Kemistry
- For the album by Kem, see Kemistry (album).
| Kemistry | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Valerie Olukemi A Olusanya October 13, 1963 Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK |
| Died |
April 25, 1999 (aged 35) M3 Motorway in Winchester, Hampshire, England, UK |
| Cause of death | Road accident |
| Other names | Kemi |
| Occupation | Drum and bass DJ, record producer |
| Years active | c.1991–1999 |
| Known for | Kemistry & Storm, Metalheadz |
Valerie Olukemi A "Kemi" Olusanya (October 13, 1963 – April 25, 1999), commonly known by her stage name Kemistry, was a leading English drum and bass DJ of the early 1990s who also produced a number of records on the Metalheadz label, which she co-founded with other artists including Goldie, whom she had introduced to the drum and bass scene.[1]
Biography
Having attended college in Northampton, Olusanya began a career as a make-up artist before giving it up for DJing in the early 1990s. She was half of the DJ and recording duo, Kemistry & Storm, which she formed with an old friend when they both lived in London. With Goldie, they led Metalheadz for two-and-a-half years before leaving the label and later releasing a widely distributed mix album, DJ-Kicks: Kemistry & Storm, which has been described as "paving the way for other, younger, female DJs".[2]
Olusanya died in a road accident at 2:30 AM on 25 April 1999. She was in a car travelling behind a van on the M3 motorway in Hampshire, when she was hit by the steel body of a cat's eye, which had been dislodged by the van and flew through the windscreen of the car in which she was a passenger. The cat's eye hit Olusanya in the face and she was killed instantly. The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.[1] A question was asked in the House of Lords about the safety of cat's eyes in light of the incident, and the Highways Agency conducted an investigation into the "long-term integrity and performance" of various types of road stud.[3]
The song "Kemistry" by Goldie on his album Timeless, is dedicated to Olusanya. The song was released originally in 1992, as Goldie was in a relationship with Olusanya.
References
- 1 2 "Kemistry". Fuller Up, the Dead Musician Directory. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
- ↑ Potts, Diana. "Kemistry & Storm > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
- ↑ http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199900/ldhansrd/vo991213/text/91213w05.htm#91213w05_sbhd3
|chapter-url=missing title (help). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Lords. 13 December 1999. col. WA20.
External links
- DJ Kemistry discography at Discogs