Showcase: Lovie
Sweet soul trips with Lovie: where every track tells a story
Lovie is a DJ, broadcaster and music curator with an extraordinary feel for music. Her sets are like a spring-scented perfume for the ears – lively, refreshing and full of lightness, always with the aim of broadening her listeners’ musical horizons.
‘Music isn’t just something you play; it’s a way to share a message.’
With her special understanding of music, she regularly takes her online community on acoustic journeys that are both moving and surprising. Despite a busy schedule, the 29-year-old made time for us – six-hour time difference notwithstanding. She lived up to her name – warm, approachable and with a remarkable dedication that characterises both her personality and her work. Raised in Washington, D.C., Lovie moved to New York a few years ago, where she has settled into the city’s vibrant music scene. With her distinctive style and warm charisma, she not only shapes the spaces in which she performs musically, but also personally. Her openness and passion for music make her an artist who remains approachable and values interaction with her community.
From MTV marathons to her own radio show
Music has always been a central part of Lovie’s life – whether listening to radio stations or watching endless MTV marathons after school. She developed a passion for discovering music at a young age. As part of the MySpace, Tumblr and Co. generation, she was particularly fascinated by the boundless diversity that went far beyond what was shown on television. ‘It opened up a whole new world for me,’ she says, describing this formative period. During her college years, she attended a private art school, which sharpened her sense of aesthetic communication. This sensitivity is audibly evident in her sets today.
She took her first steps as a DJ in her own home in her hometown of Washington D.C., creating playlists for herself and her friends. But she quickly developed a desire to present her music selection to a larger audience and said to herself, ‘I can do that!’ The pandemic allowed her to focus more on DJing, and after practising for several months, she soon started her own online radio show.
Moving to New York not only brought Lovie a change of scenery, but also new opportunities. The city’s vibrant music scene became the perfect stage to showcase her personal vision of sound. In November 2020, she finally got her slot on The Lot Radio – an independent online radio station that serves as a meeting place for the local nightlife community. This is where her journey with summer school radio began: The Lot Radio became a platform that promoted not only her music but also her development as an artist. With the support of mentors and many inspiring encounters, she made the transition from a laptop setup to professional CDJs – a moment that noticeably elevated her sound and performance to the next level.
summer school radio: Lovie’s music lessons for the soul
Lovie sees music not only as entertainment, but as a universal language that connects people – and that is precisely the philosophy behind her radio show summer school radio.
‘In my radio show, I play slower, easier listening, when you’re at home doing something,’ she explains – Lovie has never claimed the role of the classic party DJ for herself. Instead, her musical style has been guided by a deep interest in ‘deep diggin’ and slower music. This is precisely what reflects the relaxed atmosphere of summer school radio.
Her shows are an unconventional dialogue between her and her community. In each episode, she presents her favourite songs and latest discoveries, providing exciting insights into the artists’ discographies and regularly inviting guest DJs to bring fresh ideas to the show. In this way, she manages to build a deeper connection – one that you not only hear, but feel.
Lovie knows how to turn music into a captivating lesson and brings her audience closer to artists who are often off the radar.
Sweet, soulful, spiritual – Lovie’s unmistakable style
But what exactly makes Lovie’s sound so special? Her sets are a captivating mix of soul, spiritual grooves, disco and driving jazz, which make her a unique voice in the DJ cosmos. It’s not so much her mixing technique that stands out, but rather the feeling she conveys in her sets. She herself describes her style as ‘sweet, soulful, spiritual’. This umbrella term helps her to move between different genres, and it is precisely this that enables her to create an atmosphere with her unique selection of music that is both grounding and invigorating.
Lovie finds her inspiration primarily in DJs and selectors who present music in an unconventional way – authentically, personally and with a deep sense of its cultural context. She is particularly fascinated by the global community of women who, with their expertise in specific genres, engage deeply with their records – whether by discovering lost tapes or exploring sounds from around the world. Artists such as Gia Fu, Zakia, Coco María and Glowzi, among others, have had a significant influence on her style. ‘These women inspire me! I learn so much from them – not just about music, but also how to curate sets in so many different ways – from intimate radio sessions to club sets.’
