Jessica Delijani (she/her)- DJ & Singer

The opening act for Matt Bennett. Persian Barbie. Disco Shrine. Jessica Delijani is a DJ/singer based in California.

Born and raised in the valley she was surrounded by the chaos of LA, but rather than rejecting city life, she explored the city every moment she could. Although her parents were not as immersed in art as herself, she gained inspiration from her grandma and uncle who were also artists. Her love for pop culture stemmed from her sisters as she would follow in their influence, especially during their hangouts at Barnes and Noble where she would buy Teen Vogue’s Nylon magazines (a staple of course).

Delijani emphasized how she didn’t always know she would be a DJ and performer, but wanted to be part of the entertainment industry. Which part? She didn’t know. She was never that deep into the music aspect of art and preferred working behind the scenes for performances, curation, and organizing events. She was, virtually, the foundation of musical operations until, one day, she was asked to perform a set. As an adamant risk-taker, she didn’t back down but took this opportunity to learn how to be a DJ. Ever since that moment of performing on stage, she experienced an otherworldly experience of connecting with the audience. As she continued experimenting in her journey of DJing, she began writing her own music and reached a profound sense of self-gratification with her work. She realized, “These are the types of prouds I want to have when I play my music”.

From the beauty of seeing how the audience lives through her sets and the solitude she has in songwriting, Delijani’s art brings her a new sense of life. Nonetheless, it is not always this delightful. As a performer, she stated the best part of live shows is the audience, but it also has its downside. “Art is subjective. You can’t always please everyone,” stated Delijani as she brought up the double-edged sword of music-making. Further, she spoke out on the importance of community in any art industry, specifically saying that “there is enough food on the table for everyone,” even when competition is incredibly harsh. She voiced how she wouldn’t get any gigs if it weren’t for her diligent networking. Like many artists, Delijani has gone through an artistic metamorphosis as someone who evolved from an underground performer to Disco Shrine, an outgoing DJ and singer who performed for Carly Rae Jepsen’s birthday. She credits her development to her faith in God, as believing faith was a big factor in the development of her self-confidence. Now keep a look out for any new releases from Disco Shrine!