VNSSA is the stage name of Vanessa Barnes, a DJ and producer from Newport Beach, California, who is now based in Los Angeles. She began as a drummer in local indie and rock bands before moving into DJing and production, with her early work emerging in the late 2010s. Her releases have appeared on labels including Dirtybird, Higher Ground, Sweat It Out, Rules Don't Apply, Realm, and Trippy Ass Technologies. Her debut single, "Do You Wanna Play," arrived in 2018, and later tracks such as "Word" with Walker & Royce helped raise her profile in house and bass-house circles. VNSSA’s sets are associated with house, techno, breaks, and disco influences, and she has played clubs and festivals in the U.S. and internationally.