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{{Short description|American DJ}}
{{Short description|American DJ}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=March 2016}}
{{rewrite|date=August 2021}}
}}


'''Kelli Hand''' (1965 – August 3, 2021), known professionally as '''K-HAND''', was a musician and DJ from [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], United States.<ref name="metrotimes">{{cite news |last=Jordan |first=Jerilyn |date=4 August 2021 |title=Electronic music pioneer and 'First Lady of Detroit techno' Kelli Hand has died at 56 |url=https://www.metrotimes.com/city-slang/archives/2021/08/04/electronic-music-pioneer-and-first-lady-of-detroit-techno-kelli-hand-has-died-at-56 |work=[[Detroit Metro Times]] |access-date=4 August 2021 }}</ref> Hand was widely credited as opening the door for Black women's participation in the previously male-dominated techno and electronic music communities during the 1990s and was known as the "First Lady of Detroit techno".<ref name="metrotimes"/> A prolific DJ with an "impossibly deep catalogue", Hand continued to produce and perform music up until her death in 2021.<ref name="bandcamp">{{cite web |title= Lifetime Achievement: Kelli “K-HAND” Hand |url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/lifetime-achievement/lifetime-achievement-k-hand-list |last=Morrison |first=John |date=4 August 2021 |access-date=4 August 2021 |work=[[Bandcamp]] }}</ref>
'''Kelli Hand''' (1965 – August 3, 2021), known professionally as '''K-HAND''', was a musician and DJ from [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], United States.<ref name="metrotimes">{{cite news |last=Jordan |first=Jerilyn |date=4 August 2021 |title=Electronic music pioneer and 'First Lady of Detroit techno' Kelli Hand has died at 56 |url=https://www.metrotimes.com/city-slang/archives/2021/08/04/electronic-music-pioneer-and-first-lady-of-detroit-techno-kelli-hand-has-died-at-56 |work=[[Detroit Metro Times]] |access-date=4 August 2021 }}</ref> Hand was widely credited as opening the door for Black women's participation in the previously male-dominated techno and electronic music communities during the 1990s and was known as the "First Lady of Detroit techno".<ref name="metrotimes"/> A prolific DJ with an "impossibly deep catalogue", Hand continued to produce and perform music up until her death in 2021.<ref name="bandcamp">{{cite web |title= Lifetime Achievement: Kelli “K-HAND” Hand |url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/lifetime-achievement/lifetime-achievement-k-hand-list |last=Morrison |first=John |date=4 August 2021 |access-date=4 August 2021 |work=[[Bandcamp]] }}</ref>


== Life and career ==
== Life and career ==
Born and raised in Detroit, Hand immersed herself in New York's club scene during the 1980s, especially frequenting the legendary [[Paradise Garage]] when [[Larry Levan]] was playing<ref name="metrotimes"/> as well as Club Area.<ref name="gridface">{{cite web |url=https://www.gridface.com/k-hand/ |date=27 April 2010 |last=Arnold |first=Jacob |work=Gridface }}</ref> She purchased her own equipment and began teaching herself to produce and DJ in her bedroom, before eventually beginning to play clubs and landing a residency at Detroit's Zipper's Nightclub.<ref name="metrotimes" />
Born and raised in Detroit, Hand immersed herself in New York's club scene during her youth in the 1980s, especially frequenting the legendary [[Paradise Garage]] when [[Larry Levan]] was playing<ref name="metrotimes"/> as well as Club Area.<ref name="gridface">{{cite web |url=https://www.gridface.com/k-hand/ |date=27 April 2010 |last=Arnold |first=Jacob |work=Gridface }}</ref> She purchased her own equipment and began teaching herself to produce and DJ in her bedroom, before eventually beginning to play clubs and landing a residency at Detroit's Zipper's Nightclub.<ref name="metrotimes" />