Soul Connection: A matter of the heart
Lovie has also made a name for herself on the New York dance floors. In addition to her radio shows, she has teamed up with her best friend and fellow DJ Honey Bun to launch Soul Connection – a project that is much more than just a series of parties for her. Soul Connection stands for empowerment, friendship and the celebratory expression of the Black Femme community through music that is not only heard but felt in the spirit of its guiding principle: ‘Connecting your mind, to your body, to your soul.’
‘There wasn’t a party by women for women with exactly this sound – so we just decided to start it ourselves,’ she says.
What began as a simple idea quickly grew into something bigger and more meaningful. Soul Connection started at Friends and Lovers, a bar and performance venue in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The inclusive venue is known for its lively music programme, from DJ sets to live performances, and offers marginalised communities in particular a space for artistic expression. It was there that the special energy that defines Soul Connection developed. The parties offer the Black femme community a safe space where soulful grooves, house and 90s R&B come together. It’s about a sense of belonging, inspiration and appreciation for Black women in the dance music scene.
„Female vocalists fought for it or made it possible for me to do something like Soul Connection, and with that, I try to honor these women“ explains Lovie.
Dancing, learning and growing together
Lovie’s appreciation for the pioneers of the scene is also evident in her idea of a perfect night, which she describes as follows:
„It is important to me, that everyone is in the room together, present to the room together. Dancing together. I think it always feels so amazing, when everyone’s hands go up at the same time, because everyone is super exciting about the moment that just happened. That doesn’t come from agreeing on the dancefloor, it comes from something internal, and something shared, you know. When the dancefloor is diverse, when the dancefloor is queer and mostly femme, like that makes me happy as well, to create space for them, come out and dancing. When people feel gratitude. Gratitude is shared, People thank me as well I thank them for coming. I like the songs, but you know, I play the songs for them.”
An important part of Lovie’s work is continuous learning and sharing knowledge. ‘Through parties, gigs, and conversations with other women, often older ones, we learn so much about the history of house and the music that connects us,’ she says. Particular highlights for her were a gig in Atlanta, where she met legendary DJ Debbie Graham, and a performance in New York for Nowadays, where she met Bumako Recordings label owner Jenifa Mayanja – women who not only pass on their long-standing knowledge of the nightlife scene, but also their passion for house music. ‘Everything I learn, I share with my community – that way, we learn together and engage in exchange,’ says Lovie. This is exactly what makes Soul Connection and summer school radio unique platforms – physical and virtual places where music and community exchange go hand in hand.
The path to recognition and international stages
From her beginnings with summer school radio and the dance floors of New York, Lovie has quickly become a rising star in the young New York music scene. Her distinctive work has not only earned her a Top 25 Breakthrough DJ award from Mixmag, but also performances at renowned institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in Manhattan, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Beacon Theatre, where she opened for renowned jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington – legendary venues known for their acoustics and historic performances by great musicians. With her growing success in New York, she also gained international attention. Her journey has already taken her to Paris, where she played at Djoon, the Parisian hotspot for soulful house, and to Spiritland in London, known for its excellent sound quality.
“Black People being creative, powerful…”
For Lovie, her work is not just about sharing tracks, but above all about connecting people through music. ‘Share music, choose to love – with love, all things grow’ is one of her favourite quotes that perfectly sums up her philosophy. In her sets, she celebrates not only hidden gems, but also the deep musical history of Black communities. ‘Black people have always been creative, powerful,’ she emphasises, pointing to the deep-rooted influence of Black culture in her own sound. She is less concerned with explaining the origins of dance music and more with honouring the significant role of Black creativity in music and passing on her knowledge about it.
In short, Lovie’s sound is an experience that only comes into its own in a community setting. Her sets create a space where people can connect, grow and learn together. Check out what’s behind her sound for yourself – you’ll find the links below.
More from Lovie
Listen
LOVIE | summer school radio
https://soundcloud.com/lovieworld/sets/summer-school-radio-at-the-lot
Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/lovieworld
https://www.instagram.com/lovie.world/
Website