Violin or cello? That was the question on the mind of an 11-year-old Windy Indie. Seventeen years later, the West Side Chicago native has become one of the city’s most notable classically trained violinists.
From appearing on Fox’s musical drama Empire to playing for Juice WLRD Day (honoring the life and music of the late Chicago rapper), Chicago’s Mayor Lori Lightfoot, and Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor concert, Windy Indie is an independent artist plucking her way to the top of everyone’s list.
At first glance and listen, you’re immediately drawn to Windy Indie, a beautiful, confident, and versatile violinist whose range stretches across genres from classical and hip-hop to pop and folk. Her love for music, the arts, and education is deeply rooted in her family, faith, and hometown. Which, as you may have guessed, is the inspiration behind the catchy stage name.
Windy Indie’s journey as an instrumentalist started in sixth grade when she transferred to a charter school with a diverse curriculum. She quickly embraced the chance to take up the violin and flexed her talents by learning songs overnight, lightening bow speed ahead of the class. “It was my way of showing off,” she jokes. “Not knowing that it could actually turn into a career. I wasn’t thinking like that at 11 years old. Once I started playing more, and once I started meeting different musicians, I started seeing the opportunities.”
And the opportunities would soon meet Windy Indie wherever she went. The student now turned professional performer, and instructor credits her mom as one of her biggest supporters. It was the hour-long car rides from the city to the suburbs where Windy Indie kept herself entertained by plucking her strings along to Chicago’s WGCI’s Hip-Hop and R&B hits. “That’s how I taught myself to play by ear,” she explains.
(photo credit: Chicago Folklore Ensemble)
In addition to her inner circle, Windy Indie keeps close the memory of her late violin instructor and member of the Chicago Sinfonietta, Robert Fisher. Windy Indie recalls seeking out Fisher because he looked just like her. She would be under his tutelage for three years while at Lane Tech College Prep HS. “He helped sharpen my tools. Up until then, I knew how to play, but I didn’t know how to play,” Windy Indie reminisces. As she continued nurturing her gift throughout college and the present, she still aims to make her mentor proud.
When it comes to the violin, things are usually structured and rigid. But that doesn’t stop Windy Indie from putting her unique twist on her favorite hip-hop and r&b tracks. You can thank a little something called jazz for that. “Jazz is like the counteract to classical,” Windy Indie shares. Its fun and free-form nature are what opened Windy Indie up to freestyling, getting her out of the classical box she was so used to. That same flow can now be heard on Windy Indie’s self-written single “Take’s Time,” available on all streaming platforms. The 2019 release showcases another side of the string slayer as she raps the chorus, “I’mma play my violin on top of this. Aye!” while, of course, playing her violin.
Windy Indie looks to follow in the steps of her musical influences Esperanza Spalding and Black Violin. The Grammy winner and duo have carved out space for Black string instrumentalists on mainstream airwaves, effortlessly fusing with the voices of Janelle Monae, Diddy, Ye, and many others. Now, ask Windy Indie, who’s one artist she’d love to collaborate with? Hands down– DaBaby.
As Windy Indie continues to play center stage at private, local, and national shows, she looks to one day take her talents to the Caribbean, as well as set up a storefront event venue/studio in Chicago where she can give back to all the Day Ones and the young aspiring musicians of tomorrow.
There’s no stage too small or too big for Windy Indie. She’s just a girl from the West Side who’s all grown up. Yet, she’s staying humble and hydrated, using her musical gifts, looking cute, and thanking God while she does it all.
Check out Windy Indie’s full Black in the Days interview and learn about her favorite Chicago-themed snack, guilty pleasure, advice to her students, and much more! Follow Windy Indie on IG @windyindiemusic and listen to “Take’s Time” wherever you stream your faves.
For bookings: https://windyindie.com/bookings
