DJ Dayhota

Being a house DJ from Chicago is like being a rapper from the Bronx. The historical burden and fierce competition force artists in their respective cities to raise their game to unprecedented heights just to get a gig in their hometowns. When you’re female in a male-dominated genre such as house, you have to overcome even more onerous obstacles, such as sexism and condescension from your Y-chromosomed peers. So mad props must be given to DJ Dayhota (Shannon Ialongo). Schooled by Chicago house legends Derrick Carter and Diz, Dayhota got her feet wet (probably literally; she spins barefoot) in the mid-’90s at the 2418 North Ave. parties in the Wicker Park-Bucktown neighborhood. Shortly thereafter, she cofounded the Windy City’s SuperJane DJ collective along with Colette, Heather and Lady D, who have garnered ink in mags like Urb, XLR8R and Spin. Dayhota favors “that chunkier, harder-driving, kickin’ house” in her sets. “But I also like a little Latin in the mix; anything that makes your ass shake,” she says. Dayhota’s bangin’ brand of house has instigated rump-jiggling in clubs all over America as well as in Germany, Spain, France and Australia, so your butt’s in good hands with this woman.