DJ HEATHER

In the past few years the Chicago house community has produced a number of innovative and distinct djs trained in the art of transforming tranquil dance floors into spaces of sheer bedlam and bliss. Derrick Carter, Diz, Mark Farina and Sneak stand at the forefront of the nouveau jock barrage born and bred in the underground gatherings which flourish there. Their committed visions of undiluted musical appreciation, interactive communication, improvisation and basic integrity has brought greater attention to all the city's great djs including the genre busting DJ Heather. Widely regarded as one of the premier selectors in the nation, this Brooklyn born Chicagoan demonstrates her skills and sharp deck acumen for the massives throughout Chicago and the world at large with verve and undeniable talent.

At the urging of a friend, after hearing an unmixed compilation tape of her's, Heather started out at the Artful Dodger. A neighborhood pub with a cramped moist dance area situated in the rear. Being such a music lover djaying was a natural progression. I would ask some friends to come by. It was my chance to share my favorite records and have a few drinks " I was not really mixing but learning how to play records, programming 101." "I was responsible for five hours of music every Saturday night. Eventually I got into the technical aspect of djing, watching other djs play and learning by example. Finally I was able to get turntables and began practicing six hours a day if I was able. The first time I mixed two records it was like discovering a new secret language" "At that stage it was truly a hobby, something I did on weekends. I always think of the dj thing as the happy accident. Maybe because I came into it at a stage when it wasn't considered a superstar thing to do. I was the only dj in a circle of photographers, actors, designers and so on." At that time she was also working for local record labels and garnering experience about the industry. One gig lead to another and the hobby soon manifested itself into a full time pursuit. For five years she earned her chops by playing an urgent mix of hip hop, house, jazz, soul, RnB, disco classics, rare groove and all manner of off-center beats relevant to the stew she was brewing. At the Dodger she fully developed her versatility and philosophy as an entertainer.

During her fourth year at the Dodger, she began what would be a three year residency at Red Dog. A Wednesday night gig dedicated to downtempo beats, hip hop, rare groove and disco. "At Red Dog I was able to fully develop as a dj and hone my skills." At that same time she began a short but invaluable stint at world famous Gramaphone Records. Many of Chicago's well known djs have made a stop there; Sneak, Mark Farina, Derrick Carter, Terry Mullan, Gemini, Colette and Miles Maeda to name a few." That place was my resource center. I was hired to be the hip hop buyer. I would also use their phone lines, fax machines, FedEx and ups accounts to the fullest extent. I used the store to make contacts, ship demos/press kits and sell my own mixed material. Three years later, once bookings got in the way of covering shifts, I had to say good bye. I felt like I had graduated Gramaphone Tech. It was such an invaluable experience." Primarily known in the Chicago dance community as a "hip hop" dj she began a shift in the material she played. "It was never a conscious effort to play one genre more than another. I've always been interested in all forms of music. The demand for me to play house seemed to increase after each gig. Over time one just gave way to another. Gone but not forgotten"

DJ MES

Bay-Area bred DJ Mes (a.k.a. Jason Sutton) rarely slows his groove. Since the 2004 inception of his Oakland-based label, Guesthouse Music, Mes has produced a prolific catalogue of tracks that continue to scorch dance floors from east coast to west coast and across the world. As a DJ, his sets have inspired; as a producer, his tracks have shot up the charts. His mix of disco beats with bass-heavy rhythms keep him at the forefront of the underground house sound.

Mes’ career dates back to the mid-1990s, when the future producer took early influence from the likes of DJ Dan (Funky Techno Tribe) and Tony Hewitt (Tango Recordings). Some two decades later, DJ Dan would even join the talent ranks of Guesthouse Music. Guesthouse has become a personal and creative labor of love for Mes, inspired by the underground house community he came from. While Mes continued releasing tracks on acclaimed labels such as Black Cherry, Magnetic and InStereo, it was Guesthouse that set the pace. Now celebrating it's 10the year, Guesthouse Music has put out over 300 releases since it's start. To celebrate, Mes and crew will be throwing 10 Years of Guesthouse parties all year long including special shows at SXSW and WMC.

In 2011, Traxsource honored Mes by awarding his release "Fool's Gold" (Cajual Recordings) with the #1 spot on a list of the 100 best house tracks of the year. Since then, he continuously hits the Top 100 on both Traxsource and Beatport with releases like "Amor Est Libre," "Love Affair" and "Boom Chika Boom" as well as with collaborations like "No Jet Lag" and "Wanna Do" with Sonny Fodera, "How We Do" and "Do the Freak" with Rescue, "The Bump" with DJ Dan and "Nu Grooves" with Giom.

Even while maintaining a regular touring schedule throughout the US and Europe, Mes has kept up a strong A&R moxie, discovering some of the most successful names in underground house. Acts like 2011 breakout artists, J Paul Getto and boundary bending producers, Gramphonesdzie as well as classics like Cosy Creatures, The Sound Republic, DJ Sneak and DJ Dan. All the while, building his massive repertoire of banging funk-filled tracks!

Adds Mes: “I’m always working to sign new or undiscovered music and talent to the label, and maybe even throw a curve ball to startle people with a new, unexpected style or sound. That’s what it’s all about.” Bass. Beats. Funk. That's what Mes is all about!

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