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JESSE DE LA PEÑA
DJing 20 years; smoothbeats.com, Darkroom, Blue
Groove Lounge
The music you play: Only what
moves me, everything from disco that
my mom would play to rock 45s to
electro, house, hip-hop, reggae and
nu-jazz–just about everything except
trance. Upcoming releases: I have a
new project called Trio De La Peña
that we are recording now. Also a mix
CD called 1331 and an EP on White
Beard. Trivia: In 1993, I co-founded
the Grammy-nominated acid jazz group
Liquid Soul along with guitarist Tommy
Kline. I was the group’s DJ until 1999.
www.bluegroovelounge.com
DJ SOLANGE
DJing six years; Threadless, Slappa, Blue Iguana
Music
The music you play: A cross between
Chicago and Italo hard disco.
Upcoming releases: “You Make Me
Feel Good” on Blue Iguana Music
and two remixes for Ellee Ven on Hot
Sauce Recordings. Trivia: I was on a
reality show that never aired (Switched
on ABC Family). I had to live in the
Louisiana bayou for a week catching
bullfrogs and alligators with my
hands while my switch got to DJ at
Excalibur here in Chicago.
www.djsolange.com
top ten
chicago is full of talented dJs. meet ten of the best.
words: ViVian hosT
Background phoTo: chrisTopher woodcock
KATE SIMKO
JUSTIN LONG
DJing for 15 years; .dotbleep, No Assembly Firm,
Smartbar
The music you play: Total audio
disorder! Upcoming releases: A
No Assembly Firm EP featuring
Heather and Diz on .dotbleep, and
No Assembly Firm remixes on Good
Family and Robsoul. Trivia: My mom
gave me her Sex Pistols Never Mind the
Bollocks and The Clash London Calling
albums when I was in the fifth grade
and it was where the fuel was thrown
on the flame.
www.noassemblymusic.com
DJing on WNUR 89.3 Chicago seven years; Wake Up,
Influence, Traum
The music you play: An eclectic mix of minimal
techno, IDM, experimental house, jazz and
downtempo. Upcoming releases: I have a remix
of Philip Glass out now on his label, OMM.
I have a remix of Rebecca Gates set to come
out soon as well as a few tracks for Chocolate
Industries. Trivia: I wrote an essay for the local
newspaper and won a trip to NYC when I was
seven. It was my first trip outside of Illinois.
www.katesimko.com
BIO-BOOSTER
DJing nine years; The Opaque Project, Newtype
Plus, Blazaebla
The music you play: Sleazy electro-tech
with some unadulterated rock thrown in
the mix. Every once in a while, I dust off
the old dubs and drop some d&b business.
Upcoming releases: Next release
will be on Detroit’s Blazaebla label alongside
Chicago’s Monologic. Trivia: I’m
a myspace.com junkie. Someone really
needs to tear me away from the computer
once in a while!
www.bio-booster.com
JOHN “BID” SIMMONS
DJing 12 years; Soul Foundation Kollective, 94 East
The music you play: Firmly rooted in deep
house, with influences of downtempo, neo
soul, hip-hop, nu-jazz, funk and soul, ‘80s
dance and electronic. Upcoming releases:
A mix CD, Fall Equinox, is out now. Trivia:
My father “Big Bob” Simmons was one of
Chicago’s first mobile DJs and provided
sound systems for the legendary Mendel High
School parties in the late 1970s and ‘80s.
www.djjohnsimmons.com
DJ TRAXX
DJing 19 years; Kode, Indulge at RednoFive, Gigolo,
Antennae, Ghostly
The music you play: Music with a passion
so intense that it overcomes genre divides
to weave an altogether original, exciting
and multi-textured musical fabric which
envelops both the avid clubber and the
home listener. Upcoming releases: The
next Dirty Criminals album for Gigolo in
late October and a compilation project
of all new tracks on Eskimo in early
November. Trivia: My beloved pastime is
designing clothing for men.
www.kode.org
REES URBAN
DJing 10 years; Bunchlox, Jackinthebox, Public
Housing
The music you play: Fun and funky.
Upcoming releases: “Still Bangin’” and
“You Work It! Remixes” on Flux UK,
plus stuff on Nerven, Nasty Colour,
Abstract, Bunchlox and Jackinthebox.
Trivia: I have grey hair.
www.reesurban.com
DJ GLYDE
DJing 9 years; BassByThePound, Lava Lounge,
Sonotheque
The music you play: Classic drum
& bass. A mix of early hardstep bits
and mid-‘90s classics with quality
tunes from early 2000s. Upcoming
releases: Too busy promoting my
drum & bass nights (The Seminar,
BBP) to produce... Trivia: With
BassByThePound, I have promoted
and produced more than 300 D&B
events in Chicago.
www.bassbythepound.com
DJ CASPER
DJing 13 years; SJC, Groove Distribution
The music you play: Melodic and soulful
broken beat/house and drum & bass.
Upcoming releases: None at the moment.
Trivia: I have an urban planning degree
from MIT.
www.heavyweightsound.com
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