Biography
English drum'n'bass DJ duo Kemistry and Storm earned recognition both for their skills and for establishing themselves as women who thrived in a genre long dominated by men. Their contributions to the scene included helping lay the groundwork for the Metalheadz label and becoming among the first women DJs to release a widely distributed album.
Kemistry, born Kemi Olusanya, and Storm, known simply as Jane, first crossed paths as college students in Northampton, England. Although no musical bond formed then, their lives kept intersecting after each relocated to separate regions of the country. At one stage both dated members of the same band, and later Kemi studied alongside Storm’s cousin at fashion school. While enrolled in a radiography program at Oxford, Storm found her commitment to that field waning against a growing pull toward music. Meanwhile Kemi worked as a make-up artist in London’s fashion industry. Ironically, Kemi’s introduction to the rising electronic scene occurred in Sheffield through a friend; repeated attendance at events soon made the music central to her life. That same year Storm relocated to London, where Kemi brought her into electronic music. Though both had begun promising careers, they chose to abandon them in pursuit of their shared enthusiasm.
The pair started DJing soon afterward and frequented clubs alongside Goldie, one of Kemi’s co-workers. The three shared an excitement for the emerging style known as drum’n’bass. By 1994 Goldie had risen within the scene and founded the Metalheadz label, which Kemi and Storm helped run for two-and-a-half years. They eventually stepped away to focus on performing. In 1999 they secured a place in the DJ Kicks series issued by Studio K7!. The resulting CD enabled the duo to perform internationally and opened doors for younger female DJs.
Just as their profile peaked, tragedy intervened. On April 25, 1999, Kemi Olusanya died in a car accident outside Winchester, England, while the two were returning from a show. Her passing reverberated throughout the electronic music community.
Kemistry, born Kemi Olusanya, and Storm, known simply as Jane, first crossed paths as college students in Northampton, England. Although no musical bond formed then, their lives kept intersecting after each relocated to separate regions of the country. At one stage both dated members of the same band, and later Kemi studied alongside Storm’s cousin at fashion school. While enrolled in a radiography program at Oxford, Storm found her commitment to that field waning against a growing pull toward music. Meanwhile Kemi worked as a make-up artist in London’s fashion industry. Ironically, Kemi’s introduction to the rising electronic scene occurred in Sheffield through a friend; repeated attendance at events soon made the music central to her life. That same year Storm relocated to London, where Kemi brought her into electronic music. Though both had begun promising careers, they chose to abandon them in pursuit of their shared enthusiasm.
The pair started DJing soon afterward and frequented clubs alongside Goldie, one of Kemi’s co-workers. The three shared an excitement for the emerging style known as drum’n’bass. By 1994 Goldie had risen within the scene and founded the Metalheadz label, which Kemi and Storm helped run for two-and-a-half years. They eventually stepped away to focus on performing. In 1999 they secured a place in the DJ Kicks series issued by Studio K7!. The resulting CD enabled the duo to perform internationally and opened doors for younger female DJs.
Just as their profile peaked, tragedy intervened. On April 25, 1999, Kemi Olusanya died in a car accident outside Winchester, England, while the two were returning from a show. Her passing reverberated throughout the electronic music community.