In the past few years the Chicago house community
has produced a number of innovative and distinct djs trained in the art
of transforming tranquil dance floors into spaces of sheer bedlam and
bliss. Derrick Carter, Diz, Mark Farina and Sneak stand at the
forefront of the nouveau jock barrage born and bred in the underground
gatherings which flourish there. Their committed visions of undiluted
musical appreciation, interactive communication, improvisation and
basic integrity has brought greater attention to all the city's great
djs including the genre busting DJ Heather. Widely regarded as one of
the premier selectors in the nation, this Brooklyn born Chicagoan
demonstrates her skills and sharp deck acumen for the massives
throughout Chicago and the world at large with verve and undeniable
talent.
At the urging of a friend, after hearing an unmixed compilation tape of
her's, Heather started out at the Artful Dodger. A neighborhood pub
with a cramped moist dance area situated in the rear. Being such a
music lover djaying was a natural progression. I would ask some friends
to come by. It was my chance to share my favorite records and have a
few drinks " I was not really mixing but learning how to play records,
programming 101." "I was responsible for five hours of music every
Saturday night. Eventually I got into the technical aspect of djaying,
watching other djs play and learning by example. Finally I was able to
get turntables and began practicing six hours a day if I was able. The
first time I mixed two records it was like discovering a new secret
language" "At that stage it was truly a hobby, something I did on
weekends. I always think of the dj thing as the happy accident. Maybe
because I came into it at a stage when it wasn't considered a superstar
thing to do. I was the only dj in a circle of photographers, actors,
designers and so on." At that time she was also working for local
record labels and garnering experience about the industry. One gig lead
to another and the hobby soon manifested itself into a full time
pursuit. For five years she earned her chops by playing an urgent mix
of hip hop, house, jazz, soul, RnB, disco classics, rare groove and all
manner of off-center beats relevant to the stew she was brewing. At the
Dodger she fully developed her versatility and philosophy as an
entertainer.
During her fourth year at the Dodger, she began what would be a
three year residency at Red Dog. A Wednesday night gig dedicated to
downtempo beats, hip hop, rare groove and disco. "At Red Dog I was able
to fully develop as a dj and hone my skills." At that same time she
began a short but invaluable stint at world famous Gramaphone Records.
Many of Chicago's well known djs have made a stop there; Sneak, Mark
Farina, Derrick Carter, Terry Mullan, Gemini, Colette and Miles Maeda
to name a few." That place was my resource center. I was hired to be
the hip hop buyer. I would also use their phone lines, fax machines,
FedEx and ups accounts to the fullest extent. I used the store to make
contacts, ship demos/press kits and sell my own mixed material. Three
years later, once bookings got in the way of covering shifts, I had to
say good bye. I felt like I had graduated Gramaphone Tech. It was such
an invaluable experience." Primarily known in the Chicago dance
community as a "hip hop" dj she began a shift in the material she
played. "It was never a conscious effort to play one genre more than
another. I've always been interested in all forms of music. The demand
for me to play house seemed to increase after each gig. Over time one
just gave way to another. Gone but not forgotten"
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