Deee Lite

Background and career history

Originally the band began in 1986 as a duo in New York City with Lady Miss Kier (born Kierin Magenta Kirby) primarily on vocals and Supa DJ Dmitry (born in the Ukraine as Dmitry Brill) as the DJ, but became a trio when Jungle DJ Towa Towa (Japanese-born Towa Tei) joined the group in 1988, having just moved to the U.S. only a year beforehand. He had intended at first to study graphic design, but found being a musician better, injecting techno music into their old-school style of dance music. Dmitry also had previously emigrated to the U.S. from the USSR.

Album releases and fame

In 1990 their first album, World Clique, shot to the top of the dance charts, and the song "Groove is in the Heart" became their first number one hit. The song features vocals from Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest as well as bass guitar and additional vocals by funk musician Bootsy Collins, a fan of the group.

A second album was released following their success with a politically charged second album named Infinity Within in 1992. The album failed to chart as high as their debut, but they still scored two Top 40 dance hits with "Runaway" and "Pussycat Meow."

Breakup

Prior to the release of the group's third album, Dewdrops in the Garden, Tei abruptly left the band (appearing only on the track "Call Me") and was replaced by DJ Ani. Even with a roster change and minimal record label support, Deee-Lite still managed to tour for one year after the release of the album, even selling more copies than of their second release.

In total, the group scored six number-one hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart over the 5 years they were together.

Their careers since

Upon their break-up, the individual members have worked independently as DJs:

Although Kier is still primarily a DJ, having traveled all over the world and performed on many albums with many artists, her forward-fashion style of dress often regarded as a 'icon' by publications such as Vogue.

Dmitry continued DJ'ing, from Hong Kong to Jerusalem and from Berlin's Love Parade to Brazil's Rock In Rio. He was given a DJ of the year award in Ibiza, and has remixed for many artists including Arthur Russell, Jungle Brothers, Sinead O'Connor, Ziggy Marley, Nina Hagen, Ultra Naté and others. He collaborated with Julee Cruise (of Twin Peaks/David Lynch fame) to release the album My Secret Life. Dmitry is currently based in Berlin where he continues to DJ, compose, produce and re-mix.

Towa Tei has recorded several albums as a solo artist, and is currently featured in Japanese supergroup ja:METAFIVE. Since Deee-Lite's disbanding, Kier, Dmitry and Ani have maintained successful club DJ careers. In a 2011 interview, Tei dismissed the chances of Deee-Lite reforming, citing the creative and personal differences that prompted him to depart.

Band members

Albums