The smartbar affiliate talks to the Fool's Gold Records founder about climbing the ranks, DJ discourse and how to exist in commercial and underground scenes simultaneously.

This week's RA Exchange takes us to Chicago, where 
two big names—The Blessed Madonna and A-Trak—have a chat ahead of their back-to-back set at underground institution smartbar last month. These are two DJs who have been around the block. The Blessed Madonna (FKA The Black Madonna) is originally from Kentucky, but made her name in Chicago. She started out as an intern at smartbar and working at the local label Dust Trax, later becoming lead A&R and an established DJ in her own right. 

A-Trak is a Canadian artist who cut his teeth as head honcho of Fool's Gold Records. He's known for having developed the careers of artists like Kid Cudi and Danny Brown, and he also formed Duck Sauce with Armand Van Helden, a project synonymous with the bloghouse era. 

The two have a long history with Chicago, and they engage in a discussion about how they think the city looks from the outside. As one of the most segregated cities in the US, they say, what the rest of the world sees as one cohesive and unified hub for house music is instead divided by genre and area code. They also debate the complexities of existing in commercial and underground music worlds simultaneously, our collective over-fetishisation of the past, the stupidity of DJ discourse and Europe's tendency to impose its view of America—and American dance music—on the Midwest. Listen to the episode in full.

EX.734 A-Trak & The Blessed Madonna

holiii les comparto mi live set en smartbar para espiral ꩜ 08.22.24 ꩜ siempre es un honor poder estar en ese booth <3

e҉ s҉ p҉ i҉ r҉ a҉ l҉ - LIVE @ Smartbar 08.22.24

Dan B Hood (He/They/She) is a Chicago based Artist, DJ, and smartbar’s Lighting Designer. Inspired by construction sites, bathhouses and ‘acid heads’, Dan navigates raw textures and atmospheres to create momentary sensory escapes. They have released mixes on Mutant Radio, Bleak Narrative, and previously hosted a show on My House, Your House. As a new resident of Research & Development they are eager to continue community building by making spaces for dancers and artists to experiment and expand our growing network of like-minded folks across the planet.

RND 117 - Dan B Hood

Opening set from J. Córdova at smartbar for our 2024 Thursday residency, e̷s̷p̷i̷r̷a̷l̷ 

J. Córdova opens the portal to Espiral with a dark, murky fusion of slowtech dembow, deconstructed atmospheres, and piercing bass, warming up the dance floor and setting dancers’ hips in motion.

TRACKLIST: 
Lurka - BR Greaze
Doctor Jeep - The Hypnotist 
Doctor Jeep - Snake Eyes
Objekt - Bad Apples
Tano - 10-11 (Tomba remix)
EL PLVYBXY - RIEL
Brodinski & cos ft. La Albany - Las 12
Entrañas - Sismo
Entrañas - Buitre
CDC - SXO ft. LARINHX, Ebony 
Keygurr - PRUEBA DE RESISTENCIA
Piezo - Zap-ism
SINNAZ - Con Sentido (Riddim)
Entrañas, Ene Ese
LICRA - Cuéntale Edit
T.A.U. - Guatauba Jungle
Lukrø & Cardozo - Chiki (Entrañas remix)
kelman duran - POMPIS
SEVENBEATZ - Young Birds RKT
First Epoque - Epoque No. 29
Hodge - Fussyhead
Mecániko - Escalator
wrk.dat - Breaking Character
Will Hofbauer - Stickers
Kouslin - Quick Like A Bank
Ene Ese - Fosas 
Rasenk - Palpite
JON E CASH 3D - DESSIE
Masters At Work - The Ha Dance (Kaval Edit)
El Gusano - Alberca
Dengue Dengue Dengue - Yacuruna
ALFONSO LUNA - EL IMPERIAL 
Verraco - Godspeed >

J. Córdova @ smartbar – espiral 10/17/24

JACK IN tha HOUSE (Jazz player set)

a song i made about my favorite club in chicago. my first release available on all platforms.

SMARTBAR

From the Zambian house parties she went to as a kid and the European raves she went to as a young adult, to her recent international debut at Bella Afrikana Beach Club in Accra, Ghana, COBRA B pulls from her unique influences to create energizing, boundary-pushing dance floor experiences. Mix recorded live at Smartbar in Chicago, September 2024. 

