The key facts

  • Irish DJ Jazzy has released her debut album 'Peace and Patience' after more than a billion streams.
  • The artist highlights the shrinking club infrastructure in the UK and Ireland as a serious problem for the industry.
  • Before her UK tour, Jazzy will hold her biggest concert to date in Dublin at the 3Arena.

A debut album after a billion streams

Irish DJ and singer Jazzy (real name Yasmine Byrne) has released her first full-length album, 'Peace and Patience', after years of working on singles and more than a billion plays. The artist, whose career began on Dublin's club scene as part of the group Powerful Creative Minds, noted that the decision to record an album matured after five years of active work and collaborations with artists such as Calvin Harris, Sonny Fodera and KILIMANJARO. In an interview with BBC Newsbeat, she stressed that creating the album was driven by a desire to make an honest project, rather than chasing virality, which, in her words, often dominates modern dance music.

Industry context and the challenges of club culture

The album's release comes against the backdrop of dance music's growing popularity: according to Spotify, since 2020, plays of this genre among audiences under 25 worldwide have grown by more than 73%. However, despite success at festivals such as Radio 1's Big Weekend, where dance music dominated the opening, the industry itself is facing a venue crisis. Jazzy pointed to shrinking opportunities for live performances, noting club closures in both Ireland and the UK. According to the Night Time Industries Association, in the UK around 12 venues close every month, and since the start of the pandemic the night-time economy has lost almost 30% of its value.

Personal themes and tour plans

On the new album, which the artist describes as more personal than her previous work, there is a track called 'Invisible', dedicated to a negative experience in the music industry and which she has called her 'first diss track'. Jazzy expressed the hope that fans will get to know her better through these stories. Before her UK tour, scheduled for next month, she will perform the biggest show of her career at Dublin's 3Arena. She considers this event her biggest achievement so far, surpassing even performances at Coachella and supporting Calvin Harris.

Jazzy is a 30-year-old woman with long dark hair which she wears in a braid down to her middle, with two smaller braids shaping her face. She looks over her left shoulder, her left arm across her body. She's photographed wearing a dark short sleeved shirt with a red zip against a blue backdrop.Image source, Supplied
Image caption,

Irish DJ Jazzy is best known for tracks like No Bad Vibes and Somedays

Jazzy pictured with her debut album on a green vinyl. She smiles at the camera holding the LP, her hair in a ponytail. She's wearing a yellow sport-style shirt and is pictured outside with flats visible behind her.Image source, Supplied
Image caption,

Jazzy says releasing her debut album feels 'surreal'

A footer logo for BBC Newsbeat. It has the BBC logo and the word Newsbeat in white over a colorful background of violet, purple and orange shapes. At the bottom a black square reading 'Listen on Sounds' is visible.
Festivalgoers enjoy a performance during BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend. There are fans in the crowd who are singing along and one who is raised up with his arms in the air.