and see their joy. This is where I'm actually living my life.”

Giobbi was always indelibly connected to the stage. Her first big break as a performer came when Peter Franco, Daft Punk's studio engineer, discovered her playing jazz in San Francisco. To have those moments ripped away was devastating. On the eve of joining her best friends Sofi Tukker on their European tour in March of 2020, her manager told her that the next 52 weeks of shows are canceled and it was time to start streaming. She reluctantly took the show to Twitch.

“I remember thinking standing on the other side of this tiny web camera is going to be pretty soul sucking, but I don't know what else to do.”

She realigned with the joy of performance as the community affectionately referred to as the Freak Fam coalesced around her and Sofi Tukker, who spent nearly every day of the pandemic on Twitch. She soon realized how liberating it was to be free of one-hour set times.

“It also allowed me to get a little bit weirder, like sort of see myself more as like a one-person jam band.” It's an important point to note for a woman raised by two Dead Heads. 

The world of dance music united across borders as fans from around the world hopped from stream to stream on Twitch. Giobbi was a huge part of that. “I've never felt more connected in a year where I thought I was not going to be connected at all.” 

With the increased visibility, Giobbi uncovered a larger platform for her 501(c)(3) Femme House, an artist collective and educational platform that is giving more visibility to women in music. She launched She Is The Producer in partnership with Alicia Keys’ She Is the Music, and GRAMMY-winning studio engineer Emily Lazar’s We Are Moving the Needle. With the support of music software giant Ableton, Giobbi’s organization gave 3,000 women around the world access to music production software and classes to get started.

It was an emotional moment to scroll through the massive Zoom chat for the first class and see greetings from Mexico, Canada, Australia, and Brazil. It’s remarkable to think how many lives were changed she says. 

“I oftentimes think, ‘Okay, having more female producers. Is that going to change the world?’ And maybe that in of itself isn't, but what it does is it makes you see yourself in a role you didn't think you could be in before. It changes your general concept of yourself.”

With a year of reconning with the social failings of our system, I ask Giobbi if the needle is moving in the right direction. She feels headway is being made, but when she is still the only female DJ across two days of DJing major music festivals, there’s still much improvement to make.

“I understand that as a promoter, you need to book acts that will sell tickets. This is your livelihood, I totally respect that and get that. That being said, only the headliners are actually selling the tickets. That means that there's usually an entire lineup of you know, 40 other acts, below the headliners that people are excited to see but maybe they're not gonna' actually sell the ticket. So, just be aware and make sure that that area is diverse… the bookers and the agents just need to be finally more conscious on how diverse that bottom half looks.”

She does her part by sending notes to promoters on who they should book when she signs a contract to play. She makes sure that talent buyers have contact info for diverse talent in each area.

“Whenever I get booked, we send out a spreadsheet. I'm gonna make your job as easy as possible. Here's a list of artists. Here's their contacts. Here's their social numbers. Here's their Spotify numbers. Here's all the information that you would need to know before you book them, here it is, please reach out if you can.”

Shortly before our call, she's told that she hit the career milestone of having 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Just a year ago she hovered around 10,000, so she's understandably elated at the news. She has more festival bookings than she can shake a fist at, including what she reveals is a special set at Bonnaroo. However, her selfless spirit shows when she discusses how her success relates to her ultimate goal.

She explains how she plans to demand more inclusion and equity in music. “The reason that I keep grinding in the studio and trying to build this platform is not for money. It is because I'm hoping that the more power and leverage that my team and I build, that I can then do that. I'm not there yet. But I do think that, you know, as this builds, that's what I'm going to use my power for 1,000%.”






