Music
From rave tapes to global fame, The Blessed Madonna has redefined dance music. Discover her journey from America's Midwest to international stages and how she became a true icon of the club scene.
From Kentucky roots to club culture royalty, The Blessed Madonna - born Marea Stamper - has spent over two decades shaping the sound and ethos of electronic music. With a career rooted in rave culture and driven by radical DIY energy, she's become one of the most respected and influential DJs and producers in the world.
Ahead of Red Bull Back2Beyond, on March 28 at the Dojo in Paris, France, we take a look at the crazy lineup that will be hosting the Back To Back party. After Bambounou, HAAi and salute, it's the turn of The Blessed Madonna, chaperone of the event.
01
Early hustle: selling mixtapes at raves
Long before she was headlining international festivals, Stamper was slinging mixtapes at raves across the American Midwest. In true punk-rock fashion, she piled into cars with friends, armed with boxes of tapes, t-shirts and Blow Pops.
That hands-on experience taught her the business side of dance culture and gave her an up-close look at some of the best DJs in action. Soon after learning to DJ herself, she played her first party – and spent the next decade navigating what she describes as "10 years of terrible raves, mistakes, spilled drinks and sound systems catching fire."
10 years of terrible raves, mistakes, spilled drinks and sound systems chatching fire
02
A lifelong raver and dance music historian
Stamper went to her first rave at just 14 and has attended every single Movement Festival since it began. She's witnessed defining moments in U.S. dance music history, including Richie Hawtin's debut as Plastikman at a party called Spastik.
Stamper's deep musical knowledge comes in part from her family. Her mother was a dedicated music fan with a love of disco and soul, and her stepfather Roger was, in her words, "one of the greatest record collectors of all time." One day, they drove to a Kentucky tobacco barn to purchase the entire record collection of an Ohio funk DJ – an experience that left a mark. Stamper used those records on her college radio show, teaching herself to mix live on air.
03
From booking gigs to rocking the docks
Stamper’s early career included behind-the-scenes roles as a booker and label manager at Dust Traxx Records. At one point, she even wrote copy for an online underwear store. But music always remained central. Performing under the alias Lady Foursquare, she began DJing across the Midwest, taking any gig she could find, from small bars in Ohio to backroom parties in Tennessee.
Eventually, she moved to Chicago, the birthplace of house music, where she truly found her voice as a DJ and producer. She began performing at Smartbar, one of the city's most respected venues, and over time became a resident there.
In Chicago, she made a list of goals on a Post-it note: play in Europe, get on the radio, become an established DJ. Slowly, each line was crossed off.
04
Rise of The Blessed Madonna
Stamper's big breakthrough came after rebranding herself as The Black Madonna – a name inspired by religious iconography, not intended to reference race. Under this name, she released the vibrant EP Alright This Morning, followed by We Still Believe in 2013, an acid-house anthem that echoed Chicago's musical heritage while embracing something more joyful and vocal-forward.
From punchy house to disco flourishes, her sets became known for their emotional range and unapologetic sense of fun.
In July 2020, Stamper changed her stage name to The Blessed Madonna in response to growing conversations around racial justice during the Black Lives Matter movement. The original name referenced Catholic icons she admired, but she recognised that the term could cause pain or confusion, particularly among black communities. After listening to fans and fellow artists, she made the change. The move reflected her longstanding commitment to inclusion, activism and anti-racism within dance music culture.
05
A voice for change and a mentor for the future
Known for her outspoken views on equality in the music industry, Stamper has long advocated for women, queer artists and marginalised communities. She embraces her role as a mentor, too. In a 2020 interview with Tsugi, she proudly declared: "I'm a rave mom." It's a title she lives up to by uplifting emerging artists and supporting the next generation of dance music creators.