Jordana (producer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jordana LeSesne
Jordana at Technorganic Records showcase party with MC Collaborator
Background information
Born	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Drum and bass
Occupation(s)	Producer, musician, DJ
Years active	1992–present

Jordana LeSesne, who used to be known as 1.8.7, is an American musician, producer, and DJ. She is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Today, she creates and performs music as Jordana. She became well-known in the mid-1990s for her drum and bass music.

Vibe magazine once called her "one of the most respected Drum ‘n' Bass producers in the US." In 2015, the magazine Mixmag recognized her as one of "20 women who shaped the history of dance music." Jordana is transgender and shared this publicly in 1998.

She has released over 50 music tracks. These include four albums, several EPs (Extended Plays), and remixes under her old name, 1.8.7. Her 1997 album When Worlds Collide was known for its strong sound. She has also allowed her music to be used in compilations and on the Sci Fi Channel.

Three of her albums were listed in the Top 25 charts for CMJ (College Music Journal) and Mixmag U.S. (later Mixer Magazine) in 1997, 1998, and 1999. Her third album, "The Cities Collection," reached the #2 spot on CMJ Music Monthly's dance chart in June 2000.

Her music has been reviewed by many famous magazines. These include Billboard, Spin, Rolling Stone, Urb, Mixer, Mixmag, and Raygun. She was also featured in Knowledge, a U.K. Drum and Bass magazine. In 1999, Raygun listed her in their Who's Who of International DJs. She was also a main DJ on Knowledge Magazine's "Kung Fu Knowledge" tour, which visited 28 cities in 1999.

Jordana's Influence on Music

Jordana's music has inspired other artists. For example, dubstep producer Bassnectar used parts of her song 5 A.M. Rinse (feat. MC Sphinx) in his 2010 song Here We Go. 5 A.M. Rinse was the last song on her first album, When Worlds Collide.

Also, the electronic rock group Celldweller used parts of Jordana's songs. They sampled "Wake Up" from her first album and "San Francisco" from her third album, "The Cities Collection." These samples were used in their 2013 song "Uncrowned."

In 1999, another Drum & Bass and Hip Hop producer named Hive asked Jordana to remix her song Defcon-1. This song was also from her album When Worlds Collide. Hive's remix can be found on his 2001 album The Raw Uncut.

Jordana also worked with Lady Sovereign early in Lady Sovereign's career. They met online through a chat room for an internet radio station. Later, Jordana, using her DJ name Lady J, had Lady Sovereign perform as an MC on her radio show on Flex FM London.

Jordana's Career Journey

Jordana first gained attention in the music world when she was asked to remix the song "Atomic" by the band Blondie. Her remix appeared on the single along with a remix by Armand Van Helden.

About a year later, Mac McFarlane, who promoted the famous New York City club Konkrete Jungle, asked her to create a song for a CD compilation. Jordana made the song "Konkrete Jungle" for this project. This song was described as having "menacing hardstep attacks" by CMJ. It was released on the Ultra Records compilation, Konkrete Jungle - Maximum Drum & Bass. This compilation was mixed by BBC Radio 1 DJ Jumpin Jack Frost.

After touring a lot in North America and other countries, Liquid Sky Music, an independent record label, signed her. They signed her to a three-album deal in late 1996.

Other Music Work

Besides making music, Jordana is also a DJ, musician, and singer. From 2001 to 2002, she worked at Flex FM in London, England, as Lady J. During her radio show, Lady Sovereign would perform for her. In 2002, she had a regular DJ spot at the Trinity club in Vauxhall. There, she played UK garage, 2-step garage, and house music.

After returning to the United States, Jordana went back to playing rock music. She was the lead singer of a goth metal band in Seattle. Before that, she briefly played bass in another band and became good friends with the singer Shelita Burke.

Jordana has performed alongside artist Arca at events like Planet Zolean. She was also featured as "Mix of the Day" for Resident Advisor and contributed to the Daisychain Podcast. After a long break, Jordana has started DJing again. Her first performance in over ten years was at Kremfest, a music festival in Seattle, Washington. Since then, she has played at many underground raves.

