TIME TO ADMIT THE obvious: Lady D has become a full-fledged industry force in the worldwide House scene. In the twelve years that she's been practicing her craft, she's torn up more dancefloors than most of us have ever seen. With just a shade over a decade spinning professionally, Lady D (aka Darlene Jackson) can claim a number of impressive credentials: the owner of a respected and successful record label; an irreplaceable member of the (again) respected and successful DJ Collective SuperJane with Heather, Dayhota and Colette; producer, DJ and, with coverage way beyond the industry press, one of the rising stars of the "second wave" of House Music artists.

It seems rather empty, though, to just rattle off the accomplishments on her resumé. One of the first things I noticed about Lady D was the way her personality brightens up a room the moment she walks into it. It's not unusual or even unexpected to see her around town, checking out the music at a club even though she isn't spinning. When you're successful at something, the first question the old boys in the neighborhood ask is "Is it gonna go to her head?" In Lady D's case, the success she's experienced - capped off when she shared the bill with Frankie Knuckles, David Morales, Ralphi Rosario, Barbara Tucker and Dajae at last summer's International House Music Festival - fits her well.

She took time out of her busy preparations for the Winter Music Conference in Miami to talk to 5 Magazine's Michael Pleasants (aka DJ Plez) about her early days, what got her groove on and what keeps her moving.

Tell us a little bit about young Darlene Jackson. What were you like growing up?

I was born on the Southside of Chicago but I have to say I was raised all over the city. My mom and dad were very keen on living fully and put me in a lot of experiences outside of our residential area. It made me feel like a child of Chicago, and not just one from the Southside.

I come from a fairly big family - two brothers and three sisters. I studied Science in High School (Whitney Young) but my favorite subject was art.

Obviously music has dominated your adult life, but when you were growing up, was music a big part of your life then? Do you come from a musical family or did you play any instruments?

We had a piano in my house. My father wouldn't get me lessons when I was younger - he had spent a lot of money on my sister and because she became a doctor and not a concert pianist, it messed things up for me. So I had to teach myself, which I did, but I could go only so far with that. But I used to write my own songs and play two finger standards like "Chopsticks" and "Heart and Soul." My sister also had a song book with all kinds of contemporary music. I remember I used to play Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love." Too funny!

In high school I did a year of private lessons and I also took piano lab. It was helpful but kinda late. I had other activities - I was a cheerleader and did gymnastics - and those were more of a priority. But aside from being only a mediocre pianist, music dominated my life and my house was very music-centric. My brothers liked rock and funk, my sisters liked soul and disco and lite rock and my parents like blues, jazz and country.

What was the first record album you ever bought as a kid with your own money?

My brothers were also DJs so we had lots of albums around. But I think my first 45 was "Aquaboogie" by Parliament. I bought my first 12" in 1982. It was "Everybody" by Madonna.

What were your early musical influences growing up? What did you listen to?

I listened to everything. When my brothers would leave, I was all over their records and their equipment. I taught myself how to work their systems because they had real DJ rigs, with Technics and Pioneer amps and huge speakers. They used to get mad, but I never broke anything so they couldn't make me stop.

I remember rocking out to Yes, and I remember "Family Affair" by Sly and the Family Stone making me cry. That was the first emotional reaction to a song that I can remember. It was a very sad song to me.

Then there was disco. Because my sisters were all much older than me - everyone is from eleven to seventeen years older than me - they would get dressed and go out at night. I used to cry because I couldn't go. I loved disco so much!!! Especially Chic. Those basslines made me want to party.