Kelli Hand was a DJ and producer better known as K-Hand, who was called the “first lady of Detroit techno.”
- Died: August 3, 2021 (Who else died on August 3?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 56.
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Influential work
Hand was one of the pioneering women involved in the techno and house scene at a time when it was dominated by male DJs. She founded her record label, Acadia Records, in 1988and became a powerful force in Detroit dance music by the 1990s. Her breakout single, “Global Warning,” came in 1994, and she continued to release music all her life. In 2017, she was honored by the city of Detroit, which named her the “First Lady of Detroit” for her contributions to the city’s signature dance music sound.
Notable quote
“If it’s not on vinyl, it’s not final, that’s the bottom line. Because you need that warm sound, that analogue sound – not the robotic mouse clicking sound. From 2000 it’s all been Einstein, twinky-twinky electronic computer-mouse-clicking music. A lot of people produce by putting things in blocks on a screen. Some people make good music doing that, but for me that’s not producing – you’re playing a computer game.” —from a 2016 interview with Matt Unicomb
Tributes to Kelli Hand
Full obituary: Billboard
