Today we’d like to introduce you to Shani Hebert.
Hi Shani, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started as a junior in college, always searching for great electronic music, specifically House Music. At the time, the rave scene was lacking the soul I craved. Then I went to my first post-rave event, and it was game over. I started to see what House Music could be, and I was hooked. Proposing a show on WLUW 88.7 FM at Loyola University Chicago became the perfect avenue for my vision of House Music. I had no equipment and barely any music, so in the beginning, I played loads of Ministry of Sound CDs I was sent. As I started filtering through those sounds, I began going to Gramaphone Records to discover music that felt more uniquely me. Eventually, I ended up working there and basically handed every paycheck right back to them, mainly for vinyl, with the occasional CD. “The Groove Temple” began in May 1998, Thursdays from 2–6 AM. It later moved to Saturdays from 11:30 PM–2 AM, then 11:30 PM–3 AM, and finally midnight–4 AM every Saturday night. WLUW was incredibly good to me for 18 years, even as I moved out of the country and later out of state. I’m forever grateful to them for believing in me and supporting me in my vision for radio.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When it comes to doing anything creative, it’s probably easier and safer to solve a Rubik’s Cube half-drunk, with one eye open, while learning Chinese arithmetic on a unicycle, unless creating is something you absolutely must have in your life, like oxygen and trust.
I am the latter.
No matter how much I was “othered” as a woman, a Black person, a polyglot, city-born/suburb-raised, private-school educated and now as a member of the mobility challenged community, there always seemed to be this false idea that I had to join something, a group, an organization, a collective, to be considered valid or taken seriously.
Group dynamics have always been very strange to me, and for the most part, I’ve worked better alone. As I’ve gotten older, though, I’ve learned, and am still learning, the importance of discernment and the real power of the people when it comes to protecting and expanding my artistic vision.
Choosing, honestly and intentionally, who gets to be on your team makes all the difference.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I host, perform, and produce a specialty radio show on KUTX called “The Groove Temple”. I’m a vibey DJ. I gravitate toward B-sides, edits, and those “only pressed in X country” records, the music you have to dig for. I also produce 2 annual events: one for Black History Month and another for Juneteenth. I’m now a DJ instructor for https://www.dubacademy.com/team-1 specializing in house music and downtempo and I teach in Spanish, French and English.
Everything I play has a foundation in jazz/soul, with international influences and touches of gospel and, sometimes, techno. If I must, I’ll play the “hits,” the sing-along songs, but honestly, that’s not what moves me. I’m much more interested in discovery, in playing something that makes you stop and ask, “Wait, what is THIS?”
I’ve DJ’d in Chicago at Smartbar, Martini Ranch, and Zentra; in Austin at The Contemporary Austin, the Moody Center opening for Duran Duran, HAAM HQ, and Empire Control Room opening for Yussef Dayes, CAPYAC, and Reggie Watts; in San Francisco at The EndUp; in New York at Brooklyn Bowl opening for Les Nubians; and in Paris, France at La Maroquinerie, opening for Karl the Voice of Playin’ 4 the City.
But I’d definitely say I’m most proud of performing for the opening of the Obama Presidential Center this past June. To be hired to perform in my city, on Juneteenth, surrounded by family and friends, was another reminder to keep going, trust the journey, and always have grace with yourself.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
For collaborations, all you have to do is ask! djshani@kutx.org is the best way to contact me. My favorite question will always be, “How can I help?” Because the answer is where the magic begins and we both win!
Contact Info:
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/djshani