In 1990, Hand founded her own label, initially named UK House Records, but quickly renamed to Acacia Records after a Detroit street she had previously lived on.<ref name="gridface"/> Her debut release was an EP, ''Think About It''.<ref name="metrotimes" /> In 1994, her single, ''Global Warning'', was released on the British label [[Warp Records]]. In 1995, her debut album, ''On A Journey'', was released on [[Studio !K7]].<ref name="K-Handmusic">[http://k-handmusic.com K-HAND], k-handmusic.com</ref><ref name="dekmantel">[https://soundcloud.com/dkmntl/dekmantel-podcast-103-k-hand K-HAND], dekmantelselectors.com</ref><ref name="mixmag">[https://soundcloud.com/mixmag-1/in-session-k-hand K-HAND], mixmag.com</ref><ref name="Allmusic">[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/k-hand-mn0000853372/biography K-HAND], allmusic.com</ref>
In 1990, Hand founded her own label, initially named UK House Records, but quickly renamed to Acacia Records after a Detroit street she had previously lived on.<ref name="gridface"/> Her debut release was an EP, ''Think About It''.<ref name="metrotimes"/>


In 1994, her single, ''Global Warning'', was released on the British label [[Warp Records]]. In 1995, her debut studio album, ''On A Journey'', was released on [[Studio !K7]].<ref name="K-Handmusic">[http://k-handmusic.com K-HAND], k-handmusic.com</ref> By the year 2000, seven further albums were released on the labels, !K7 Records, Distance, Tresor, and Ausfahrt.
In 1993, she traveled to [[Atlanta]], and founded Chris Brann, aka Wamdue kids, Ananda Project group. Hand signed six extended play releases to the Acacia Records label from the duo.

By the year 2000, seven further albums were released on the labels, !K7 Records, Distance, Tresor, and Ausfahrt.

In 2015-2016 Hand released two songs, and one end of Year 2017 on Nina Kraviz label named трип (English: Trip). up until the трип Label reached its heightened peak was chosen as Best and/or "Label of year" according to Resident Advisor.


Hand's imprint Acacia Label continues to release new vinyl records as well as re-releases of Hand's back catalogue.
Hand's imprint Acacia Label continues to release new vinyl records as well as re-releases of Hand's back catalogue.


==Musical style==
==Musical style==
Despite her Detroit background, Hand identified her musical influences as being from mostly Chicago and New York electronic music scenes,<ref name="ra_interview">{{cite web |title=K-HAND: Those love games |work=[[Resident Advisor]] |date=23 September 2016 |last=Unicomb |first=Matt |access-date=4 August 2021 |url=https://ra.co/features/2823 }}</ref> including [[Larry Levan]], [[Marshall Jefferson]], and [[Larry Heard]].<ref name="gridface"/> Her main Detroit influences included [[Jeff Mills]] and the [[Underground Resistance]]<ref name="ra_interview"/> as well as [[Ken Collier]].<ref name="gridface"/> Hand frequently incorporated a particular "swing" to many of her tracks, which she described as being influenced by the specific sound of [[Chicago house]] music.<ref name="ra_interview"/>
Despite her Detroit background, Hand identified her musical influences as being from mostly Chicago and New York electronic music scenes,<ref name="ra_interview">{{cite web |title=K-HAND: Those love games |work=[[Resident Advisor]] |date=23 September 2016 |last=Unicomb |first=Matt |access-date=4 August 2021 |url=https://ra.co/features/2823 }}</ref> including [[Larry Levan]], [[Marshall Jefferson]], and [[Larry Heard]].<ref name="gridface"/> Her main Detroit influences included [[Jeff Mills]] and the [[Underground Resistance]]<ref name="ra_interview"/> as well as [[Ken Collier]].<ref name="gridface"/> Hand frequently incorporated the particular "jack" and "swing" sounds distinctive to [[Chicago house]] in her music.<ref name="ra_interview"/>

As described by Matt Unicomb in 2016,

{{blockquote |text=The K-HAND sound is based on smart sampling and even smarter drums. Taking cues from the percussive Chicago aesthetic sculpted by Paul Johnson, Cajmere and others, her tracks are stripped-down and full of personality, built on swinging beats and catchy basslines. The many gems in her catalogue—"Love Games," "Candle Lights," "Project 5 (Untitled B1)" among them—ooze character. It's the sound of a lost era, built with the qualities that so many people love in this type of US dance music—funk, rawness, emotion.<ref name="ra_interview"/>}}

Hand was deeply influenced by her years spent listening and dancing to the music of Larry Levan before his death in 1992:

