Few DJs can say they’ve stayed completely loyal to vinyl in the digital age, but DJ Vinyl Jen proudly has. By day, Jennifer Johnston is an accomplished voiceover artist with more than two decades behind the mic. By night, she steps out from the solitude of her home studio and behind her cherished pair of Technics turntables, bringing retro classics and feel-good nostalgia to dance floors across London and beyond.
With nearly 25 years of DJ experience and a carefully curated vinyl collection spanning the ’70s through to the early 2000s, Jen has built a reputation for doing things a little differently. Her interactive “Select & Spin” concept invites guests to browse her crates and help shape the soundtrack of the night.
From her first record purchases on Oxford Street to residencies at some of the UK’s coolest venues, Jen’s journey is a love letter to the tactile, communal magic of vinyl. We caught up with her to talk about how it all started, why she’ll never switch to digital, and the records that still give her goosebumps.
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
So I’m Jennifer Johnston in real life, a Scottish (and English) Voiceover Artist (VO) by day and DJ Vinyl Jen by night! I’ve been a VO for over 20 years and a DJ for nearly 25. My VO career is quite solitary, working from my home studio, so I just love getting out the house to DJ as often as I can.
What sparked your interest in collecting records?
I started collecting vinyl in 2001 when I first bought my Technics 1210 Turntables and I remember the first two records I bought, from HMV on Oxford Street, were Massive Attack “Blue Lines” and “White Lines” by Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel. I still have them.
What is it about vinyl that you love most?
I enjoy vinyl because it’s tactile, nostalgic and a fabulous talking point. There’s something about vinyl that just gets people talking and reminiscing and, certainly with my retro collection of commercial classics, the trips they take me and my guests on down memory lane are just so joyful. I’ve never used digital equipment, I don’t own a USB with even one song on it, and that ain’t changing because I’m just old school at heart I guess. Vinyl is my thing, it’s my USP and, even though it weighs a bloody tonne, it’s all part of the fun and you won’t hear me complaining about it.
When did you start DJ’ing, and what got you behind the decks?
So my first professional DJ job was as a radio presenter on Virgin Megastores Radio (VMR) in 2001. The station was based in the massive store on Oxford Street, down near Tottenham Court Road and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Having cut my teeth at Riverside Radio, the hospital radio station at Charing Cross Hospital in Hammersmith, I was determined to become a presenter at VMR so recorded a tailored demo and gave it to Nigel, the Station Manager at the time. Nigel saw some talent in me and gave me a job! I DJ’d there 2/3 times a week playing hits and broadcasting live to all the Megastores around the UK. It was so exciting! (Can I just credit my friend Ant, former VMR presenter, who I accosted on the shop floor for intel about the job!)
At the same time, I was offered two live shows a week on a new alternative country music radio station called Mean Country 1035, owned by Mean Fiddler. That was fun too. But I really wanted to be an “actual” DJ and because I was surrounded by vinyl at Virgin, I decided to got for it and splashed out on Technics 1210 Turntables at a cost of £800 for the two. A LOT of money in 2001! But armed with my growing vinyl collection and a bag of CDs, I got my first gigs in DJ bars and clubs around Notting Hill. That was my haunt for the first few years before branching out to Central London and further afield.
“Vinyl DJing isn’t a job you apply for, it’s a career you cultivate. It requires commitment and dedication if you want to be successful”
What can we expect from one of your sets?
I honestly can’t claim to DJ a “set” anymore because my concept “Select & Spin” is a sociable, interactive experience allowing the guests to browse my vinyl record collection and choose the soundtrack for the party. All my records are retro, commercial classics, they’ve all been massive hits in their day, covering the 70’s to early 00’s. Everything from Funk, Soul & Disco, 80’s, 90’s and 00’s Pop, a bit of Hip Hop & Rap and lots of legends too. There’s something for everyone in there. I play a selection of singles, 12” tracks and album tracks and it’s quite chaotic, what with all the socialising, that’s why I can’t claim it’s a “set”. To be honest, I spend so much time talking to people about the music I sometimes (almost) forget to change the tracks! I’ve had many close calls and often find myself having to sprint back to the booth before the track runs out, LOL!
What advice would you give someone wanting to try vinyl DJing?
If anyone wants to start out DJing these days, the quickest and cheapest way to do it is with CDJs, although I can’t advise how do it as I’ve never used them. Vinyl, on the other hand, is a bigger investment, in time as well as effort. A bit like my voiceovers, vinyl DJing isn’t a job you apply for, it’s a career you cultivate. It requires commitment and dedication if you want to be successful. I’ve been collecting my records for 25 years, literally hand-picking and curating them into a very playable collection that makes sense. But it’s never too late to start and hunting for records is fun. You can also pick up reconditioned Technics Turntables like mine although they aren’t cheap. I recommend speaking to Lee at Decknics who restores them. I still use my OG turntables, I’ve looked after them really well all these years. They are precious to me!
What’s the most prized record in your collection, and is there a story behind it?
Almost all of my vinyl records hold some sort of emotional meaning to me but there’s one that transports me right back to a time when my life was changing, for the better, when I realised I was headed down an amazing path and my life would never be the same, and certainly not dull, again. It’s “Mary’s Prayer” by Danny Wilson. I was 17 and stood in Studio A at BBC Scotland watching Danny Wilson sing their new song live for a new TV Show called FSD, so whenever I hear that song, even on the radio, I’m transported back. I get quite emotional actually. Deacon Blue were also on the show singing “Dignity” and Wet Wet Wet “Wishing I was Lucky”. I’d got a job straight from school as a floor assistant and, well, I realised at that moment how lucky I was. I believe I still am! 🙂
What’s your go-to crate digging spot?
My current favourite real-life crate digging spot is Liquorice Records in Windsor. Owned by Carl Page, he’s got an extensive collection and is my go-to if there’s something specific I want or need.
I mostly DJ private parties and events but if anyone wants to catch me and join in the fun of “Select & Spin”, I currently have two residencies – The Knox in Chelsea at the Sloane Square Hotel, and Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire, part of Soho House private members club.
Follow Jen on Instagram to find out where she’ll be and when.
Support Vinylettes: buy me a coffee.
