Blu 9 is a Chicago born and raised dj/producer, rising up the ranks of the underground house/techno scene. Art and music always being a priority and focus, learning violin at 7, followed by composition and interest in piano and percussion. This is echoed in her hauntingly beautiful productions which often fuse electric violin with percussion instruments and string elements, and can be found on many labels with a rich organic sound.
A regular on the decks at well-known Chicago venues such as Primary, Spybar, Smartbar, Estate, Exit, Celeste, The Mid and Soundbar, as well as underground events such as Rituals and Paradigm Presents to local festivals Mamby, Spring Awakening Music Festival, and Pride. She's also played various parties for the Art Basel festival in Miami. Blu is no stranger to playing New York, Milwaukee and Detroit and working with various events and artists in those respective areas.
Within this past year, Blu has maintained a consistent weekly residency in Chicago’s boystown neighborhood at Splash, Chicago interjecting underground house, techno and tech house back in an area that desperately needed it as well as bringing that sound back into the gay clubs in Chicago. Saturdays at Splash or Shades of Blu coincides with her mix series Shades of Blu, showcasing her seamless movement between genres and making people dance all night.
The artists she's played support for speak to her sound: Nicole Moudaber, Stacey Pullen, Ken Iishi, Chris Liebing, Function, Loco Dice, Juliet Fox, Oliver Huntemann, Sandra Collins, PleasureKraft, Sydney Blu, Coyu, Agent Orange, Paco Osuna, Chris Leibing, Richie Santana, Gene Farris, The Saunderson Brothers, CocoDrills, Dennis Cruz, Supernova, and Richie Hawtin.
Blu 9 has recently become a Model 1 ambassador, holding the only Model 1 mixer in the Chicago area. Exposing various Chicago artists to the unique mixer has been an exciting and a rewarding challenge. “I love watching those experiencing it for the first time and hearing the various element this mixer brings out in tracks and instruments. The mixer is smooth and silky. However, it is not for beginners. It is a very unforgiving piece of equipment and pushes you as a dj to listen to your music and sound. “
In keeping with the “giving back” to the scene mentality, Blu assisted in running the Live Labs at Twist and Fader, bringing in local djs to showcase their talents on a live stream while their set is recorded.