Chippy Non Stop Pep Rally

Chippy Nonstop has never fit into one lane, and she never tried to. The name itself says a lot. “Chippy” came from her teenage years, a nickname tied to her love of potato chips, paired with “Nonstop” to reflect how she moves through life. For over a decade, she has built a career that pulls from everything around her, crossing between DJing, production, writing, community work, and event building without separating any of it.

Her story starts across multiple places. She grew up between the UAE, Zambia, Canada, and the United States, with Indian roots and a deep connection to music discovered online. That constant movement shaped how she hears sound. Nothing feels fixed. Her sets and releases draw from acid, hardcore, techno, electroclash, and beyond, all mixed with an instinct that comes from living in different cultures and scenes. It is less about genre and more about feeling.

That same mindset led to the creation of Pep Rally.

Founded in Toronto alongside Karim Olen Ash, Pep Rally began as a response to something missing. There was no space that fully reflected the people building and attending it. So they made one. What started as a small DIY party grew into one of the most recognized underground events in the city, built around queer, Black, and brown communities who wanted somewhere to feel free. The intention was simple. Create a room where people could show up as they are, move how they want, and hear music that is not limited by expectation.

Over time, Pep Rally developed its own identity. The parties became known for packed dancefloors, unpredictable sound, and a crowd that treats the space as its own. It is not just about who is playing. It is about who is in the room and how they show up for each other. There is a shared understanding that this is a place for expression, not observation.

That sense of care runs through everything Chippy builds. She has always kept her audience close, asking for feedback, listening, and adjusting. From free water to safer environments, the details matter. Beyond the parties, she co founded Intersessions, a series of workshops designed to address the gaps that still exist across the music industry, especially for women, queer people, and people of color. It is part of a wider effort to make sure access is not limited to a few.

Pep Rally has also grown beyond Toronto. What started in basements and warehouses now moves between cities, bringing that same energy into new spaces while staying rooted in its original purpose. It is not about scaling for the sake of it. It is about carrying the same feeling into every room.

At its core, Pep Rally is about freedom. Freedom in sound, in identity, and in how people come together. Chippy Nonstop built it from the ground up, and it continues to evolve through the people who step into it.