Very few, if any, Irish artists in recent memory have enjoyed the tsunami of breakthrough success that Yasmine Byrne has.

Known to most as Jazzy, her 2023 single ‘Giving Me’ shot the dance act to the forefront of the mainstream, laying down the groundwork for what would become a record-breaking 2024 for the Crumlin native.

“After ‘Giving Me’ I had a chat with myself and said ‘I could go two ways here’,” she says. “I can put all the pressure on myself, or I can just keep doing what I’m doing and let it come naturally – that’s what I’ve done and I think it’s worked for me.”

Finding a quiet moment to chat before she heads to the UK for an arena show in Manchester and an appearance at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball in London, Jazzy reflects on what’s been a second successive annum of ’pinch me’ moments.

There’s a rolodex of highlights to discuss. First up: her Choice Prize double whammy in March, which saw Jazzy take home the awards for Irish Breakthrough Artist of the Year, as well as Irish Artist of the Year at the Vicar Street ceremony.

“I couldn’t believe I’d won two of them,” she beams. “It’s so lovely to be recognised. Obviously, I broke through that year, but to also be the Artist of the Year was just an amazing feeling. I take them as they come. I wouldn’t let it get to me if I didn’t win awards or anything, but it’s very nice to be recognised as well.”

The accolades kept on pouring in. Also in March, ’Giving Me’ achieved diamond status, making Jazzy the first female dance act to do so.

“Things keep happening and happening!” she laughs. “It’s a mad one to be honest, I never really give myself time to fully process things. I don’t know if I could sit there and think about all that’s happening and freak myself out.”

In October, the 28-year-old reached another milestone, becoming the most listened-to Irish female artist on Spotify.

“Me and my fiancé were actually in Japan at the time, and we were trying to go to sleep,” she continues. “We had been in Australia and jet lag was hitting us, but just as I was falling asleep, he went, ‘Wake up!’ I was looking at the story, saying, ‘Am I in a dream? What’s actually going on here?’ That was just another mad moment.”

The platform granted by her success has allowed Jazzy to show her philanthropic side, as evidenced by her 3Olympia gig in aid of Children’s health Foundation in April.

“I think everyone should be doing a little bit of that,” she says. “I had wanted to do something like that for a while, so I was delighted to be able to. A lot of my fan base are younger boys and girls, so it was nice to be able to do something for them too, and for a nice cause.”

With her newfound status has come an added sense of responsibility, especially when it comes to how she represents herself to the more impressionable sections of her audience.

“The kids are definitely looking up to me a little bit now when I’m walking through the streets,” Jazzy continues.  “They’re always coming up to me and asking loads of questions, and asking for pictures, so it’s up to me to put one foot in front of the other as best as I can.

“I’m a big yapper, so I could stand there laughing to everyone for hours – unless I’m in a rush. I don’t mind it. It’s lovely having people coming up and asking for pictures.”

2024 has very much been a year about walking the walk for Jazzy – trading in her DJ sets for more pop-centric, main stage spectacles at festivals like Electric Picnic and Longitude.

“I absolutely love doing both,” she says. “I love doing a little nightclub-style, rave-y dance set. Having a bop was great too when I went out this year and did all the full performances. We did a few weeks of rehearsals before each gig and it was all very fun – it was something new for me. It’s really nice to be able to fluctuate between the two.”

Dance is certainly having a moment in Ireland. As well as Jazzy, her collaborators Camrinwatsin and Belters Only, among others, are enjoying streaming figures in the millions. Longitude in Marlay Park, in particular, was a clear indicator of this shift, with the line-up brimming with young homegrown acts.

“We’ve had plenty of success stories come from here,” Jazzy reflects. “They’re all killing it, we’re all in the same circle, so it’s nice to have friends on the same team. I think it’s all grown from what Belters started, to be honest with you. I don’t remember there being anything really going on in the dance scene in Ireland before. The boys put out their first song and it’s just flourished since then.

“They seem to be really giving everyone a push, and obviously I’ve stemmed from that too. It just goes to show what you can do when people come together on this little island. I always wear the flag with pride wherever I go.”

Belters Only. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

The flag has done its fair share of sightseeing if that’s the case, from a Snowboxx gig in the French alps and sets in Mediterranean party havens like Ibiza, to a run on the Australian festival circuit.

Travelling the world, Jazzy reveals, has also taught her to look after herself.

“It’s very important. I’m quite a happy person, I’m always smiling, but I’m not saying I haven’t had bad days either, because it is a chaotic life. Doing a lot of travelling can be tiring. At the same time, I wouldn’t change it for the world, I’m living the dream. It’s definitely important to give yourself rest and know how to watch out for signs of burnout.

“In my first year after ‘Giving Me’ came out, I was on the road and got to know what I can handle. I have a good grasp on it now. A big thing for me is getting eight hours of sleep, and then I’m looking through the schedule. If I have a lot going on and something new pops up, I’ll gladly say no. Just for the sake of my own mental health.”

Looking forward, Jazzy’s set to keep the momentum rolling into 2025, with some exciting projects in the pipeline.

“I am planning on starting work on an album next year,” she reveals. “I’ll have plenty of tour stuff going on next year as well, but I think the priority will be to put out some music. My latest single, ‘No Bad Vibes’, has been a bit of a shock to me – it’s been getting a global reaction. Afro house is kicking off everywhere in the world now and I think the message in the song is quite relatable.

“I’m hoping that kicks off some more global stuff – I want to go to America and other places in Europe.”

Perhaps overlooked when discussing Jazzy’s repertoire of musical chops are her abilities as an accomplished violinist. Having begun lessons in school, she went on to complete all her grades, and even taught the instrument for a brief period. Will she be dusting off the bow in the near future?

“I’m open to it,” she says. “I just haven’t had a chance to incorporate it into what I’m doing now. But, I mean, if I’m going to be working on an album next year, I think I’ll have plenty of time to get something going with that again. There’ll be a little solo in there, definitely.”

• Jazzy’s No Bad Vibes EP is out now.