Today we’d like to introduce you to Bridgett Hardville DJ Jane Dupree.
Hi Jane, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I fell in love with music as a child. I started playing guitar as a teenager and soon began playing at local churches. In my freshman year in college, I was in a Christian rock band and we were on the label D-fusion music. The label head was a rapper and his DJ introduced me to the workings of turntables.
A chance meeting with a vibrant classmate and WMTS radio host, Pimpdaddy Supreme, led me to get involved with the MTSU radio station. The following semester, I was given my own show, Housenation. I chose the name DJ Ten and started the show with barely any DJ skills. I learned how to mix live on air.
I would have local DJs as guests and I appeared on other WMTS shows. I threw my first event about a year after being a DJ. I got my first Nashville booking at the Club ExCeSs in 2000. As my show grew in popularity, I started getting more bookings and acquired my first out-of-town set. That booking inspired me to change my DJ name to Jane Dupree.
Originally, I considered using the moniker Diva Dupree. I wanted my name to represent ‘ your average woman’. There is a street in my hometown in Crockett County, Tennessee. There is a street called Dupree st. The street is predominately black, so I wanted something that would represent that to me.
The electronic music scene was not known for diversity but I wanted to make sure I was representing myself, so I chose Dupree. I was chatting up this change with my mentor Mixmaster Lee and he suggested I use Jane. I liked it and the name change happened in 2002.
Fast forward to today, I am one of the first black female electronic music DJs in Nashville. I have DJed with several of the industry’s top artists and events. I have been in numerous music videos including Jake Owen’s “Down to the honkytonk”.
I have had the honor to be a staple in the LGBTQIA nightlife and Nashville Electronica dance community. I have held residencies at Excess, Mai, M-street, Mad Donnas, and just to name a few. In 2018, I was the winner of Out & About Nashville’s Faves & Raves best DJ. I even had the chance to play at the Legendary Dinah Shore Weekend.
One of my favorite experiences was playing events with the Lady Foursquare before she became The Blessed Madonna. We shared stages in Nashville, Louisville, and Evansville.
In 2020, I took a break from djing because of Covid 19. Unfortunately during that time, I was also battling Stage 3 colorectal cancer. I took the time off to avoid covid, rest, and work on new projects. I was blessed enough to make it to remission in January 2021.
I am currently working on new releases and resident DJ of L27 Rooftop bar, Canvas Lounge, and Nashville Resistance. Expect music releases in late spring 2022.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been a few bumps but the rest was just waiting on me. The biggest challenge has been returning to djing after cancer treatment.
Although I am still recovering, I decided to continue my life. I am a DJ and will do so until I’m ready to move on. I’ve been fortunate enough to build great relationships that led to great referrals. I am thankful for those inclusive people.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I go by the name DJ Jane Dupree. I am a multigenre DJ and specialize in electronic music. My niche is all forms of house music. I also produce electronic and pop music. My latest release will include collaborations with D. Stephen Jackson, Jstarr, Chill Mode, and Amoretta Layne of Cloud Mouth.
I am known for my long blends and live remixes. One of my favorite moments was backing Martha Wash as DJ while she performed “Everybody, Everybody & It’s raining men”. Another proud moment was opening for Lizzo and La Bouche.
Aside from just playing music, I create an experience and feed off the energy in the room. I’m a musician first and to me, djing is live song arranging. I treat it like I’m writing a new song for every mix.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Persistence and follow-through are big factors in my success. The DJ/entertainment world is highly competitive and being reliable will take you a long way.
Contact Info:
- Email: djjanedupree@gmail.com
- Website: www.djjanedupree.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/
djjanedupree - Facebook: www.facebook.com/
djjanedupree - Twitter: www.twitter.com/
janedupree - Youtube: www.youtube.com/
djjanedupree - SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.
com/janedupree - TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@janedupree
Image Credits
Erika Aguilar, Bridgett Hardville, and Ann Hargrove
