As she changes the track, Tempestt ‘DJ Femme Noir’ Ballenger looks into the crowd, noticing people dancing, talking, singing and drinking. Anxiety of “creating the vibe” gone, she can now settle into her rhythm. Body language, people leaving or coming to the dance floor, tell her how to move her set, how to move the vibe.
This skill, this comfort with being vulnerable in her music, in herself, and in her identity, did not happen overnight.
“People can leave the dance floor, but are they going to the bar? They get to the bathroom? Are they taking a smoke break, and are they coming back? You know, you have to. You, it all requires you to try and take notes. Like it’s almost like a social science, like an art,” she said.
In August 2018, Femme Noir took her first DJing lesson at MC Audio, although it was not her first introduction to music.
“I’ve always been interested in music. I’m from a very musical family, like families really into gospel music and just music all around. Musicians, yeah, like rappers, drummers, like musicians, everybody in my family. My father himself is a choir director. Yeah, it was inevitable to get into music in that way,” said Femme Noir.
After building her skills, working full time alongside playing gigs, Femme Noir took a ‘leap of faith’ in the summer of 2021.
“I’m gonna shoot my shot, and it’s been that way since I have been working full time[as a DJ]. I’m blessed to work full time starting in 2021,” she said.
Since then, her name, her talent, and her passion have grown. Tempest headlined Milwaukee Pride, DJs for the Milwaukee Bucks and at clubs around Milwaukee and Madison.
In Madison this summer, she plays every fourth Friday at the Cardinal Bar and has an upcoming event on August 1 at Tavernakaya. More information about her events can be found on her Instagram and Eventbrite page.
As her name has grown, Femme Noir has used this opportunity to help others grow.
“I enjoy having the opportunities to create spaces for other artists like myself, and you know people in the community to showcase their talents. I thoroughly enjoy getting the opportunity to book other folks to give them those opportunities too and give these other people a chance to see them and discover them. Be like, ‘wow, this is my new favorite’,” said Femme Noir.
“It’s a beautiful experience, and then as a DJ, it helps you on something beyond your wildest imagination. Did I think I would ever get to this point? It’s because I’m comfortable being myself and who I am in those spaces, and I am grateful for that,” she said.
Music and DJing specifically tend to be a male-dominated field, said Femme Noir. Stepping into this space as a ‘visibly queer’ Black Woman means she has to be fully sure of herself and what she will stand for. Consistency and remaining true to herself, letting her work ethic speak for itself, have brought her into more and more spaces where she does not feel ‘disposable’.
“I’ve had, you know, sound engineers completely talk over me while doing back-to-back sets with guys and things like that. In Wisconsin, like general, just as a black woman, but also being in Wisconsin it’s a challenge. But I’ve always met that challenge with consistency…” said Femme Noir. “Every time I show up, every time I’m at a gig and people see my name on a poster, like people associate the queer events that I do with my name, or like the various events in general.”
Creating spaces where people can be vulnerable, can be themselves, put down the phone for a moment and dance, requires a venue and team willing to keep her and the patrons safe, said Femme Noir.
“If you see me working in a space, it’s because I’ve actively done that homework, because I do my homework, I do my research, I lift up everything, I lift up the couch cushions and (shine) a black light over because I need to see who I’m working with,” said Femme Noir. “But also it’s important because I’m bringing people into that space as well.”
Being vigilant in her work is essential for acceptance and to ensure she is playing for people who see her and are willing to accept her music.
“Especially in Madison being a Black queer DJ, visibly Black queer DJ. People don’t see themselves being represented, or you’ll hear music, but you don’t see the people. Respectfully, Madison has a history of liking Black music, but not liking Black people,” she said. “I see it all the time. I’ve seen white DJs who play the same stuff as me, and you know they’re not getting that same pushback.”
She enjoys working in many different spaces, from clubs to weddings, to early brunch and burlesque shows- as long as people are showing up to have a good time.
“I enjoy the folks that just come ready to dance … I want people that are there to socialize, enjoy themselves,” said Femme Noir.
It is not always easy and at times she has thought about “hanging it up,” she said. But supportive family and friends have kept her going, working by herself. Being a DJ allows Femme Noir to be vulnerable, to make mistakes and to create real experiences for people.
Working weddings, she makes people’s first dance special; working funerals, she helps make grief lighter, and she has brought people together with their forever partner; this is what keeps her going, she said.
“You’re narrating someone’s experience or their life, and you’re bringing it to life. You’re personifying it. Songs where we don’t know a feeling, but then oh, that’s how I feel. Making people be present,” she said. “It’s the ability to create experiences where people have no choice but to be present, not only with themselves but the people around [them].”
