Blu 9

01/02/2026

2026 is the year of the creative covenant.

My main intention is clear: Release 12 tracks. To build a body of work that is wholly, unmistakably mine (and maybe a little bit ours, where it fits).

But intentions don't exist in a vacuum. They need an ecosystem to thrive.

So here’s the other part:
My space—mental, creative, spiritual—is a sacred studio.
It has a new, strict guest policy.

Welcome inside:

· Those who contribute constructively to my life and soul.
· Those who push me to be a better artist and a better human.
· Those who nourish me and love me for who I am and becoming.
· Those who stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the celebrations and the dark moments without wavering.

All others: Consider this your gentle, final notice. The door is closing. The bandwidth for chaos, drain, fakeness, jealousy or empty noise is now zero.

Change is constant. If you're not changing or growing with me, you are holding me back. So when I take my leave from your life, don't take it personally just know it was coming

This year, I’m building a cathedral of sound and soul. I only need the crew who show up with tools, blueprints, and light.

Let’s go. 🎧⚡️



PS: It’s a declaration of war on mediocrity and drain, and a love letter to true collaboration. Remember that.

12/23/2025

I found out I’ve been included in this year’s Top 100 Female DJs in North America list—landing at #87.

To say I’m grateful is an understatement.
This isn’t just a ranking; it’s a reflection of every dancefloor that trusted me with their night, every collaborator who shared a stage or a studio, every friend who showed up, and every person who ever hit ‘play’ on something I made. Truthfully I can't wait to tell you all what's in store!

The North American electronic scene is bursting with insane talent, especially among women and q***r artists pushing the culture forward. To be counted among them is an absolute honor.

Mostly, I just feel motivated. Motivated to keep building, keep digging for the next track, keep connecting.
The work continues. The gratitude is forever.

Thank you,
Blu

12/22/2025

But I'm in the top 100 djs in North America!!!!

12/11/2025

Good Morning! Back on the grind for a new release set for 2026! Seba. It seems fitting for my vision and music for 2026. More dark, deep and I want you to feel everything. The projects I have created and manifested into existence are all coming to fruition. Stay tuned! Take care of yourselves. Love ya'll and I'll see you down the line!
***rdj

12/11/2025

Hey everyone. For those who are new here, I'm Michelle—though in the booth, you might know me as Blu 9, a DJ and producer here in Chicago.
But before music was my full-time world, I spent years in a different kind of healing space: as a pediatric occupational therapist, specializing in behavioral medicine. I worked with kids and families on regulation, coping, and navigating overwhelming feelings.
And why am I telling you this? Because what I see in our music community—the anxiety, the imposter syndrome, the silent struggles—isn't so different. It’s about human neurology, not just stage fright. So I’m merging my two worlds to talk about what actually helps.
Let’s talk about the ghost in the booth. The one that shows up not in the crowd, but in your head. It whispers things the crowd never would.
It says: ‘They’re just being polite.’ ‘You got lucky with that transition.’ ‘Someone better is watching, and they know you’re a fraud.’
This isn't stage fright. This is Imposter Syndrome. And in a world built on taste, trend, and public opinion, it’s our industry’s silent pandemic.
It looks like:
• The Paralysis: Downloading hundreds of new tracks, believing the next one will finally make you feel legitimate.
• The Comparison Spiral: Believing every other DJ’s career is a linear success story, while yours is a series of flukes.
• The Discounting: Shrugging off a booked gig as ‘they couldn’t get anyone else.’
• The Overwork: Saying yes to everything, burning out to prove you deserve to be here.”
Here’s the truth the ghost doesn’t want you to know: Feeling like an imposter doesn’t mean you are one. It often means you care deeply. You have a standard. The problem is, you’ve turned that standard into a weapon against yourself.”
“So how do we fight the ghost? We don’t. We acknowledge it’s a passenger. And then we drive.

1. Reframe the Evidence.
That voice says ‘You fumbled that mix.’ The truth is: You recovered. You kept the energy alive. That’s not failure; that’s being a pro. Collect evidence of your competence, not just your perceived flaws.

