Welcome home Superjane!
We make no excuses for devoting this week’s Chicago clubland highlight to just the one nightspot, coz although we are only featuring one club, we are proud to laud it up for four amazing DJ’s currently working the circuit.
So, without further ado, please give it up for Superjane – Chicago’s one and only all-female supergroup!
They are in town tonight, Friday, February 18th, at Smart Bar and it promises to be one heck of a damn fine night.
Formed in 1993, Superjane (DJ’s Lady D, Colette, Heather and Dayhota) have been rocking the joint ever since with their own unique blend of electro, house, soul and pop. DJ’s in their own right, they got together to provide a stunning “four-on-the-floor” experience that has garnered an ecstatic and raving response from clubbers everywhere.
Known as the Queen of Chicago House, Lady D (aka Darlene Jackson) owns her own record label D’lectable Music, and has been headlining sets since 1995 and ventured all over the world (Moscow, Germany, Mexico, Thailand) with her infectious booty-stomps that reflect her diverse musical tastes including Marvin Gaye, Stevie Nicks, The Police, Led Zeppelin, Patrice Rushen, Dougie Fresh, as well as jazz, dixie, and the soul of the Isley’s and Bootsy, with a ton of house thrown into the mix. What you get is a DJ diva who is works with no preconceived notions of what House is thus creating a seamlessly diverse and original club set every time inducing the crowds to “sweat-drenched splendor” with her funk-fortified sound that she describes as “disco-centered house.” With big blocky beats tumbling systematically over throbbing basslines, euphoric female vocal loops Lady D creates a bliss-generating sound that is quite unmissable and…well…simply d’lectable. http://djladydmusic.com/live/
Like the Lady D, DJ Colette (Colette Marino) started cutting her own niche on the Chicago clubland scene earlier this decade when she began singing over her mixes and quickly became compared to Debbie Harry of Blondie fame, and Kylie Minogue, her distinctive vocals combining superbly with the funky electro grooves she was laying. Firmly established now as a resident DJ at Smart Bar, Colette very soon was jettisoned into other realms when she was chosen, along with male comrades Paul Van Dyke and Felix da Housecat, to advertise Motorola’s cell phones. Her song went on to win Dancestar’s ‘Best Song Used In A Commercial,’ and her 2005 album ‘Hypnotized’ was the most downloaded house tune on Apple’s iTunes Music Store that year. A track from that album – ‘What Will She Do For Love’ – was a Billboard No.1 Dance Club Play Single. http://www.myspace.com/djcolette
Meanwhile, genre-busting DJ Heather (Heather Robinson), has worked her way steadily through the ranks and is now widely regarded as one of the nation’s finest selectors. After compiling her first unmixed-tape to rave reviews among friends, Heather took the opportuntiy to cut her DJ skills at the Artful Dodger where she devoted her time to learning from the greats and building up her own deckcraft. Having acquired her own set of gear, Heather immersed herself 6 hours a day into the art and describes the first time she mixed two tracks together as “discovering a new secret language.” Well, she has been speaking to the massives ever since. Urgent and versatile, Heather blends hip-hop, house, jazz, soul, RnB, disco classics, rare grooves and all manner of off-center beats to create her own sound. Following a three-year residency at Red Dog, Heather then gained “invaluable experience” as a hip-hop buyer at Michael Serafini’s world famous Gramaphone Records where Heather learned so much she felt like she “graduated from Gramaphone Tech.” http://www.myspace.com/djheather
Last, but by no means least, in the Superjane supergroup quartet is DJ Dayhota (Shannon Lolongo). After only a few years as a booth-artiste, Dayhota has made her own stunning mark after stints with the likes of Derrick Carter, Heather and Diz, and sessions on the party circuit at places such as the notorious 2418 North Ave. raves. Dayhota has ventured all over the US with her aggressive, hard and deep groove, as well as Paris, Australia and Canada. Superjane was formed, says Dayhota, because the ladies didn’t see a real outlet for them in the industry. They formed the collective with the mindset that the name Jane described “us, every woman, all women,” and the word Super described how they felt every woman should be, no matter what they do. “In our case, it was spinning.” Dayhota has a unique take on what music is to her. Viewing it as a language akin to math, it’s a case of one plus one equals two, “this record plus that record equals an incredible vibe.” http://www.myspace.com/dayhota
Well, all we can say is, thank God they have gathered here tonight to celebrate Lady D’s birthday so we can all find out what the Superjane vibe is all about. From 10pm, north Clark Street. $15, before midnight $12.
It’s going to be a party to remember…guaranteed!
