DJ Lady D explained

DJ Lady D
Birth Name:Darlene Jackson
Origin:Chicago, Illinois, USA
Years Active:1995–present
Module:

Darlene Jackson,[1] known as DJ Lady D, is an American DJ and writer from Chicago, voted Chicago's Best House Music DJ of 2023 in the Chicago Reader annual poll .[2] Dubbed "Chicago's house music queen" by Chicago Magazine, she is known for her house, techno and disco sets and has appeared in events such as Wanderlust, Noise Pop, Westfest, SXSW and Lollapalooza.[3] [4] EDM.com listed Jackson as one of the "top 10 black artists from Chicago."[5] In 2022, BET.com cited Jackson as a pioneer of the house music movement along with Black DJs like Black Coffee, Vince Lawrence, and Gene Farris,.[6] Popsugar validates Jackson as one of "the black women who shaped house music" [7] and Mother Jones [8] references DJ Lady D in a think piece about Beyonce's smash single, "Break My Soul", and acknowledges Jackson, has been "pumping out house music for decades" like artists Chip E. and Black Coffee, according to the article. Jackson was recently elected in June 2023 to the Board of Governors for the Recording Academy Chicago Chapter.[9]

Early life

Jackson grew up in South Side Chicago, Illinois in Washington Heights with two brothers and three sisters.[10] She went to Marcus Garvey Elementary School and listened to the radio when she was a child.[11] She attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School and studied science.[12] She received her undergraduate degree in Biology at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois.

Career

She started professionally DJing in 1995.[13] Her first track, "Champagne Lady", was released on Afterhours Music as was included in Afterhours Compilation Sessions Vol. 2. She then released a mix CD called Naked Kaleidoscope.[14] She was invited to play for one of her friends, who was a promoter, and because of that, had various promoters contacting her.[15] She opened to fellow Chicago DJ Paul Johnson in 1996.[16] In 1997, she formed the all-female DJ collective Superjane, which also includes DJ Heather, DJ Colette, and DJ Dayhota to "prove that women DJs were more than a novelty act."[17] [18] In 2000, she participated with Superjane in the SuperJane USA Tour 2000 with Austrian DJ Electric Indigo.[19]

In 2004, she started her own record label called D'lectable Music.[20]

In 2011, she appeared at Lollapalooza and was interviewed alongside Young the Giant.[21] She received a Master's degree from Northwestern University in 2016 and started advising students at Columbia College Chicago.[22] On July 6, 2019, she was included in Westfest.[23] In 2020, she became the president of the theatre group Collaboraction.[24] In 2024, Lady D performed the half-time show for the Chicago Bulls vs Memphis Grizzlies game at the United Center. Her song, "A Deep-Felt Love" was signed to Defected Records and released on the Soulfuric Deep imprint on January 26, 2024. It went to #1 on the Deep House Charts on Traxsource.com.

Artistry

Influences

Jackson has been inspired by other artists such as Lil Louis, Depeche Mode, D'Angelo, and the Cocteau Twins.[25]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Interview with Darlene 'Lady D' Jackson. Columbia College Chicago. January 2013 . Salkind . Micah .
  2. Web site: A Poetic, Heartfelt Love For House Music. NPR. July 7, 2010. Jackson, Darlene.
  3. Web site: West Fest Celebrates 12 Years with Another Massive Lineup. June 6, 2016. 5Mag.net.
  4. Web site: DJ Lady D. October 18, 2018. For The Love of Chocolate Foundation.
  5. Web site: HONOR THE BIRTH OF HOUSE MUSIC WITH 10 INFLUENTIAL BLACK ARTISTS FROM CHICAGO. EDM.com. Kupfer, Rachel. February 1, 2021.
  6. Web site: Black Music Month: 5 House and Dance DJS You Should Follow . .
  7. Web site: From Robin S. To Crystal Waters, These 9 Black Women Defined House Music . 24 June 2022 .
  8. Web site: Beyoncé is bringing back house music—and not a moment too soon .
  9. Web site: Recording Academy Governance . .
  10. Book: Do You Remember House?: Chicago's Queer of Color Undergrounds. 85–88. December 19, 2018. Salkind, Micah. Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-069843-0.
  11. Web site: Keeping The Beat Alive: An Interview With Lady D (Part Two). December 17, 2014. The Chicagoist. August 18, 2021. August 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210818030205/https://chicagoist.com/2014/12/17/keeping_the_beat_alive_lady_d_part.php. dead.
  12. Web site: DJ Lady D: The 5 Magazine Interview. 5Mag.net. April 16, 2007.
  13. Web site: Best Lady D Songs of All Time – Top 8 Tracks. Discotech.
  14. Web site: DJ LADY D. Apart-Music.
  15. Web site: Chicago's Female Spin Doctor: DJ Lady D. Zabar, Kai El'. March 24, 2015. The Chicago Defender.
  16. Web site: House Music Legend DJ Paul Johnson Recovering After COVID-19 Forced Him Onto A Ventilator. Golden, Jamie Nesbitt. July 28, 2021. Block Club Chicago.
  17. Web site: Superjane at 20. Matthew, Terry. September 1, 2017. 5Mag.net.
  18. Web site: Keeping The Beat Alive: An Interview With Lady D (Part One). Robinson, Kevin. December 16, 2014. The Chicagoist. August 18, 2021. August 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210818030205/https://chicagoist.com/2014/12/16/keeping_the_beat_alive_lady_d.php. dead.
  19. Web site: LADY DJ COLLECTIVE SUPERJANE EMBARK ON U.S. TOUR. https://web.archive.org/web/20210818030204/http://www.mtv.com/news/1122959/lady-dj-collective-superjane-embark-on-us-tour/. dead. August 18, 2021. Moss, Corey. August 10, 2000. MTV.
  20. Web site: Meet Darlene Jackson, DJ, Producer, Remixer, Writer, and our newest Creative Industry . Columbia College Chicago. 17 February 2021 .
  21. Web site: The GRAMMYs At Lollapalooza With Young The Giant And DJ Lady D. Grammys. December 2, 2014. McPhate, Tim.
  22. Web site: Do You Remember House? Book Release Panel and Party. PVDFEST.
  23. Web site: Chicago House Lives! WEST FEST Announces 2019 DJ Schedule. May 7, 2019. 5Mag.net.
  24. Web site: Collaboraction Welcomes New President Darlene "DJ Lady D" Jackson. Gatlin, Briahna. N'DIGO. July 8, 2020.
  25. Web site: 5 Albums that Inspire …. Chicago. May 29, 2008.