2. Talk About It.
The moment you say ‘Hey, I sometimes feel like a total fraud’ to a trusted peer, you break its power. You’ll be met with ‘Me too.’ This is our secret shared experience. Normalize the doubt.

3. Serve the Moment, Not Your Ego.
The ghost feeds on your personal narrative. Starve it. Shift your focus from ‘Do they like ME?’ to ‘Is this moment for THEM working?’ Your job is to curate a feeling, not to validate your existence.”

“To the community: We help by listening without immediate reassurance. Don’t just say ‘No, you’re great!’ Ask: ‘What specifically feels fraudulent right now?’ Unpack it. And credit people for their taste, their curation, their vibe—not just their technical skill.”
“The ghost might always be there. But it doesn’t get to pick the tracks. You do. Play through it. You are not a fraud. You are a practitioner. And this is your practice.

Before we end this, I need to say one more thing, and I need you to really hear it.
It is more than okay to go to therapy.
Let me say that again for the people in the back, and for that voice in your own head: It is professional, it is strong, and it is okay to go to therapy.
We service our gear. We update our software. We take our headphones to get repaired. But what about the most complex, essential piece of equipment we have—our mind? Our nervous system? We think we have to just ‘tough it out.’ That ends now.
I go to therapy. When I’m ‘going through it,’ that might be weekly. For maintenance, as a check-in? Once or twice a month. It’s not a crisis center. It’s a tune-up. It’s how I keep my inner sound clear. Seeing a therapist doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you’re built. You are investing in the longevity of your craft and the quality of your life. A therapist is like a skilled engineer for your internal noise—they help you filter the static so your true signal can come through. But make sure you look for a therapist that specializes in performance anxiety.
Stop the stigma. It’s not a secret. It’s a strategy. Show up for your mind like you show up for your set. Your most important performance is your own well-being.”

YOU ARE THE CURATOR.
THE DOUBT IS JUST A NOISY TRACK.
MIX THROUGH IT.

12/09/2025

Behind the decks, there's a human. 🎧

We talk about gigs, mixing techniques, and track selection endlessly. But we rarely check in on the most important piece of equipment we have: our mental state.

Let's talk about the silence after the last track fades. The mental load of DJing is real.

1/ The Come-Down: You've just been a conduit for energy for hours. The adrenaline crash is physical, but the emotional drop is profound. That post-show loneliness or anxiety? It's a real thing. Plan for it. Have a wind-down ritual.

2/ Imposter Syndrome: In an industry built on taste and trend, feeling "behind" or "not good enough" is constant. Remember: Your unique sound is why you're here. Compare less, create more.

3/ Energy Vampirism: Crowds give energy, but they also take it. You're absorbing the collective mood. It's taxing. Learning to ground yourself and set energetic boundaries isn't mystical—it's essential self-care.

4/ Loneliness on the Road: Hotel-venue-hotel. It's isolating. Make real connection a non-negotiable: a daily call to loved ones, not just social media scrolling which often makes it worse.

5/ We normalize gear checks, but not mental health checks. Asking "How's your headspace?" should be as common as "What's your setup?".

6/ Resources: Organizations like & offer help. Therapists who understand performer anxiety exist. Talk to your peers—you'll find they feel it too.

7/ To the fans: Your support beyond the event—a genuine "thank you, that set meant something"—can counteract a week of negative self-talk. Your humanity fuels ours.

So let's normalize the mental health check-in.
➡️ Post-Gig: Text a friend. Debrief. Don't just sit with the come-down.
➡️ On the Road: Call home. Ground yourself. Your worth isn't defined by the last crowd's reaction.
➡️ Feeling the Weight: It's okay to say "I'm not okay." Talking to a therapist (many specialize in performer anxiety) is as professional as tuning your headphones.
➡️ To the Fans and Promoters: Your favorite artists aren't machines. Your kindness and respect off-stage fuels them as much as your energy on the dance floor.
To every DJ, producer, and artist feeling the silent strain: You are not alone in this. Your community is here. Your voice matters, even when you're not behind those decks.