In 2014, Jordana created the music for the documentary Free CeCe. This film was produced and directed by Jacqueline Gares and Laverne Cox. The documentary tells the story of CeCe McDonald, an African-American trans woman who faced legal challenges after defending herself in Minneapolis.

Books Featuring Jordana

Jordana has been mentioned in several books. Her journey from living in a "rust belt" city to becoming an electronic music artist featured on MTV was noted in "The Rise of the Creative Class" by economist Richard Florida.

She also appears in two books about the history of the American electronic dance music scene. These are Michaelangelo Matos's The Underground is Massive and Rave Culture, an Insider's Overview by Jimi Fritz and Virginia Smallfry. Monica Roberts, a close friend, said that Jordana's influence encouraged her to expand her printed publication TransGriot into a blog in 2006.

An interview with Jordana was included in several books, including one published in 2012 by rock journalist George Petros. She has also talked about her personal life in interviews for publications like The Festival Voice, The Brooklyn Rail, and href zine.

Personal Life

Jordana currently lives in Seattle, Washington.

Music Releases

Vinyl Records

• 1995 Blondie "Atomic (The Beautiful Drum and Bass Mix)" VV58320 Chrysalis Records/EMI
• 1996 RockStone Foundation "Dis Soun'" JS007 Jungle Sky
• 1997 V/A – Nirvana EP "We Are Not Alone" JS114 Jungle Sky
• 1997 Soul Slinger-Don't Believe "Abducted (1.8.7 Remix) JS118 Jungle Sky
• 1997 Soul Slinger-Don't Believe "Ethiopia/JungleSky (1.8.7 Megamix)" JS118 Jungle Sky
• 1997 1.8.7 – When Worlds Collide full-length album EP1 "Defcon 1"/"When Worlds Collide"/"Blueshift"/"Dragonfly" JSK121 Jungle Sky
• 1997 1.8.7 – When Worlds Collide full-length album EP2 "Wake Up"/"Distant Storm Approaching"/"Ghetto Style"/"Ghetto Style (West Philly Mix)" JSK122 Jungle Sky
• 1998 Murder 0ne (1.8.7)/T.Farmer "Annihilate"/"Memory" BOOST002 Boosted Records
• 1998 This is Jungle Sky Vol. 5: Rock N Roll EP Disc 2 "Break In"/"The Return of Shaft"/"Konkrete Jungle" Jungle Sky JSK131
• 1998 This is Jungle Sky Vol. 5: Rock N Roll EP Disc 3 "Atmosphere Remix"/"The Jam"/Beastie Boys – "Sabotage (1.8.7 JS Remix)" JSK132 Jungle Sky
• 1998 1.8.7 – Quality Rolls full-length album EP1 "Quality Rolls"/"Relax Your Mind"/"Phobic" JSK136 Jungle Sky
• 1998 1.8.7 – Quality Rolls full-length album EP2 *"Jerusalem"/"Get Amped" (215 Remix)/"Stigma" JSK 137 Jungle Sky
• 1998 1.8.7 – Quality Rolls full-length album EP3 "Rock The Party"/"Deep Stealth"/"Cross the Line" JSK138 Jungle Sky
• 1998 1.8.7 – Quality Rolls full-length album EP3 "United"/"Blue Nile"/"Reboot" JSK139 Jungle Sky
• 1999 Jordana – "Pure Funk"/Stardust – "Music Sounds Better".. [With Bass] (Jordana JS remix) *whitelabel* JSK149 Jungle Sky
• 1999 Jordana – Cities Collection 12" 1 "Hollywood (courtesy of Lucasfilm)"/"Los Angeles"/"New York" JSK157 Jungle Sky
• 1999 Jordana – Cities Collection 12" 2 "Pittsburgh"/"Miami"/"San Francisco" JSK158 Jungle Sky
• 2000 Loki and Jordana – "Murder" 12" *whitelabel*
• 2001 Jordana – "Tampa Tantrum"/"In Your Arms" 12" TECO008 Technorganic
• 2002 Lady J feat. Lady Sovereign – "The Intro Dub" (Flex FM)
• 2002 Jordana – Full Colour 12" 1 *whitelabel* ConceptAudio
• 2002 Jordana – Full Colour 12" 2 *whitelabel* ConceptAudio

