- Free-spirited exhilaration, swung drums and tight grooves—the godmother of house music shows us how it's done.
- Talk to any veteran artist and they'll tell you consistency is the secret to longevity. Staying relevant in a competitive industry requires unwavering dedication to the craft—a lesson that nobody knows better than the godmother of house music, Stacey Hotwaxx Hale. The gear head, educator, music nerd and Detroit legend is considered the Motor City's first woman DJ to play underground house music. Her inquisitive mind, passion for audio equipment and community spirit has led to a decades-spanning career that has inspired countless women and expanded Detroit's rich musical heritage.
As a teenager, she learned to record on reel-to-reel tapes before learning the ropes from club king Ken Collier in the late '70s. Mastering the art of what she called "sneak-a-mixx"—seamlessly mixing vinyl records continuously—she beat over 600 artists to win the 1985 Motor City Mix competition. DJing remained a given in her life, even when she pursued a full-time engineering degree. She's often described in interviews how she would do math homework in between mixing tracks during gigs in her 20s. When she's not behind the decks or playing in the live ensemble Nyumba Muziki, she teaches DJing and production classes with the goal of teaching her students self-expression.
Hale's sound is warm and dynamic, incorporating everything from gospel, electro, hip-hop, techno and live instruments with the goal of spreading positivity and happiness. Those feelings and cross-genre moods are all tangible on her RA Podcast. Moving gracefully between disco, funky techno, R&B and classic house, Hale's mix feels like the perfect night out, showcasing her versatility, love for vibrant rhythms and her sharp ear.
What have you been up to recently?
Teaching in the and camps, hosting Sheometry Arts & Music Festival. Assistant Music Director & DJ for Daughters of Betty pwr by Black Women Rock. Traveling and Producing music.
How and where was the mix recorded? And can you tell us the idea behind it?
I was at home in my studio using records, flash drives, SD cards and a DJS-1000.
What's one club or party that had a major impact on you as an artist?
The Zoo Project.
Can you tell us more about the teaching and community initiatives you do? Why is it important to you?
I've had the opportunity to teach at Detroit School of The Arts High School (DSA), Detroit Institute Of Music Education (DIME), several middle schools across the city of Detroit as well as adult education. It is so important for the story of music being told by the people that made it especially in Detroit. Many people in the world don't realize the sounds of Detroit are more than Motown. We are the creators of techno, and deeply rooted in jazz, R&B, gospel and of course house music.
I raise awareness of the content of music and remind them of what the spirit of what they may play can affect somebody's emotions, positive or negative. I believe when DJing you want to make people happy, smile, and dance.
What keeps you interested and passionate about dance music after so many years?
I love the new sounds of music. Drums, bass and piano. Many songs released long ago have remixes with new sounds. Nina Simone, Temptations, Loleatta Holloway, Chaka Khan and many more. I love gospel house music. At any time it can be programmed in one of my shows which impacts the dance floor. These are the things that keep me passionate about dance music.
What's one social or political cause you want the world to pay more attention to?
Well, I have more than one I'm passionate about. Hunger, global warming and saving the children worldwide.
What are you looking forward to in the near future?
I really want to visit and play in South Africa and Japan. Those two locations are on my bucket list.
TracklistJay Vegas - Can U Feel It (2023 Remaster)
Melba Moore - You Stepped Into My Life (DJ Spivey's Studio 54 Edit)
Jessica Care Moore - Freedom feat. Steffanie Christi'an (Hotwaxx & NJB Remix)
Ken@Work - Ride It
James Mac, Vall - Coconuts
Mattei & Omich - The Boy Is Mine feat. Rosalie
Aaron FIT Siegel - Tonite feat. L'Renee (Detroit Mix)
Kai Alcé, Sandman & Riverside - Into Your Story feat. Jeremy Ellis
Rapson - Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent (Extended Mix) feat. Nathan Thomas
Rapson - Magic (DJ Spen Extended Edit) feat. Nathan Thomas
Alton Miller - All The Little Things feat. Ree (Patrice Scott Mix)
Chez Damier & Chris Carrier - Gathering (Funky Take Dub)
John Rocca - I Want It To Be Real (Late Nite Tuff Guy Edit)
UKNW - Black Label
Babs Presents - Nothing Feels Better
Doug Lazy - Sky High (Melvin Gentry & DJ Spen Remix)
Dames Brown - Glory (Floorplan Extended Remix)
Louie Vega & Jocelyn Brown - You Are Everything (Album Mix)
Marc Cotterell - 8 Minutes Of Pleasure
Geri Free - Pure Joy (Hotwaxx Hazmat Live Remix)
Homework - I Got One (You're It)
Blaze & UDAUFL - Most Precious Love (DJ Kone & Marc Palacios Extended Remix)
Phonetix - Something Special feat. Final Cutt Collective
Cassimm - Son De Lo (Extended Mix)
Unknown - Summer Maddness
Artist Code 414C - In Da Hood (Extended Mix)
Massimo Lippoli - Let It Ride (Dario D'attis Remix)
DJ Chus & Cevin Fisher - Everytime I Try (Extended Remix)
Doug Gomez - Without You feat. Aaron K. Gray
Reel People & Vanessa Freeman - Butterflies (Emmaculate Dub)
Gregory Porter - Probably Me