Let's start a conversation. Drop a 💙 in the comments if you've ever felt this. Tell me what you want to discuss further. DM for a supportive chat or resources.


Break the silence. Check on your fellow artists. Check in with yourself.

12/08/2025

This time of year, the world wraps itself in lights and laughter. But what if your heart feels heavy? What if the cheer feels like a language you’ve forgotten how to speak?

I want to remind you—and myself—that it’s okay.

It’s okay if your holiday looks like quiet instead of chaos. If your tradition is simply making it through the day. If the grief you carry—for a person, a dream, a version of yourself—feels sharper against the backdrop of tinsel and carols.

You are not broken for feeling this way. You are human. Your heart is processing seasons within, and they don’t always align with the calendar.

You don’t have to force the joy. You don’t have to perform the peace. You can just be. Here. In the tender, complicated truth of your own spirit.

If you’re holding a silent sorrow in a noisy room, I see you. If you’re missing someone so deeply it takes your breath away, I’m with you. If you’re just… tired, and the thought of ‘merry’ is another weight to carry, I feel that too.

Let this be your permission slip: to feel what you feel. To honor your quiet. To light a single candle for what you’ve lost, and another for the strength it took to carry it this far.

You are not alone in the dark. There are countless windows glowing with a similar, soft, enduring light. Ours is one of them.

Be gentle with you. However you are, it is enough.

❤️,
Michelle

12/02/2025

HAPPY TO FINALLY BRING YOU MY SET!!! Said it once and I'll say it again: Durham you were a damn vibe!!!! Played my heart out, the crowd was amazing and the crew was nothing but absolutely stellar. I can't wait to be back! From walking around the city in the day to dinner at Little Bull, interviews and then my set, you all made it feel like home and welcomed me in. I can't thank you and enough for bringing me out and Sele you were a damn trip girl😂 So NC thank you for an amazing time and experience ( and the gear). I will definitely be back before you know it. Cheers!
Happy to start it out with my track Seba out in early 2026!
***rtechno ***rdj hypnotictechno femalepowerhouses acidtechno chicagofemaledj dj djlife technomusic dance techno producer chicagotechno
IListen to Shades of Blu 2.0 Chapter 81 Feat.Blu 9 [Live at The Durham Fruit 11.22.25] by Blu 9 on
https://on.soundcloud.com/pZPOq4IqoIqT9mYFTB

12/02/2025

New mix incoming:
Listen to Shades of Blu 2.0 Chapter 81 Feat.Blu 9 [Live at The Durham Fruit 11.22.25] by Blu 9 on

I am very excited and happy to bring you my set from 11.22 at The Durham Fruit in North Carolina. The vibe was amazing from start to finish. The team all around was phenomal and can't sing them any mo

11/02/2025

Set is up from last night! Such a damn vibe. This was the first time Janky and I went back to back playing techno. Thank Eric A Gomez for having us out!
Listen to Shades of Blu 2.0 Chapter 80 Feat. Blu 9 b2b Janky [Live at Gotham XII - Chicago 11.1.25.] by blu 9, Janky on
https://on.soundcloud.com/xC4oHwzzYIn0xRpJXN
***rtechno ***rdj

09/26/2025

Taking a quiet moment this morning to reflect on how far the journey has brought me.
It’s easy to keep moving without looking back, but today I’m pausing—not just to see how much has been accomplished, but to honor how much was overcome.

I’m deeply grateful to everyone who believed in me along the way, especially on the days I struggled to believe in myself. Your support has been a light on the tougher paths.

If there’s anything I hope my journey says, it’s this: keep going. Even when it’s hard, especially when you can’t see the summit yet. Your moment is being built right now, in the quiet effort no one sees.

Here’s to honoring our growth, celebrating small wins, and lifting others as we climb. ✨
With that said catch me if you can!
Spooky season is lighting up!
9/27: Rainbow Rave- Jackhammer Chicago
10/17: Deciduus- The Fruit Durham NC
10/18: Switch- Jackhammer
10/24: House If Habits- Bassline
10/25: Deadhaus- Hydrate
11/1: Gotham Chicago

***rtechno ***rdj