The trio of Lady Miss Kier, Supa DJ Dmitry and jungle DJ Towa Tei, otherwise known as Deee-Lite, started out as the duo of Lady Miss Kier on vocals and Dmitry as the DJ in 1986. Kier and Dmitry would perform their songs monthly in various downtown New York area nightclubs from hip-hop and house to straight and gay venues while drawing a diverse following.

The band’s appeal was its inclusiveness, individuality, fusion of danceable techno/funk sounds, and their ability to make a concert seem like a party that could be attended by everyone. Those early shows garnered a devoted following and attracted the attention of burgeoning Japanese producer Towa Tei as a fan.

Shortly thereafter, Towa sent Kier and Dmitry a mixtape he had made and upon listening, the duo realized that he was of the same musical tribe, enjoying their brand of smart and hippie fusion of funk and techno. They invited him to become part of the group in 1988, and Towa and Dmitry began jointly programming and working on what would become the band’s debut album.

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