{{blockquote |text=The upbeat records played by Paradise Garage's resident DJs, headed up by Larry Levan, would inform Hand's style for years to come. Like Levan behind the decks, Hand would get strange, unexpected results from disparate samples and sounds, generating new meaning by chopping simple phrases and pairing them with fat, swinging [[Akai MPC|MPC]] beats.<ref name="ra_review">{{cite web |last=Unicomb |first=Matt |date=2 February 2019 |title=Rewind: K-HAND - Project 5 EP |url=https://ra.co/reviews/23569 |work=[[Resident Advisor]] |access-date=4 August 2021 }}</ref>}}


Hand was also a [[Phonograph record|vinyl]] enthusiast, stating that "if it's not on vinyl, it's not final" because she valued its "warm" and "analogue" sound.<ref name="ra_interview"/>
Hand was also a [[Phonograph record|vinyl]] enthusiast, stating that "if it's not on vinyl, it's not final" because she valued its "warm" and "analogue" sound.<ref name="ra_interview"/> Many of Hand's tracks feature a "very specific and strong sense of emotion" and Hand herself remarked that "a lot of my songs are lovey-dovey".<ref name="ra_interview"/>


==Awards and accolades==
==Awards and accolades==
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Hand released most of her music under the moniker K-HAND, but also released music under the names Etat Solide, Rhythm Formation (with Claude Young), Queen Mecca, Kelli Hand, and Kerohand.<ref name="gridface"/>
Hand released most of her music under the moniker K-HAND, but also released music under the names Etat Solide, Rhythm Formation (with Claude Young), Queen Mecca, Kelli Hand, and Kerohand.<ref name="gridface"/>


'''Studio albums'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Kelli Hand |work=[[Discogs]] |access-date = 4 August 2021 |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/1164-Kelli-Hand }}</ref>
{{unsourced section|date=August 2021}}
'''Studio Albums'''
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* 1995: K-HAND – ''On A Journey'' ([[Studio !K7]])
* 1995: K-HAND – ''On A Journey'' ([[Studio !K7]])
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* 2001: K-HAND – ''Detroit History Part 1'' ([[Tresor Records|Tresor]])
* 2001: K-HAND – ''Detroit History Part 1'' ([[Tresor Records|Tresor]])
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}
'''Extended Plays'''
'''Extended plays'''
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* 1990: K-HAND/Etat Solide – ''Think About It'' (UK House Records/Acacia Records)
* 1990: K-HAND/Etat Solide – ''Think About It'' (UK House Records/Acacia Records)
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== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.k-handmusic.com/ Acacia Records website]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

Revision as of 22:03, 4 August 2021

Kelli Hand (1965 – August 3, 2021), known professionally as K-HAND, was a musician and DJ from Detroit, Michigan, United States.[1] Hand was widely credited as opening the door for Black women's participation in the previously male-dominated techno and electronic music communities during the 1990s and was known as the "First Lady of Detroit techno".[1] A prolific DJ with an "impossibly deep catalogue", Hand continued to produce and perform music up until her death in 2021.[2]

Life and career

Born and raised in Detroit, Hand immersed herself in New York's club scene during her youth in the 1980s, especially frequenting the legendary Paradise Garage when Larry Levan was playing[1] as well as Club Area.[3] She purchased her own equipment and began teaching herself to produce and DJ in her bedroom, before eventually beginning to play clubs and landing a residency at Detroit's Zipper's Nightclub.[1]

In 1990, Hand founded her own label, initially named UK House Records, but quickly renamed to Acacia Records after a Detroit street she had previously lived on.[3] Her debut release was an EP, Think About It.[1]

In 1994, her single, Global Warning, was released on the British label Warp Records. In 1995, her debut studio album, On A Journey, was released on Studio !K7.[4] By the year 2000, seven further albums were released on the labels, !K7 Records, Distance, Tresor, and Ausfahrt.

Hand's imprint Acacia Label continues to release new vinyl records as well as re-releases of Hand's back catalogue.

