Jenna Green: Turning Nostalgia Into Movement
Pronouns: She/ Her
Hometown: London
Username(s): jennalgreen_
Let’s start with the mix — your latest set for Voices Radio has such a strong sense of mood and movement. How did you approach putting it together? What story or feeling were you trying to communicate through the mix?
Aw, thank you — I love putting my shows together and always try to center them around fun. Being a Saturday show that’s both listened to live and on demand, it’s really fun to think about what people might be up to while they’re listening and attempt to cater to all experiences.
When I'm putting my playlists in place, I always go off how songs make me feel rather than strictly how they sound. I collect songs all month long and then it's always a bit of a bun fight — a tricky process to work out which ones deserve to make the final cut.
It’s funny because I can always remember where I was when I heard a certain track and why I saved it. On my most recent show, I played a few songs I was listening to on a walk through the park, sipping on a Ribena in the sun. I hadn’t bought a Ribena since I was like 9, and the way the nostalgia and the music made me feel felt like a moment I wanted to pin down and share — so that’s how those songs made it in.
How did you first get involved with Voices Radio, and what role has the platform played in your growth as an artist? Has being part of that community changed the way you see your own work?
I first got involved with Voices back in 2023 after being a guest on my friend Jade’s show. She brought me in and we had such a fun time they asked if I wanted a show too. I’d been doing radio for a few years before that and actually started while I lived in Melbourne, Australia — but I have to credit Voices for really shaping me and helping me grow into a DJ, not just a host.
Voices is honestly the most wonderful and lovely community. I think my experience in London would be completely different without it. It's almost like an unspoken rule that you have to be a kind person to be on the station — everyone is so open, welcoming, and encouraging. Being around that has definitely influenced not just my work but also who and how I am.
As both a DJ and filmmaker, how do your disciplines influence each other? Do you find that your approach to storytelling carries across mediums?
I definitely think they complement each other and have a lot of similarities. Everything I love comes down to how you make people think and feel. Whether I want people to feel empathetic, angry, or shocked by a documentary — or happy, hopeful, and full of joy on a dance floor — I suppose I use the same instincts to hone in on how something is going to land emotionally.
What’s your relationship to rhythm outside of music? Does timing or pacing show up in how you shoot or edit your film work?
Interestingly, I’d say it does. The pacing of how you tell a story is almost as important as the story itself. When I develop and make documentaries, I’m always trying to say something — and that requires thinking deeply about how you’re saying it. Within that is the pacing. There are very similar formulas you can use — kind of like phrasing while DJing.
Can you describe your ideal set environment? What makes a space feel right to you — as both performer and listener?
As both a DJ and a listener, it’s got to be the people — every time. Good people and good energy make everything better. I can think of so many spaces where either I’ve been enjoying music or playing it myself, and the experience was made by the energy and attitudes in the room.
I recently saw Ezra Collective play at Cross the Tracks here in London and if I could have bottled that energy, I would’ve.
Your visuals (even just on Instagram) have a distinct tone — moody, vivid, poetic. What inspires your visual language? Are there certain films, photographers, or places that influence your style?
Hahaha I didn’t realize that was the case! I love bright colors and think I’m quite a vibrant person — even when it comes to visuals.
In terms of places that inspire me, I feel really influenced by my heritage and upbringing. I’m Jamaican and English, and I grew up between London and the North East, which is much more rural. There are so many different layers — historically, culturally, emotionally — that all make their way into my work, both visually and sonically.
In terms of people who inspire me: I lovvveeee Ava DuVernay and am obsessed with her work. If she DJed, that would be me.
What's something that recently inspired you — maybe unexpectedly? Could be a film, a moment on the train, a conversation, a track, anything.
I recently had a really lovely interview with an artist I love, Ella Thompson, on my show. We talked about the state of the world, and I brought up that clip of Nina Simone saying “The job of the artist is to reflect the times.”
I asked Ella if she found it scary or helpful to use music as a vessel to process what’s happening around us. We had an amazing conversation about how scary apathy can be. That moment inspired me to be more vocal and expressive about the things I think and feel.
We also talked about a song she has called Don’t Be a Taurus — and I’m a Taurus, so I asked what she had against us… haha. That led to a really interesting convo about stubbornness and how sometimes when you think you “know your mind,” you’re actually just trying to control the outcome. But a lot of the time, it’s good to let go and just be open.
That part of the conversation inspired me to trust myself more and try things even when they’re not 100% ready or perfect.
How do you care for your creative practice when you're not feeling inspired or energized? Do you have rituals, breaks, or other ways to reset?
I lovvvve a holiday. I recently got back from Jamaica and the Cayman Islands — had the best time and came back feeling so rested. That energy really gave me a boost, and I can feel the impact it's having on my work.
While I was out there, I went to Rockers International Records in Kingston with my boyfriend, and we dug through iconic 7”s for what felt like hours. I’ll always associate that trip with so much great music. If I hadn’t taken the break and gone, I’d be missing that inspiration.
When you’re constantly creating, taking breaks and switching off is key. That’s been my biggest recent learning — sometimes you have to turn it off to turn it back on.
What's next for you — anything coming up that you're excited to share? New projects, collaborations, or directions you're leaning into?
Yessss — it all feels like “go” at the moment, which is really exciting. I recently formed a collective with two fellow DJs also on Voices called O.I. Collective. It stands for Open Invitation, and the idea is to create a space that feels inclusive and celebratory of communities often overlooked — like womxn DJs of the global majority.
Although we all play slightly different styles, we all center our sets around soul music. It’s really exciting to be building a community with people I love for the people I love.
We’ve got an event coming up on July 19th in London and I’m really looking forward to it.
In a world that’s constantly pushing output, how do you stay grounded in process? Do you feel pressure to always be producing?
Having a monthly radio show is really nice because it means that no matter what, something is going out — whether you’re super prepared or not. Ironically, my worst shows are usually when I’ve over-prepped. I’m learning to trust myself more — when I’m just playing music I love and speaking freely, that’s when I feel most connected to listeners.
I do feel pressure to be building, growing, and thinking about what’s next — but I also don’t, at the same time. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster. I have big ideas I’d love to push out, but I’m also a perfectionist. Even as I try to trust more and go with the flow, I still care deeply about quality — and some things just can’t be rushed.