Cherise Alexandria Gary, known by her stage name UNIIQU3, is an American DJ, songwriter, and music producer.[2][3]

Uniiqu3
Birth nameCherise Alexandria Gary[1]
OriginHillside, New Jersey, U.S.
GenresJersey club, house
Occupation(s)
Years active2011 (2011)–present
LabelsNLV Records, Club Queen, Ultra Records

Uniiqu3 is best known for her work in the Jersey club genre, most notably her 2018 song with TT the Artist "Girls Off the Chain," which was sampled for Chloe Bailey's 2022 debut single, "Have Mercy".[4] She has been dubbed the "Queen of Jersey Club."[5][6]

She has made official remixes for Tiwa Savage, Crystal Waters, Aluna George, Anna Lunoe, and more. [7][8][9] She is signed to Nina Las Vegas record label NLV Records[10] and hosts her own radio show on SiriusXM called Club Queen Radio.[11]

Early life edit

Gary was raised in Hillside, New Jersey.[12] She first discovered Jersey club as a teenage ballerina at Newark Symphony Hall. DJ Tameil, the founding father of Jersey club, was selling his CDs at a booth nearby, which she would purchase and share with her peers. In time, she noticed the lack of female DJ representation in Newark's club scene, so she learned how to DJ in 2011, and two years later, she began producing.[13]

Career edit

Starting in 2014, Uniiqu3 released a series of mixtapes.[14][15] Her popularity grew through her 2016 Boiler Room appearance, her 2017 mix for 'Diplo and Friends' radio show on BBC Radio 1XTRA, and with the 2021 release of her Heartbeats EP which contained the viral song "Microdosing", landing on Billboard Magazine's "Best Dance Songs of 2021" list.[16][17] In 2022, she collaborated with Whipped Cream, Big Freedia, and Moore Kismet on the single "Hold Up."[18]

In September 2021, her breakthrough single "Microdosing" was used to soundtrack the Versace x Fendi "Fendaci"[19] catwalk collection.[20] In 2023, Uniiqu3 won a BMI award for her contribution to Chloe Bailey's debut song "Have Mercy".[21] Most recently, she was profiled by PBS in a short documentary on the origins, rise to prominence, and ongoing contributions Jersey club artists are making to global urban music and dance cultures.[22][23]

In 2019, Uniiqu3 began the ongoing PBNJ party series bringing together club artists from Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New Jersey.[24] Uniiqu3 performed as supporting act on the East Coast leg of Tinashe's BB/Ang3l tour, taking place in 2024.

Discography edit

Extended plays edit

  • Phase 3 (2018)
  • Club Queens [with TT the Artist] (2018)
  • Digital Diva (2020)
  • Digital Diva Vol. 2 (2020)
  • Heartbeats (2021)[25]

Remix Albums edit

  • #itsUNIIQU3 CRATE (Edits & Remixes) (2018)

Mixtapes edit

  • The New Klassiks (2014)
  • Bitches is Outside Vol. 1 (2021)

Singles edit

  • "Tic Tac" feat. Lambo (2016)
  • "Trunk" (2017)
  • "Like Me" (2017)
  • "Phase 3" (2018)
  • "Girls Off the Chain" [with TT the Artist] (2018)
  • "Bubblegum" (2018)
  • "How Bout This" (2019)
  • "LSD" (2019)
  • "Breakin' Necks" (2019)
  • "7 Day Weekends" (2020)
  • "Rave in My Room" (2020)
  • "Microdosing" (2021)[26]
  • "Unavailable" (2021)
  • "Jersey Club Movie" (2023)
  • "Body Moves" [with The Glitch Mob and Samurai Breaks] (2023)[27]
  • "Shake The Room" with Dos Flakos (2023)[28]

Remix songs edit

  • 2021: Tiwa Savage - "The Way You Are (Gbadun You) (Uniiqu3 Remix)"
  • 2021: Aluna - "Body Pump (Uniiqu3 Remix)"
  • 2023: Crystal Waters – "100% Pure Love (Uniiqu3 Remix)"

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "AFTER PARTY". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  2. ^ Amin, Tayyab (2021-09-20). "Meet UNIIQU3, the global ambassador of music's most influential genre". The Guardian. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  3. ^ "Breaking Barriers and Dominating Dance Floors - An Interview With Jersey Club Royalty Uniiqu3". New Wave Magazine. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
  4. ^ "Chloe Blossoms in Debut Single Have Mercy". The Montclarion. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  5. ^ "The 'Queen of Jersey Club' returns to the release ring". Dancing Astronaut. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
  6. ^ "Recognise:UNIIQU3". DJ Mag. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
  7. ^ "UNIIQU3 Unveils Captivating Remix of Crystal Waters' 1994 Dance Classic, "100% Pure Love"". EDM.com. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
  8. ^ "Aluna's Rennaisance Album Gets The Remix Treatment". EDM.com. 2021-01-30. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  9. ^ "TIDAL: UNiiQU3 Credits". TIDAL. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  10. ^ "Nina Las Vegas Signs US & Norwegian Acts To NLV Records". The Music. 2014-07-16. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  11. ^ "Meet UNIIQU3: The Jersey Club Queen". Forbes. 2014-07-16. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  12. ^ "How UNIIQU3 Became Jersey Club Royalty". Resident Advisor. Retrieved Nov 23, 2023.
  13. ^ "UNIIQU3 is taking Jersey club to new heights". Crack Magazine. Retrieved Nov 23, 2023.
  14. ^ "Uniiqu3 Drops New Mixtape, "The New Klassiks"". Complex Magazine. Retrieved Nov 23, 2023.
  15. ^ "UNIIQU3's 'B*tches Is Outside, Vol. 1' Is the Perfect Jersey Club Summer 2021 Soundtrack". Complex Magazine. Retrieved Nov 23, 2023.
  16. ^ "The endless evolution of Jersey club". DJ Mag. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
  17. ^ "The 40 Best Dance Songs of 2021: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
  18. ^ "Uniiqu3 - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  19. ^ "Versace and Fendi: The Swap - Fendace | UK Online Store". Versace.com.
  20. ^ "A Live Q&A With Uniiqu3". Crack Magazine. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  21. ^ "2023 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards". BMI.com. Retrieved Nov 23, 2023.
  22. ^ "Mixology: Uniiqu3". The Newarker. April 2021. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  23. ^ "Why Is Jersey Club Music Everywhere?". PBS SoCal. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  24. ^ "WHO WILL BE THE WINNER OF UNIIQU3'S SOUND KIT CONTEST?". HangTime Magazine. December 11, 2019. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  25. ^ "Heartbeats". Pitchfork. 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  26. ^ "Uniiqu3 Shares New Single 'Microdosing' from Local Action EP". DJ Mag. 2021-08-26. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  27. ^ "UNIIQU3, The Glitch Mob and Samurai Breaks link up on new single, 'Body Moves': Listen". DJ Mag. 2023-09-08. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  28. ^ "UNIIQU3 and Dos Flakos link up on new single, 'Shake the Room': Listen". 14 August 2023.