Stemmily: The Frequency Builder of the Underground
- Sophia Chartrand
- Mar 5
- 4 min read
On a humid New Orleans night where brass bands usually rule the streets, a different rhythm began cutting through the air. Only this time, it was faster, darker, and more relentless. Stemmily, born and raised in South Louisiana, became the city’s first female Drum & Bass producer, carving space in a genre and a culture that had yet to make room for her. Now based in Denver, she continues expanding across North America as a DJ, producer, and curator. As she prepares to bring that pressure to the Breakaway Dallas Silent Disco, her story represents what underground leadership can look like.
Before stepping fully into drum and bass, she founded Revel Scum, a collective designed to spotlight women who deserved top-tier billing but rarely received it. What began as an intention evolved into an aligned infrastructure. By consistently showing up to open decks in New Orleans, she earned the attention of NOLADNB. Eventually, she became a core member, helping shape the crew’s modern direction. Through curated events and consistent presence, she helped solidify drum and bass as a lasting fixture in the city’s underground. Her persistence eventually led her to become New Orleans’ first female drum-and-bass producer.
“Producing was simply the next step in my evolution,” she says. “It was not calculated. It was growth. I am honored by that and hope it inspires other women to leap into production.”
Musically, Stemmily operates more like a storyteller than a traditional selector. Her original tracks: “Incantation”, “Temptation”, and “Seduction” lean into ritualistic energy, atmospheric tension, and cinematic pacing. Instead of chasing predictable drops, she builds pressure gradually, allowing emotion to release with intention. Every mix, visual, and release exists within a larger creative arc.
“Music is the medium I use to express myself, and everything I release is part of a larger story,” she explains. “It’s hard for me to fully express myself in words, so music and art in general give me another language. That is why my music feels cinematic and narrative-driven. There is intention behind it, and joy in revealing each new layer. And I am not done yet. There is still so much more to unfold.”
In 2025, momentum accelerated. Competition wins at Babestock and Electric Love Music Festival, and a pivotal live contest at Sounders in Dallas, marked a turning point. Those victories translated into festival stages at Fête Du Void, Luna Fête, Sound Camp, and Electric Love in British Columbia. She has supported artists like Blossom, Mary Droppinz, and YOOKiE while commanding rooms from Pensacola to Canada. Dallas, however, became a particularly defining chapter.
Originally in Dallas for her career outside of music, she returned to the familiar grind of open decks. The same foundation shaped her in New Orleans. The response was immediate. She was nominated for Dallas’ Best DNB DJs and found some of her most receptive crowds in the Lone Star State.
“Learning to play in larger rooms forced me to step up, trust myself, and refine how I move a room,” Stemmily says. “Playing everywhere from Pensacola to British Columbia showed me that my sound translates beyond one scene. When you play in multiple cities, you stop chasing what one market wants and start discovering what actually makes you unique. That shift changed how I approach my career. I am thinking bigger, longer-term, and more intentionally about what I am building.”
At the core of Stemmily’s career is community architecture. From Revel Scum to her leadership role with Babestock - the only all-FLINTA+ electronic festival in the U.S, her focus has never been about individual spotlight, but sustainability.
“Community is everything to me,” she shares. “Speaking up for women and believing women has always been important to me, and it always will be. I am honored to have the platform I do, and I hope I can use it to inspire more women to step into DJing, production, and mentorship so this scene can become more welcoming and more collaborative. I am deeply grateful for the mentors I have now, but it took many difficult years to find them. I want artists to have room to grow, take risks, and build real careers rather than chase the next show. When I think about the future of drum and bass and underground culture, I want it to still value artistry, originality, and real connection over trends and algorithms. I want it to protect its roots while still making room for new voices. If I do my job right, what I leave behind will not just be a list of events or releases. It will be a stronger ecosystem, one where the next generation has more opportunity, more support, and more freedom to create than the generation before them.”
At Breakaway Dallas’ Silent Disco, Stemmily’s sound will glisten in a listener’s ear. Crisp percussion. Sub-heavy basslines. A layered atmosphere. The intention is to allow the tension to feel personal. Expect high-energy rollers balanced with darker, melodic cuts, and original productions woven into the arc.
“I am excited to bring that new energy to Dallas and share this next chapter with a city I love so much!” she says. “It feels like coming back with something to say, not just something to play.”
Stemmily’s journey proves something simple but powerful: when the industry doesn’t make room for you, you build the structure yourself and make it stronger for the people coming next. Dive into her latest chapters on Spotify and SoundCloud, and don’t miss the chance to experience her set in person at Breakaway Dallas.
Comments