Tracklist:
Buya Timmy Regisford edit
Concentrate Truncate
Love’s Got Me High Terrance Parker 
Zisho
Ceri Need You
Jill Scott Crown Royale
Zulu Circle Children
Say Yes LoKi
Message for the DJ Delano Smith
Kelela Bruises
Liv.e Back Alley
God’s Got It DJ Spen
Mr G G's funk
Mukkala Mukkabala
Rich Homie Quan - Type Of Way
Charlotte De Witte 
Blessed Mr G
Musiq Soulchild So Beautiful (K2 remix)
Traveling Quentin Harris
Mr G Lights
Let Me Tell U Lyric Hood
Techno Dabke
Jill Scott 
Yaegi booboo
Santigold Disparate Youth

Live mix at Smartbar in Chicago

BUY IT HERE https://zeelaa.bandcamp.com/track/streetlight

A hypnotic hard techno track inspired by the detroit & chicago techno I grew up with meeting the harder berlin sound that I love.

DOWNLOAD

STREETLIGHT

Mister Hoochiemama Smartbar for Mama's House June 14th 2025 (Live)

last half of my set at smartbar! probably my favorite one to date. :-)

ARC After Dark at smartbar: jayah (08.29.25)

chicago electronic music @veilchicago
bookings/contact: veilkody@gmail.com
Promo : zeelaapromo@gmail.com

Support from:
Adventure Club
Krewella
Slander
Kayzo
Herobust

Cobra B is a Chicago-born, St. Louis-raised open-format DJ who mixes music rooted in the Black diaspora. She pulls from her unique influences to create energizing, boundary-pushing sonic experiences that blend house music, amapiano, afrobeats, R&B, juke, kwaito, techno, hip hop, jazz & post-punk✨

She's musically influenced by the soul, R&B and rock her mom played while cooking, riding shotgun in her big brother's car with the bass on high, the Gospel in church pews with her dad & grandpa, Zambian braai parties with her childhood best friend, songs by Alicia Keys & Regina Spektor (Soviet Kitsch) she once learned on the piano and Esperanza Spaulding on the bass guitar, European raves while studying in Ireland, and underground punk shows & jam sessions with her bandmates (Black Reveries) while in Boston.

Since launching her DJ career, she has made appearances in some of Chicago's legendary spaces, including Smartbar, Podlasie Club, the California Clipper, Berlin nightclub (RIP), and annual events like Pride Fest and the Other Art Fair. She is also a resident DJ for a free community roller skate event in Garfield Park and regularly plays at underground events and raves. Cobra B primarily plays in the Midwest but travels on occasion, making her international debut at Bella Afrikana Beach Club in Accra, Ghana  (hey, Mz. Oristin!).

Photo credit: Michael Izquierdo Instagram: izqueerdo
Choker necklace: Sonal instagram: ssonixo

❀ jayah is a DJ, radio host on her show, embrace, on WIIT 88.9 FM, & ATM Chicago collective resident.

Being surrounded by a family of music lovers, she was raised listening to a variety of sounds rooted in soul, hip hop, to new wave. As a young adult, she also spent her time playing the alto saxophone and oboe. Her love for music didn’t stop there; she fell hard for underground music culture & community at a young age, frequently attending raves within the LA warehouse scene. 

As one of Chicago’s most dynamic and sought out DJs, jayah has earned the reputation for setting the perfect vibe and captivating dance floors wherever she goes. She has provided support at the booth for Call Super, Pangaea, Bonobo, Dan Ghenacia, DJ BORING + more, and is best known for her selector abilities and sharing the element of surprise, mixing her eclectic collection of music from rare 90s house, new wave tinge to electro, bubbly techno, and pop throwbacks. Punchy dance floor tunes and hypnotic breaks & vocals are the driving force of her sound, while supporting independent radio stations around the world pushes her diverse taste.

On her radio show, embrace, jayah dedicates time to sharing variety and the sound of underground dance music, old and new, with an emphasis on independent artists and labels. She has DJed in Chicago’s most iconic spaces such as smartbar and PodlasieClub and appeared on stations like NTS, The Lot Radio, and dublab to name a few. From clubs to the airwaves and beyond, she strives to set a dynamic and warm atmosphere that keeps your body moving.

Residencies
Legandary Chicago

Collaboration > individualism

"There may not be as much humanity
in the world as one would like to see,
but there is some... The world is held
together, really it's held together, by
the love and passion of a very few
people."

-James Baldwin

elixir del underground ₊˚⊹☆ 
event + label 
J. Córdova ✦ karennoid ✦ DJ Aguara'i 
Book us: aguaderosasmke@gmail.com 
Send demos: aguaderosasmke@gmail.com or juliocordovadj@gmail.com

Based in Chicago, R&D is a music event/mix series focused on nurturing new sounds, experiences and atmospheres while exploring the music and culture it was born or mutated from. Techno, electro, EBM, bass, breaks, club and beyond.
Current personnel
Jeremy Alvarez - JS Alvarez
Eric Fernandez - Makeen
Shanti Chu - Shanti
Dan Hood - Dan B Hood
Kona Mazariegos - Zona Cinco

New tracks tagged #smartbar