DJ Moonbaby

TEXT SHANNON M. HOFFMAN

VISUAL ADAM HUTSELL

In a world full of uncertainty and hardship, Angela Jollivette knows one thing is true — God has a plan. 

Since 2007, Jollivette has spent her time at The Recording Academy here in LA – the world’s leading society of music professionals, dedicated to all things musical. She worked in the Grammy Awards department, overseeing the awards for television and film soundtracks, world and gospel music— and absorbing everything she could about the music industry. In addition to her awards position, she hosted and produced an on-camera series called Buzzin’ for the Grammy’s digital platforms. Buzzin’ featured interviews and exclusive performances with the next “Big Thing” in Urbanmusic along with Grammy nominees and winners. 

Also known as DJ Moonbaby (for her astrological sign, Cancer, and her gender), Jollivette was DJ and producer at the Accelerated Radio Network, where she hosted her radio program UnRestricted every Thursday night from 2013 to 2017. Playing a soulful blend of R&B/Hip-Hop, Jazz, Electronic, Indie and beyond, she broke new artists and showcased live performances. UnRestricted is now an on-camera show which lives on at ourcrenshawtv.com. 

Leaving the Recording Academy in June 2017, she went on to start her own music supervision and content production company — Moonbaby Media. It was all about continuing to create opportunities in the music industry, as she has shaped her own, as well as expanding into TV and Film. 

Jollivette is now a two-time award-winning music supervisor (NAACP, Stellar Awards winner) and soundtrack-album producer for the faith-based series Greenleaf on the OWN network. 

She said her personal philosophy is “Let go, let God.” At the will of a greater power, she has a contagious “it is what it is” vibe. Her journey is completely hers; it was almost like she was born into it — with a few sidetracks. 

Jollivette’s childhood dream was to be an orthodontist, which is a far cry from manufacturing award-winning television soundtracks — but the music pulled her in. 

“I was a pre-dentistry and cultural anthropology major – musicology,” she says. “I thought I was going to go down that path, but by the time I got through school, I knew that it wasn’t for me. I knew music was my heart and I went to work in the music business.” 

But her music career started long before that. She was that kid at school with the boombox. Along with playing the radio and tapes she bought at the store, she stitched together songs and made her own mixes. 

“I was pressing play, record, rewind, pause off the radio — making mixtapes that way,” she recalls. “And digging in my dad’s record collection. I always knew there was something special about it. I was DJing before I knew I was DJing,” she laughs. “I knew innately that there was something inside of me beyond just being a fan.” 

Her big thing then and now, is to focus on yourself, and not look at other people and what they have, leaving you questioning why you don’t have it. “Because if you don’t have it, it probably wasn’t meant to be,” she says. 

“It’s important to know that it’s a journey. No matter what I’ve achieved thus far, for me I’m still on this quest to do more. I’m never complacent, I’m never settling for where I am. There’s a lot of people that I look up to that are moguls — Sylvia Rhone, Diddy, or Suzanne de Passe — or any of these amazing talents that have come out of this business,” she explains. “I achieve and aspire to be on that level with my career. It’s a work in progress to get there. I’m on my own path and I feel like I’m getting closer to that, but everyone has their own walk. I just feel like more than anything, you just have to remember what’s for you is for you in this business. It’s not always about what you want, and what you think you should do, or what you think you should have. Sometimes it’s bigger than you. 

“I know that I have a divine appointment, a plan, that God has given me. I’m just following that.” 

According to Jollivette, “It’s always going to be more, you always want more, it’s never enough. The biggest thing that I have to focus on in my career, and in my life, is to enjoy the moment. Because a lot of times you’re just so busy looking ahead at what’s next, you miss the enjoyment where you are.” 

With all of the awards and accomplishments under her belt, she’s now ready and knowledgeable enough to give back to the community that supported her throughout her journey. And she’s starting with other artists who are looking for their big breaks. 

“I want to create platforms for up-and-coming artists. I want to help people. I want to give amazing artists platforms for their music and art,” she says. “I really want to serve that level of artist, to push artists to the next level. I’m always looking and listening for something that makes me feel something.” 

“Really hone your craft, continue to evolve,” she said. “Artists need to not be afraid to do that. You can’t just stay in a box. Music has no limits and good music is good music.”

But one has to know who one is as an artist, first and foremost. When Jollivette finds an artist who knows, she can tell. 

“They just have something innately that you can see, it’s tangible, you feel it,” she explains. “You can’t manufacture it. You have to believe in yourself first before anybody else,” she stresses. “Because if you don’t, who else will? You know, I won’t drink the Kool-Aid if you don’t.” 

An advocate of the underdog, she says she knows when she hears something “fantastic and different.” 

“I’m looking for the person who’s not afraid to take a risk,” she said.
The people who can get on Jollivette’s good side are truly lucky, talented and deserving. 

And Jollivette is a strong example of her own philosophy. She absolutely believes in herself. 

Things may very well be different for women than they are for men in music, but she focuses on herself and keeps looking towards the stars, and away from anything negative that might be thrown her way. She doesn’t entertain people who are sexist. Her presence as a woman in the industry is not something she pays attention to specifically. 

“I don’t see it,” she said. “But I’m sure it’s there.” 

Faith in yourself and faith in God, she asserts, is the true key to success no matter who you are. Once you have that, then you’re free to evolve and work beyond yourself, and truly start making a difference and a mark on this world. 

Her relationship with God is the driving force of her entire life. She holds everything in her faith, and trusts that she’s on the right path. She encourages everyone to do the same.