The Blessed Madonna

First Steps in Kentucky and the Rise in Chicago

Marea Renee Stamper, born on October 22, 1977, in the city of Louisville, Kentucky, began her journey in the electronic music scene in the nineties selling mixtapes at underground raves in the Midwestern United States. With influences ranging from her father's blues to disco and house music, she moved to Chicago, the birthplace of house. There, she started working in the sales department of the record label Dust Traxx and gradually and persistently integrated herself into the local circuit. Her true leap to prominence came when she was named resident DJ and musical director of the iconic Chicago club Smartbar, becoming the first woman to hold that position. This space was fundamental in consolidating her eclectic style and expert curation, attracting both electronic music purists and new generations of club culture.

International Explosion and We Still Believe

In the mid-2010s, operating under the alias The Black Madonna, her international reputation took off unprecedentedly. Her characteristic style behind the decks, which combines upbeat house, techno, and disco with a powerful message of inclusion and social advocacy, led her to headline the most important festivals in the world, including Coachella, Sónar, and Glastonbury. In 2016, the prestigious magazine Mixmag awarded her the coveted DJ of the Year award. In addition to her brilliant career as a selector, Marea founded her own record label and party brand, We Still Believe, with the goal of preserving the authentic and liberating spirit of classic raves and the Chicago sound. Through We Still Believe, she has promoted events that are celebrated worldwide for their safe, diverse, and undeniably energetic atmosphere.

The Change to The Blessed Madonna and New Horizons

In 2020, in response to the deep debate about cultural appropriation and racial connotations surrounding artistic names, Marea decided to officially change her alias. After listening carefully to a petition that gathered thousands of signatures, she chose to abandon her previous nickname to be called The Blessed Madonna. During this same period, she notably expanded her influence in pop music through the Club Future Nostalgia project alongside Dua Lipa, where she was in charge of mixing a full album of remixes. Likewise, the pandemic inspired her to collaborate with producer Fred again.. on the acclaimed anthem Marea (we've lost dancing), an emotional track that summarized the collective feeling of loss and hope in the clubbing scene. More recently, in 2024, she released her ambitious and highly anticipated debut album, Godspeed, cementing her status as one of the most influential, resilient, and iconic artists, producers, and DJs in electronic music today.