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