CD Releases

• 1994 V/A – Interstellar Outback "Jungleman" ROM01 RomHyperMedia
• 1995 V/A – Scotto Presents: Drop Beats Vol.1 "Ravestock Anthem" DROP001 Drop Entertainment
• 1996 V/A – This Is Jungle Sky Vol.2 "Dis Soun" JSK008 Jungle Sky
• 1997 V/A – This is Jungle Sky Vol.4 "We Are Not Alone" JSK116 Jungle Sky
• 1997 V/A – Future Groove "We Are Not Alone" ?74321 50089 2 Ariola/BMG
• 1997 V/A – New York Junglist "We Are Not Alone" AVCD11540 Avex Trax
• 1997 Soul Slinger-Don't Believe CD "Abducted (187 Remix)" JSK120 Jungle Sky
• 1997 Soul Slinger-Don't Believe CD "Ethiopia/JungleSky" JSK120 Jungle Sky
• 1997 1.8.7 – When Worlds Collide CD album JSK124 Jungle Sky
• 1998 V/A – This is Jungle Sky Vol.5 "The Jam" JSK130 Jungle Sky
• 1998 V/A – This is Jungle Sky Vol.5 "Atmosphere Remix" JSK130 Jungle Sky
• 1998 Soul Slinger – Upload: A Continuous Mix CD "Rock the Party" JSK142 Jungle Sky
• 1998 V/A – Nu Balance: Domesticated Drum & Bass CD "5am Rinse" COA70016-2 City Of Angels
• 1998 1.8.7 – Quality Rolls CD album JSK135 Jungle Sky
• 1999 V/A – Sci Fidelity: This is Sci Fi. CD "Deep Stealth" SciFi Channel/Jungle Sky
• 1999 V/A – This is Jungle Sky Vol.6 CD "Pure Funk" JSK150 Jungle Sky
• 1999 V/A – This is Jungle Sky Vol.6 CD "Unite Remix" JSK150 Jungle Sky
• 1999 Jordana presents 1.8.7 – The Cities Collection CD album JSK162 Jungle Sky
• 1999 V/A – E-Sassin Absolute Friction CD "Worlds Apart" 21C.3007 Quantum Loop
• 2000 V/A – Digital Empire: DJ Girl "Deep Stealth" 6454-2 Cold Front Records
• 2001 Hive – The Raw Uncut EP CD "Defcon-1" (Hive Remix) VTXCD-002 Vortex Recordings
• 2002 Jordana – Full Colour album ConceptAudio Limited Release
• 2003 V/A – Girls In Space CD "In Your Arms" CD-9213 Urabon Records
• 2005 Jordana – Jordana EP CD "In Your Arms" TECO CD001 Technorganic Recordings
• 2005 Jordana – Jordana EP CD "Tampa Tantrum" TECO CD001 Technorganic Recordings
• 2005 V/A – DJ Psycle-Back From The Future CD "In Your Arms" TECO CD-9213 Technorganic Recordings
• 2005 V/A – DJ Psycle-Back From The Future CD "In Your Arms" TECO CD-9213 Technorganic Recordings
• 2008 V/A – What the Bleep & Foi Oi Oi-Feelings For Detroit Vol.3 Yabette – "Babylon (1.8.7 Remix)" EEMIX003 Electronic Enlightenment

Digital Releases

• 2001 Jordana - Full Colour [self released]
• 2003 Jordana - Numerology [self released]
• 2020 Jordana - Resistencia EP [self released]
• 2021 ill.Gates, Jordana and Mimi Page - The Arrival, "The Future" [Alpha Pup Records/Producer Dojo]
• 2025 Jordana - Trans and Proud [self released]
• 2025 B-Complex and Jordana feat. Zak Meow - Lorem Ipsum [Imagine Audio]

Music Videos

• We Are Not Alone (1998) – directed by MSKW1 aka Michael Whartnaby
• Defcon 1 (1998) – directed by MSKW1 aka Michael Whartnaby and DBIDWA aka Dan Bidwa
• Worlds Apart (1998) – directed by Gerard Ryan
• Atmosphere (1998) – directed by Gerard Ryan
• Ring Me Back (2002) – directed by Trevor McKinley
• The Future (2021) – animation by Adam Hatch