DJ Sisters Bringing ‘Booty Bass’ to Chicago on Lollapalooza Debut

Paul Caine | Ava Odom Martin | July 30, 2025, 7:05 pm

(Video produced by Ava Odom Martin)

Twin sisters Rachel and Nicole Henderson — aka the DJ duo RaeCola — are about to have a very special homecoming.

The South Side natives may now live in Los Angeles, but on Sunday they’ll be making a triumphant return to their hometown to DJ at this year’s Lollapalooza music festival.

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Their musical style is known as “booty bass,” which emerged out of Miami’s booming club scene in the 1980s and is characterized by booming low bass lines.

“I think booty bass has always been appealing,” said Rachel Henderson. “It has, like, a low end to make you want to move.”

“It’s like you can’t stay still,” added Nicole Henderson. But she said Chicago’s music scene was also a huge influence growing up.

“Being from Chicago, we have so much inspiration from the sounds that we would hear even just on the radio growing up and in the background in different areas,” said Nicole Henderson.

The music of Prince was also a constant for the sisters.

“Our parents’ first date was to go to ‘Purple Rain,’ and we grew up just listening to Prince’s music,” said Nicole Henderson. “I’m so inspired by the way that he would perform, the way that he showed himself in such a vulnerable way that maybe wasn’t the norm. … I think we both kind of move that way as well, always taking risks and just trying to be true to ourselves.”

Another influence was the Chicago DJ Green Velvet, also known as Cajmere among other aliases.

“His music was always a big inspiration,” said Rachel Henderson. “This past week we just came from a show playing with them. It’s so crazy when the biggest inspiration that you have can see our talent and want us to perform with them as well. It feels like a full circle kind of moment.”

But up next, a first performance at Lollapalooza, which Nicole Henderson said feels a little strange.

“This has been such a dream within the past few years (to play Lollapalooza), but growing up, I wasn’t really someone who was going out to festivals and parties and things like that, so it feels very unreal,” said Nicole Henderson.

“We actually haven’t been before,” said Rachel Henderson. “It’s kind of surreal that the first time we’ll be attending we’ll be performing.”