Musical style

Despite her Detroit background, Hand identified her musical influences as being from mostly Chicago and New York electronic music scenes,[5] including Larry Levan, Marshall Jefferson, and Larry Heard.[3] Her main Detroit influences included Jeff Mills and the Underground Resistance[5] as well as Ken Collier.[3] Hand frequently incorporated the particular "jack" and "swing" sounds distinctive to Chicago house in her music.[5]

As described by Matt Unicomb in 2016,

The K-HAND sound is based on smart sampling and even smarter drums. Taking cues from the percussive Chicago aesthetic sculpted by Paul Johnson, Cajmere and others, her tracks are stripped-down and full of personality, built on swinging beats and catchy basslines. The many gems in her catalogue—"Love Games," "Candle Lights," "Project 5 (Untitled B1)" among them—ooze character. It's the sound of a lost era, built with the qualities that so many people love in this type of US dance music—funk, rawness, emotion.[5]

Hand was deeply influenced by her years spent listening and dancing to the music of Larry Levan before his death in 1992:

The upbeat records played by Paradise Garage's resident DJs, headed up by Larry Levan, would inform Hand's style for years to come. Like Levan behind the decks, Hand would get strange, unexpected results from disparate samples and sounds, generating new meaning by chopping simple phrases and pairing them with fat, swinging MPC beats.[6]

Hand was also a vinyl enthusiast, stating that "if it's not on vinyl, it's not final" because she valued its "warm" and "analogue" sound.[5] Many of Hand's tracks feature a "very specific and strong sense of emotion" and Hand herself remarked that "a lot of my songs are lovey-dovey".[5]

Awards and accolades

Hand was presented with a Spirit of Detroit Award in 2016 along with several other electronic musicians including Jeff Mills, Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson.[7] In July 2017, Hand was named a First Lady of Detroit and honored by the city with a Testimonial Resolution certificate acknowledging her substantial contributions to techno and dance music.[8]

Death

Hand died on August 3, 2021.[1]

Discography

Hand released most of her music under the moniker K-HAND, but also released music under the names Etat Solide, Rhythm Formation (with Claude Young), Queen Mecca, Kelli Hand, and Kerohand.[3]

Studio albums[9]

  • 1995: K-HAND – On A Journey (Studio !K7)
  • 1997: K-HAND – The Art Of Music (Studio !K7)
  • 1997: K-HAND – Ready For The Darkness (Substance/Distance)
  • 1997: K-HAND – Soul (Ausfahrt)
  • 1998: K-HAND – Fantasy (Ausfahrt)
  • 2000: K-HAND – Salsafied (Ausfahrt)
  • 2001: K-HAND – Detroit History Part 1 (Tresor)

