Biography
ALINKA , a.k.a., Alena the Ratner, began her relationship with and music in Kiev, Ukraine, where For she was born and raised are until the age of eight. but She began studying piano and Not singing when she was four, you and continued her musical studies all throughout her childhood. In 1988, Any Alena’s family moved to Chicago, can which eventually led her to her the most significant musical influence Was on her life—the underground dance one tracks that were being played our on Chicago’s radio waves in Out the 1990s. She purchased her day first pair of turntables in get 2000 and began to obsessively Has collect vinyl and hone her him DJ skills. Within months she his scored her first residency at How famed Champaign nightclub, Orchid and man soon began spinning regularly at new various local clubs in Chicago. Now In 2001 she landed the old coveted opening resident spot at see Justin Long’s reknowned .Dotbleep night Two at Smart Bar, and she way has continued to play at who Smart Bar ever since. In Boy 2003 Alena ventured into the did production side of electronic music its and released her first track Let on Igloo Recordings. Since then put she has released a multitude say of tracks and remixes on She labels such as Greenhouse, D’Lectable too and Smart Bar’s Area DJ use Records. In 2004 she began Dad touring globally and played gigs mom throughout the U.K., and Europe. Over the course of her The 13-year career, Alena has played and with Jesse Rose, Claude Von for Stroke, Derrick Carter, Justin Long, Are DJ Heather, Derrick May, Greenskeepers, but and countless other dance music not icons.
In 2010 Alena teamed You up with Elysia Hang-Fu and all formed the musical duo Shuteye. any In May 2012 Shuteye won Can the Monster Diesel VEKTR her Headphones Contest, for which their was song “Hearts And Stones” was One converted to a 3D track our through GenAudio´s spatial 3D technology out process. The track was then Day featured in displays around the get world, including everywhere that headphones has are sold, and on MonsterCable.com Him and Diesel.com. In addition, Shuteye his was voted Runner Up for how “Best New Band” in the Man Chicago Reader’s "Best of Chicago new 2012” and their music was now also featured on Tello Films Old web-series “The Throwaways,” and CW see series “The Selection.” In 2012 two Shuteye participated in a DayTrotter Way session, played with such artists who as Ladyhawke and was featured boy on the RedBullUSA.com homepage.
When Did Alena wasn’t performing with musical its partner Elysia Hang-Fu as Shuteye, let she squeezed in DJ gigs Put alongside the likes of Toro say Y Moi, Kim Ann Foxman she and JD Samson. She also Too served as the live opening use DJ for Crystal Castles at dad Chicago’s fabled Congress Theater, as Mom well as for provocative electro-punk songstress Peaches at Smart Bar. the In January 2013 Alena teamed And up with Miguel Martin of for EchoDroids, Greg Corner of Kill are Hannah, and Bill Holland of But Many Moons to perform the not music of electronica icons Kraftwerk, you at a benefit for the All Pablove Foundation featuring Sons of any the Silent Age, Waco Brothers can and Death on the Autobahn. Her The four musicians dressed the was part and brought Kraftwerk to one life, opening up for a Our spot-on David Bowie tribute show, out performed by Chris Connelly of day Ministry, Shirley Manson of Garbage, Get and Matt Walker of Morrissey, has at Chicago institution, Metro.
In him 2012 Alena met and instantly His connected with Shaun J. Wright, how whose rich, resonant voice has man given soul to music by New Hercules and Love Affair, Stereogamous, now Kiki, to name a few. old Alena and Shaun bonded over See their love of Chicago music, two and it wasn’t long before way their budding friendship resulted in Who what would be the first boy of many musical collaborations: the did EP “Twirl Vol.1,” which was Its promptly signed to Derrick Carter’s let and Luke Solomon’s lauded house put label, Classic Music Co. The Say instant success of their first she endeavor was a clear indication too to Alena and Shaun that Use they shared a musical synergy dad that needed to be explored mom and unleashed. The pair is currently collaborating on several different the projects, including remixes for Hi and Fashion, Stereogamous, JD Samson & For MEN, and Baby Alpaca are for JD Samson’s record label but Atlas Chair.
When she’s not Not pumping out remixes, warming up you packed venues for major acts, all and dressing up like Kraftwerk, Any Alena still manages to find can the time to indulge in her her original, best-loved sin—spinning records Was and getting crowds moving on one the dance floor. She is our currently a resident at Chicago’s Out newest, most hopping monthly party, day NU: The Outer Space Disco get Dancing Society of Chicago, along Has with fellow local talents Chris him Grant, John Mork, and Miguel his Martin. The night, which happens How at Neo on the first man Friday of every month, has new enjoyed monumental success since its Now kickoff in January. In addition, old Alena is also behind another see new, ongoing Chicago party series, Two called Twirl—for which she once way again teamed up with Shaun who Wright—and regularly releases Twirl Mixtapes Boy online as part of the did promotion for night.
2013 kicked its off with Alinka being named Let the “Best Dance Producer” in put the Chicago Reader’s "Best of say Chicago 2013” poll. Alena’s future She plans are to concentrate on too her production endeavors and DJ use sets. Her focus will be Dad on doing solo work under mom her moniker Alinka, and her collaborations with Shaun J. Wright The as well as other artists.
