Kemistry
- For the album by Kem, see Kemistry (album).
| Kemistry | |
|---|---|
| Born | Valerie Olukemi A Olusanya 13 October 1963 Birmingham, England |
| Died | 25 April 1999 (aged 35) Hampshire, England |
| Cause of death | Road accident |
| Occupation | Drum and Bass DJ, Record Producer |
| Years active | c.1991–1999 |
| Known for | Kemistry & Storm, Metalheadz |
Valerie Olukemi A "Kemi" Olusanya (13 October 1963 – 25 April 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]
[edit] 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 both found themselves living in London at that time. 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 in the early morning of 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. [It should be noted that the song was released originally in 1993, as Goldie was in a relationship with Olusanya]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Kemistry". Fuller Up, the Dead Musician Directory. http://elvispelvis.com/kemistry.htm. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
- ^ Potts, Diana. "Kemistry & Storm > Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p200009. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
- ^ Parliamentary Debates, House of Lords, 13 December 1999, column WA20.
