Jordana LeSesne, formerly known as 1.8.7, is a pioneering American drum and bass producer, DJ, and vocalist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Emerging in the mid-1990s, she became one of the first respected U.S. artists in the genre, releasing influential albums such as When Worlds Collide (1997), Quality Rolls (1998), and The Cities Collection (2000) on New York's Jungle Sky label. Her early work was characterised by dark, cinematic soundscapes and intricate breakbeat programming, earning acclaim from publications like Vibe, Mixmag, and CMJ. Notably, she was among the first to remix Blondie's "Atomic" in a drum and bass style, marking a significant crossover between mainstream and underground music scenes.
In 1998, Jordana publicly came out as transgender, becoming one of the first Black trans women to gain prominence in electronic music. Despite facing significant adversity, including a violent hate crime in 2000 that led her to relocate to the UK, she continued to influence the scene through both her music and advocacy. Her contributions were recognised in 2015 when Mixmag named her among the "20 Women Who Shaped the History of Dance Music".
Beyond her production work, Jordana has collaborated with artists such as Lady Sovereign, Soulslinger, and Deborah Harry, and has performed at major events across North America and Europe. She also hosted a show on London's Flex FM under the alias Lady J, further solidifying her presence in the UK drum and bass community.
After a period of relative quiet, Jordana returned to music with renewed focus, releasing the Resistencia EP in 2020 and collaborating with artists like ill.Gates and B-Complex. Her recent works continue to blend her signature drum and bass style with elements of activism and personal narrative, reaffirming her status as a vital voice in the genre.