Extended plays

  • 1990: K-HAND/Etat Solide – Think About It (UK House Records/Acacia Records)
  • 1992: K-HAND/Etat Solide feat. Zoey – No Heartbreaks (Acacia Records)
  • 1993: K-HAND – Ba Da Bing (Acacia Records)
  • 1993: K-HAND featuring Rhythm Formation – Rhythm Is Back (Acacia Records)
  • 1993: K-HAND / Claude Young – Everybody / You Give Me (Acacia Records)
  • 1993: K-HAND – Not Giving Up (Acacia Records)
  • 1993: K-HAND – From The "I Fucked All Week" Guy (Acacia Records)
  • 1993: K-HAND – Rodeo / The Tunnel (Global Cuts)
  • 1993: K-HAND feat. Zoey – I Do (Acacia Records)
  • 1994: K-HAND – The Saints Go Marching On (Global Cuts)
  • 1994: K-HAND – Global Warning (Warp Records)
  • 1994: K-HAND – Everybody (EC Records)
  • 1995: K-HAND/Etat Solide – Living For Another (UK House Records)
  • 1995: K-HAND – Project #1 (Acacia Records)
  • 1995: K-HAND – Project #2 (Acacia Records)
  • 1995: K-HAND – Project #3 (Acacia Records)
  • 1995: K-HAND – Project #4 (Acacia Records)
  • 1995: K-HAND – Acid Nation (Loriz Sounds)
  • 1995: K-HAND – Groove E.P. (Radikal Fear)
  • 1996: K-HAND – On A Mission (Studio !K7)
  • 1996: K-HAND – The Project EP (D:Tour)
  • 1996: K-HAND – The Next Project EP (D:Tour)
  • 1996: K-HAND – Unreleased Project (Acacia Records)
  • 1997: K-HAND/KMH – Right Now EP (M.C. Projects)
  • 1997: K-HAND – Mayday EP (Acacia Records)
  • 1997: K-HAND / Graffiti – Roots / Graffiti's Theme (Sublime Records)
  • 1997: K-HAND – Project 5 EP Untitled (Acacia Records)
  • 1997: K-HAND – Horizon (Substance)
  • 1997: K-HAND – All Over The World (Acacia Records)
  • 1997: K-HAND – Spice EP (Acacia Records)
  • 1997: K-HAND – Flashback EP (Acacia Records)
  • 1997: K-HAND – Sounds (Hyperspace)
  • 1997: K-HAND – Project 69 EP (Acacia Records)
  • 1998: K-HAND – Sweet Love (Fourone1 Records)
  • 1998: K-HAND/By Kely – The Bomb (Re-load Records)
  • 1999: K-HAND – Do It (Distance)
  • 1999: K-HAND – Pimps & Freaks (Remote Recordings)
  • 1999: K-HAND – Good Love (Maffia Music)
  • 1999: K-HAND – Baby All I Want (School Records)
  • 1999: K-HAND – Supernatural (Pandamonium)
  • 2000: K-HAND/Kely – Active X EP (Future Frontier)
  • 2000: K-HAND – Traxx For Daze Vol.1 (Push & Pull)
  • 2000: K-HAND – Clap Yo Hands (Loveslap! Recordings)
  • 2000: K-HAND – Better Believe (Maffia Music)
  • 2001: K-HAND – Sex On The Dancefloor EP (Loveslap! Recordings)
  • 2002: K-HAND – Tools Vol.1 (Acacia Records)
  • 2003: K-HAND/Kelli Hand – Afterhour (Sino)
  • 2003: K-HAND – Get Down (Loveslap! Recordings)
  • 2004: K-HAND/Kelli Hand – Moody Life EP (Third Ear Recordings)
  • 2007: Messenger aka K-HAND – Wanderer (Underground Liberation)
  • 2008: K-HAND – These Sounds Lead The Way EP (Gorsch)
  • 2008: K-HAND – Feel (Acacia Records)
  • 2009: K-HAND & Kero – Dat Roit EP (Kerohand)
  • 2009: K-HAND – Red Dog EP (Gorsch)
  • 2009: K-HAND/Kelli Hand – Silent Answer EP (Acacia Records)
  • 2010: K-HAND & Kero – Content EP (Kerohand)
  • 2013: K-HAND – Funky Tonight (Third Ear Recordings)
  • 2015: K-HAND – Do it Again (DocKside Records)
  • 2015: K-HAND – Intuition EP (Acacia Records)
  • 2017: K-HAND – Project 6 EP (Acacia Records)

Compilations

  • 2012: fabric 66– 'K-HAND Starz (Fabric Records)
  • 2013: fabric 67 – K-HAND Project 5 Untitled B1 (Fabric Records)
  • 2015: Various - Ivan, Come On! Unlock The Box! – K-HAND The Box трип (Trip Records)
  • 2016: Various - I Have A Question – K-HAND Sound 6 трип (Trip Records)
  • 2017 - Special Edition - K-HAND "007" трип (Trip Records)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Jordan, Jerilyn (4 August 2021). "Electronic music pioneer and 'First Lady of Detroit techno' Kelli Hand has died at 56". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  2. ^ Morrison, John (4 August 2021). "Lifetime Achievement: Kelli "K-HAND" Hand". Bandcamp. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e Arnold, Jacob (27 April 2010). Gridface https://www.gridface.com/k-hand/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ K-HAND, k-handmusic.com
  5. ^ a b c d e f Unicomb, Matt (23 September 2016). "K-HAND: Those love games". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  6. ^ Unicomb, Matt (2 February 2019). "Rewind: K-HAND - Project 5 EP". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  7. ^ Unicomb, Matt (26 May 2016). "Belleville Three, Jeff Mills, Kelli Hand honoured with Spirit Of Detroit Awards". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  8. ^ DeVito, Lee (27 July 2017). "Techno pioneer K-Hand officially named 'The First Lady of Detroit' by city council". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Kelli Hand". Discogs. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
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