Modern Woman: The Jane Doze

New York-based producers Jen Mozenter and Claire Schlissel both used to work in the music industry behind desks. Just a few short years ago, though, they abandoned their nine-to-fives to produce their own music under the name The Jane Doze. Since then, the pair has played sold out shows across the United States, spun tracks at Fashion Week and Grammy after parties, and had sets at festivals including SXSW and Electric Daisy Carnival. As these ladies continue to bring their artistry to the electronic music world, their choice for ditching their desk jobs seems like the right one.

Photography by Lauren Engel
Interview by Sadie Bell

So your name is a play on Jane Doe (the name given to a woman when her identity is unknown) and your symbol plays on the animal, which often symbolizes intuition – in what way do you embody these characteristics and how did you come to choose this identity for yourselves?
At the inception of this project, we were both following instinct – something drew us to mixing and creating music, and then to do that with each other. A few months after we met, we started thinking about what we should call ourselves. As women in music, we wanted to play off of the idea of anonymity – with the goal being to let the music speak for itself. While talking to a friend about this concept, she suggested “Jane Doe” and thus, “The Jane Doze”…*

Was there a moment when you realized that your transition from working a desk job in the music industry to actually producing your own tracks was the right decision for you? If so, what was that moment and how did it make you feel?
We actually had that moment before we quit our day jobs. 3 years ago we were in a serious car accident and were extremely fortunate to walk away relatively unharmed. We woke up the next morning and knew we had to pursue this project full-time. A few months later, we gave our bosses our two weeks. We haven’t looked back.

What are the advantages of working as a team? Do you draw inspiration from each other? There are a bunch of great things about working as a team.
First off, we bring different strengths to the table. Jen thrives off of the live performance aspect – interacting with the crowd, playing trumpet. Claire is more of the studio rat, production head. If we had the same strengths and interests, this probably wouldn’t work as a duo – we balance each other.
Second, we bring different influences and musical backgrounds. Claire grew up listening to Motown and pop radio, and developed a love of hip hop in college. She grew up playing piano and picked up guitar as a teenager. Jen loves indie bands and 80s synth pop, and grew up playing drums and trumpet. When we combine our different tastes in music, the product is something different and interesting, usually unexpected.
Third, we get to experience this together. In many ways, we are the only ones who truly understand what the other is feeling or thinking because we are the only two people living in the same moment. It’s amazing to be able to look over to the person beside you and say ‘hey, remember that time…’

You’ve said that your mantra is to be present in the moment – how does this transfer over to your life as a DJ and as an individual?
We’ve learned through both personal experiences and the experience of close friends that life is short. It is so important to appreciate the present and be grateful for the moments that led you there. We took a leap of faith when we quit our day jobs to pursue this full time, so we try to make the most of every second.

What are some of the greatest challenges you’ve overcome in the industry and how have you used these to make you a stronger team of artists?
While we’re both lucky to have extremely supportive families, we, as djs, are self-made and self-taught. We have worked for every connection, every opportunity. Being a woman is a challenge in a male-dominated industry (and genre), and we do our best to support other women and not perpetuate the cycle. Our time at our music industry day jobs as well as our ongoing interest in the business-side of this project certainly make us stronger artists. We are not just creatives, we are business women.

The story behind the “Lights Go Down” video was so inspiring. Why was it important to you to get involved with this story and what did you learn from this experience?
It is a privilege to have a platform, and we owe that platform to our fans. We feel one of the most important things we can do is give back and try to make a difference. If we can impact someone’s life for the better while also sending and spreading a positive message,
why wouldn’t we? Kirby’s story is so incredible and she as a woman is so inspiring.

What do you hope all of your fans get from your music and your live performances?
We love this project, and we hope that passion and energy translates in our music and our shows. We want to be those women that
younger girls want to be – leading by positive example.