Kemistry
Encyclopedia
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.
, 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".
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. 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.
The song "Kemistry" by Goldie
on his album Timeless
, is dedicated to Olusanya.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Kemistry, was a leading English drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
of the early 1990s who also produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
a number of records on the Metalheadz
Metalheadz
Metalheadz is a pioneering drum and bass record label based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1994 by Kemistry & Storm and Goldie, it has been home to some of the drum and bass scene's brightest talent and is notable for the high quality of its back catalogue....
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, which she co-founded with other artists including Goldie
Goldie
Clifford Joseph Price, better known as Goldie is an English electronic music artist, disc jockey, visual artist and actor. He is well known for his innovations in the jungle and drum and bass music genres, having previously gained exposure for his work as a graffiti artist...
, whom she had introduced to the drum and bass scene.
Biography
Having attended college in NorthamptonNorthampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, 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
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
duo, Kemistry & Storm
Kemistry & Storm
Kemistry & Storm were an English drum and bass DJ and recording duo of the 1990s. Along with Goldie, whom Kemistry had introduced to the drum and bass scene in the early years of the decade, they founded the Metalheadz label in 1994...
, which she formed with an old friend when both found themselves living in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
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
DJ mix
A DJ mix or DJ mixset is a sequence of musical tracks typically mixed together to appear as one continuous track. When a DJ mix or DJ mixset is recorded onto some medium, it is often referred to as a mix tape...
album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, DJ-Kicks: Kemistry & Storm
DJ-Kicks: Kemistry & Storm
DJ-Kicks: Kemistry & Storm is a DJ mix album, mixed by Kemistry & Storm. It was released on 25 January 1999 on the Studio !K7 independent record label as part of the DJ-Kicks series.-Track listing:# "Trauma" - Dom & Roland – 3:19# "Ole" - John B – 4:27...
, which has been described as "paving the way for other, younger, female DJs".
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
M3 motorway
The M3 motorway runs in England for approximately from Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, to Southampton, Hampshire and forms an unsigned section European route E05. It is dual three lanes as far as Junction 8 near Basingstoke and then dual two lane until Junction 9 near Winchester and then dual three...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, when she was hit by the steel body of a cat's eye
Cat's eye (road)
The cat's eye is a retroreflective safety device used in road marking and was the first of a range of raised pavement markers. It originated in the UK in 1933 and is today used all over the world....
, 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
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
recorded a verdict of accidental death. A question was asked in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
about the safety of cat's eyes in light of the incident, and the Highways Agency
Highways Agency
The Highways Agency is an executive agency, part of the Department for Transport in England. It has responsibility for managing the core road network in England...
conducted an investigation into the "long-term integrity and performance" of various types of road stud.
The song "Kemistry" by Goldie
Goldie
Clifford Joseph Price, better known as Goldie is an English electronic music artist, disc jockey, visual artist and actor. He is well known for his innovations in the jungle and drum and bass music genres, having previously gained exposure for his work as a graffiti artist...
on his album Timeless
Timeless (Goldie album)
Timeless is the 1995 debut album from Goldie and is a groundbreaking release in the history of drum and bass music. The album blended the complex, chopped and layered breakbeats and deep basslines of jungle and drum and bass with expansive, symphonic strings and atmospherics, and female vocals,...
, is dedicated to Olusanya.