Julie Jigsaw

Julie "Jigsaw" Ashcraft co-founded the German band, Ja Ja Ja. With the release of Ja Ja Ja "Katz Rap" (Germany, Atatak Records 1982) Julie became the first female rapper on record in Europe. "Katz Rap" is included in Box 19, SR-915 of the Cornell University Library Hip Hop Collection, circa 1975-1985, a Division of Rare Manuscript Collections. "Katz Rap" was re-released on the compilation, Grlz: Women Ahead of Their Time (Germany, Crippled Dick Hot Wax Records 2005), and there are plans to re-release Ja Ja Ja's self-titled album (Germany, Atatak Records 1982) in 2011. With the release of Ja Ja Ja "Graffiti Artists International" (Germany, Atatak Records 1982), Julie became the first person to make a rap song completely about graffiti. Julie wrote the lyrics and melodies she raps, sings and plays on the Ja Ja Ja songs. Julie designed and created the artwork for the Ja Ja Ja record covers, sleeves and labels. And she painted the Ja Ja Ja with giant reptile graffiti-style mural which appears behind the band on the back of the Ja Ja Ja album cover. The mural was also displayed during Ja Ja Ja live concerts. Before she co-founded Ja Ja Ja, Julie co-founded the band Group of Trees with fellow Pratt Institute students, Ted Parsons (who would go on to play with The Swans and Prong) and Gregory Grinnell (who go on to play with The Toasters). Julie more recently collaborated with the composer and producer, Delavar Bagheri, and plans to release a new track soon. Julie is interested in collaborating with musicians, filmmakers, artists and writers on future projects. Contact her at: jigsawnovich@gmail.com