Artist Spotlight: Barclay Crenshaw

A weekly showcase featuring local artists

Name: Barclay Crenshaw (also known as Claude VonStroke)

Sound: Dance/electronic

History: This Cleveland-born and Detroit-bred techno producer and DJ is best known by his stage name of Claude VonStroke, but is now going by his given name Barclay Crenshaw. The owner and founder of San Francisco-based applauded indie label Dirtybird Records, Crenshaw has had a prolific career in the electronic music world that goes back 20 years.

The latest: In November Claude VonStroke announced in late 2023 he was taking a hiatus from that alias and focusing on Barclay Crenshaw, which is more bass music than house. "I like Claude, you know, but Barclay's taking over for next year," he said on Instagram. "I'm just grateful to be playing. I'm grateful for DJing for this long."

“I dig and dig through countless genres and experiment so that you don't have to," he said in a press release about the shift. "I want to play new music that makes you say, ‘Wow.' Your algorithmic playlist is just a formula that echoes songs you like until you are completely pigeonholed. Let's start a community of explorers that connects over great tunes and isn't controlled by computers.”

Next: His headlining "Open Channel" tour stopped in town Friday at Elektricity in Pontiac. Barclay Crenshaw will return to Michigan June 22 to play the Electric Forest festival in Rothbury. Visit barclaycrenshaw.com to hear his music and learn more.

Melody Baetens