LP Giobbi on Making Music and Creating Change

LP Giobbi isn’t your average DJ. Trained classically as a jazz pianist, she now tours most of the year, playing festivals, clubs and even the boardroom. She’s the Global Director of Music Director for W Hotels, curating artistic talent and programming for the hospitality giant, and has remixed music for everyone from Taylor Swift to Calvin Harris.

Her work is bright and high energy, inviting listeners to experience a joyful blend of house and soul. Giobbi’s latest project  — her sophomore album Dotr (pronounced “daughter”) – is out now. The title itself is a bit of an inside joke. “When I was young I used to write my parents little notes and leave them under their pillow or around the house,” she explains. “I would sign them ‘love, Dotr’ as I was, and still am, the world’s worst speller. To this day when they write me a birthday card or whatever, they start it ‘Dear Dotr’.”

The album is an homage to the experience of being a daughter, and a tribute in memory of the women who have shaped her and who sadly passed away: her mother-in-law, Patricia Lynn; her longtime piano teacher, Carolyn Horn; and close family friend, Suse Millemann.

While Giobbi’s passions lie in creating music, she’s also become an advocate for marginalized communities in music. Her non-profit, Femme House, helps women and gender-expansive individuals to thrive in all facets of the music industry, from producing to writing. She wants equity and equality in a male-dominated field so that newer voices are allowed to express themselves.

We spoke to Giobbi about her new album, setting up Femme House and the beauty rituals that get her through a busy tour schedule.

I went to school for Jazz Piano Performance at UC Berkeley. After graduating, Daft Punk engineer and producer Peter Franco asked me to join this all-female electronic band he was putting together in LA. Through that, I learned sound design and synthesis and started to produce. Shortly after, I met Sofi Tukker when I opened up for them at a festival. They liked my set and asked me to come on tour. Now, working with talented artists like Taylor Swift, Brittany Howard, Calvin Harris and Diplo has really pushed me to step my game up and deliver the best possible tracks I can, allowing me to really hone in on my craft.

I believe in allyship and finding the gatekeepers that have influence and power to open doors for those less represented. That’s why creating spaces and communities like Femme House, where we can uplift, encourage and collaborate with one another, becomes really important and inspiring to keep going.

FEMME HOUSE is a non-profit organization that fosters more equitable opportunities for women and gender-expansive individuals in the technical and behind-the-scenes areas of music. We are creating future producers, mixers, engineers, DJs, artists and executives of the industry by providing education and scholarships, cultivating the community, propagating visual representation, and offering professional development opportunities.

The girl I was and the woman I am becoming is thanks to the people I have honored through this album. It started by wanting to give my mom and dad their flowers while we are still on this earth together, and it expanded into writing songs about and with some of the people that have inspired me the most.

The intro, interludes and outro that ties the album together thematically were written for three of the most important and influential women in my life, who all passed away last year, one month apart. I wanted to honor them and make music for them which also allowed me to process the grief and turn it into the joy they gave me and the gratitude I have for their existence.

I swear by hydrating face masks to replenish my skin after flights. So much so that they are even part of my rider requirement. And I always wash my face before bed, no matter what time I finally get off stage or how little time I have before leaving my hotel for the next show.

Eating right is also important for me. Sophie Hawley-Weld of Sofi Tukker really inspires me to make sure I’m putting the right food and nutrients in my body so that I can show up with energy to perform to the best of my ability. She treats herself more like an athlete than a DJ or rockstar, and I really respect that.

From her Klorane Dry Shampoo to her EltaMD UV Daily Tinted Face Sunscreen, LP Giobbi lets us know what beauty buys get her through a lengthy tour.

Julie Lindh Ageless System Face Roller

I get a lot of tension in my jaw and this roller really helps relieve that.

Patchology Rejuvenating Eye Gels

You don’t get a ton of sleep while touring as a DJ so I swear by these to help keep my eyes looking fresh.

Patchology Hydrate Hydratant Face Mask

I put one on every time I get off a plane. I really love Patchology Hydrate Hydratant.

Klorane Dry Shampoo 

My favorite dry shampoo out there, which also gives me good texture and lift.

EltaMD UV Daily Tinted Face Sunscreen 

It provides a nice, even shine to your face as a great base layer while also protecting your skin.

LP Giobbi’s latest album, DOTR, is now available to stream on Apple Music and Spotify. 

For more beauty news, check out our interview with Suni Lee after her journey at the 2024 Paris Olympics.