Words by Vanessa Trifunovic

Crazy, sexy, cool: Just three adjectives that perfectly sum up the party that Melbourne selectors JADE ZOE and MIMI have created for themselves, aptly titled CRXZY SXXY CXXL.

Their passion for throwing great parties radiates in great detail – the aesthetic approach in styling their space, conceptual ideas for each party, wild promo trailers – putting their CRXZY SXXY CXXL stamp on every aspect. Additionally, they’ve brought in some of the city’s favourite fellow DJs to play the nights including SAL, Tranter and Steezy.

Teaming up in January 2015, the duo have kicked some pretty huge goals in their short lifespan – seeing them supporting Danny Brown at Acclaim Magazine’s 10th Birthday Party, closing the stage at Let Them Eat Cake and teaming up with sportswear giants Puma for their latest launch party. We chatted to the amicable CRXZY SXXY CXXL girls about their detailed approach to party-throwing, shitty requests and the Melbourne vibe:

Where did the idea of CRXZY SXXY CXXL come from?

JADE: We met at a Halloween party at a club and after seeing Mimi a few more times after that, I asked her if she wanted to start a night. I wanted to create something different where you can play the music you want to play, where you can educate the crowd on new music and classics they may have forgotten about. And to to make Mimi my new BFF.

MIMI: At the Halloween party I kept coming up to the booth and going ‘OMG yes this is a jam’ or ‘yes – no one plays this’ – just pointing at Jade like a total weirdo fan-girling, but luckily it all worked out. We played on a few more bills together over the next few months and Jade hit me up on Facebook to start a party. I always thought in my mind “it would be so cool to have a DJ bestie who gets it and wants to create a party” – she made my dreams come true!

What do you appreciate the most about throwing your own parties, and what are some of the difficulties you face?

JADE: I appreciate all the babes who come and party with us! It was so scary at the start because each month, we’re thinking, “is anyone going to come?” Then over a year later we’ve built a community and it’s been great to throw parties where everyone feels safe to be who they are and have a dance with us. I also love that we have creative control from seeing all our ideas come to life in the venues to booking the DJs we love. Maybe the only difficulty was the one time I got too excited and went over budget, spending $200 on lollies for our #Candyshop video and party.

MIMI: That these parties are 100% our own creation from scratch, from zero budgets and we’ve created a really wonderful community around of us of like-minded DJs and fans of good music. Our little CRXZY SXXY CXXL baby has come a long way! We haven’t really run into any difficulties as Jade and I both have a very strong work ethic, are very communicative and honest in our approach. I think we’re very fortunate to find each other as business partners – there are times were we literally can read each others minds and finish each others sentences.

You have created a strong aesthetic around your parties in the styling of spaces, your photos and promotional videos. What has been your inspirations? Do you feel this aesthetic has been important for people to get a sense of who you are?

JADE: 90s R&B, emojis, Tumblr. Aaliyah is pretty much my number one inspiration. We want to change where and how people party – not always in a club, which is why we started our pop-up parties recently to mix it up.

MIMI: We have so so many ideas which are influenced from pop-culture and just things that we think up of like ‘How cool would it be if…’ and then we just go ahead and do it. When we started, we wanted to create once-off parties which if you got to be there in that time and space you get to live it and enjoy it. At our #ROCKTHEBOAT underwater themed party we had a real life mermaid up at the DJ decks combing her hair, blowing bubbles wearing a mermaid costume we made. We like to make our own rules about what a party can be.

Is there any other collectives or DJs killing it in Melbourne at the moment that we should know about?

JADE: The Operatives have been smashing it for 12 years now. Happy Birthday! They’re always bringing out great acts and throwing fun parties. Every month I’m at REUP and One Puf – they just won the Battle 8 at Section 8 – their nights are always crazy and sweaty.

MIMI: Top Girl are doing cool things!

It seems like Melbourne is having a little nightlife Renaissance at the moment, or maybe that’s only because Sydney is having a little struggle. What is the vibe in the city at the moment?

JADE: Melbourne has always been great! There’s so many parties and club nights, we are pretty spoiled to be honest. When it finally warms up, this city will go off in summer. Everyone is happier when the sun is out.

MIMI: There is always something happening here any night of the week – in places sometimes you don’t expect and you’re welcome to be at any of these parties. Any genre, any vibe, any time – there’s a lot of music and events to get down to!

What is important to you when finding a space for your parties and booking DJs for your lineups?

JADE: The most important thing is finding a venue which is compatible with CSC, that we can go in and decorate it, make it our own. Its important we book DJs who know what’s up, have their own vibe and different tastes in music – so we can learn from their sets too.

MIMI: We like to do a venue inspection see is potential and see how we can transform the venue with our personal crazy, sexy, cool touch. The DJs have to be a good, enthusiastic bunch!

There are more and more parties in Sydney focusing on an all female lineup or have been more conscious of having a more gender balanced lineup. Have you felt the same in Melbourne? And what have been your observations of the effects it has had on the scene?

JADE: It’s great to see more equality on line ups. There are so many amazing DJs out there doing great things. When we book our CSC line ups we book DJs we admire and a lot of the time – they happen to also be female. We book them because they’ve got taste and they’re good DJs.

MIMI: Well we’re two chicks who run our own parties, have lots of awesome friends who also happen to be chicks and for us it’s about celebrating DJs with great taste in music and general knowledge of hip-hop. Our parties are all-inclusive and we love to collaborate and celebrate the good times with other crews and share the love.

Mimi will be supporting TLC on their upcoming tour. Given that you guys are named after a TLC record, how are you preparing mentally for this monumental date?

JADE: I’m doing yoga to Creep every morning.

MIMI: My obsession is in overdrive at the moment. I feel very fortunate to be opening for them and everything which they represent. I can’t wait to start the party!

You play a wide range of genres from rap, grime, dancehall, and everything in-between. Do you have any music policies, individually or as a collective? Is there anything you won’t/refuse to play?

JADE: We probably wouldn’t play Backstreet Boys, unless it was a fiyah dancehall remix. We are pretty openminded though and I do love Backstreet Boys!

MIMI: We just wanna make sure people have a good time, keep things fresh, remind you of the old-school faves and give ourselves and our DJs the space to play what they want underneath the huge hip-hop umbrella.

What are the best ways to deal with shitty requests?

JADE: I say, “I don”t think I have that, ask the DJ after me!”

MIMI: I usually just smile and say “’I’ll see if I have it.”

What is in store for CRXZY SXXY CXXL in 2017? And do you have any plans to party here in Sydney soon?

BOTH: Our final party for 2016 is a big one so save the date – Thursday December 1st. As for 2017, we have plans for the remainder of our SS16/17 pop-up party series. We would love to bring our party to Sydney!