Dirtybird is a Chicago-based electronic music artist and DJ whose style develops from minimal, electro, tech house and techno. She is associated with the Chicago club and party circuit and begins building her own sound after moving from Denver back to Chicago in the late 1990s, having been influenced by Denver’s emerging scene.

Career

Dirtybird starts out as a dedicated electronic music fan before buying decks and beginning to make her own tracks. In 2003, she plays exclusively at house parties for Luv-n-Musik. She later secures a monthly set at the Joint’s “Flirt” night at Lava Lounge, a residency that helps define her sound.

During this period, two of her original tracks are played on Q101’s Sonic Boom radio show. She also gains support from djsourceradio, a UK-based internet station that highlights unknown artists from around the world.

Chicago club work

After reconnecting in 2005 with Sassmouth, another survivor of the “Flirt” nights, Dirtybird is invited to play the Naughty Bad Fun Collective’s “Etikett” night at Betty’s Blue Star Lounge in Chicago. She goes on to lead tech-oriented revivals at Etikett and performs at venues including Smartbar and Zentra.

Projects and recordings

Dirtybird spends the following years building a hard drive of unfinished tracks and continues working on new material. At the time described, she is working with the NBFC and developing tracks for possible release on Zuvuya and Siteholder Records.

Style and reputation

Her approach is defined by a search for sounds with soul across genre lines, and by a focus on music that respects older forms while drawing on minimal, electro, tech house and techno. Her DJ work centres on smaller loft parties, club nights and local scenes rather than large-scale mainstream visibility.