PROBLEMCHILD: The DJ/Producer Rebuilding Herself — And Chicago’s Underground — One Maximalist Drop at a Time

In the heart of the Midwest’s electronic underground, a new force is reshaping the sound and spirit of queer nightlife. ProblemChild — the Chicago-based DJ, producer, and multimedia creator born Helena Lucerne Espino — is rapidly emerging as one of the city’s most distinctive rising artists. Known for her genre-bending style and relentless DIY vision, she is building a world where creative reinvention isn’t just possible—it’s survival.

The start of her journey

Originally from Miami, Florida, ProblemChild spent more than a decade as a dedicated raver before ever seeing herself behind the decks. For eight years she lived a different life entirely, working in commercial real estate and following what she describes as “the script”—college, marriage, career. But when the pandemic hit, that script unraveled. During that upheaval, she realized she was transgender, left an abusive marriage, and made the decision to flee an increasingly hostile Florida in 2024. She arrived in Chicago starting from zero, unsure of what came next.

What she found was a scene that didn’t just welcome her—it sparked a transformation.

A New Life Built in the Chicago Underground

DJing had only ever been a hobby, but in Chicago it became a lifeline. While traditional jobs in real estate and office work were closed to her, the city’s electronic scene opened its doors. She began booking consistently, connecting with artists, and immersing herself in every aspect of the craft—DJing, production, engineering, vocal processing, videography, event planning, and content creation.

That hunger led to the birth of several new creative pillars in Chicago’s underground:

• The Asylum, a DIY art space and video/event series showcasing emerging local DJs
• Raise Hell Collective, a queer-focused creative and event organization she co-founded
• House of Problems, an all-queer DIY collective hosting free popups and underground raves

Through these projects, ProblemChild has helped organize trans-centered lineups, elevate new talent, and build platforms for queer artists who often have none. Her commitment to community is as central to her identity as the music itself.

She has performed at well-known Chicago venues including Simone’s, Bass Station, Podlasie, Café Mustache, Jackhammer, with upcoming shows at Burlington and Book Club Chicago, as well as numerous DIY events across Chicago and Minneapolis. Her releases — “CHiCAGo” and “Tranny Pablo”, with “ChampagneFlow” on the way — showcase the early evolution of her sound.

The Sound: Armageddon Bottle Service Pop

What truly sets ProblemChild apart is her signature genre: Armageddon Bottle Service Pop, a maximalist, tongue-in-cheek fusion she describes as “glamour at the end of the world.”

Her sound blends:

• 140 bass
• UKG swing
• Drum & bass momentum
• Hyperpop brightness
• Drill-inspired coldness
• Warehouse-techno grit

The result is high-impact club music that feels both polished and chaotic — as if VIP bottle service was happening in a basement during the apocalypse. It’s campy, ironic, self-aware, and emotionally charged. Glitter over concrete. Fake luxury under dying lights. A celebration and critique of nightlife’s excess, and a love letter to the queer spaces that saved her.

Turning Setbacks Into Stages

Rebuilding her life in Chicago was her greatest challenge — new city, new scene, new identity. But instead of waiting for opportunities, she created them. When she wasn’t taken seriously as an independent queer artist in a male-dominated scene, she responded by building infrastructure: filming sets, hosting shows, launching collectives, amplifying other trans artists, and creating her own platforms from scratch.

“Every setback became a project, and every project turned into momentum,” she says.

The Road Ahead

With her debut album Revelation 140 set for release in 2026, ProblemChild is expanding her vision into a full multimedia world that blends music, visuals, performance art, and curated underground experiences. She is also actively seeking a permanent home for The Asylum, aiming to turn it into a fully functioning DIY venue for local artists and community events.

Her goals include touring, releasing music consistently, playing major festivals, and building a sustainable platform for queer electronic artists across the Midwest and beyond.

For an artist who rebuilt her life from the ground up, the mission is clear:

create spaces, create sound, create liberation.