Kelli Hand facts for kids

Kelley Hand (born September 15, 1964 – died August 3, 2021) was a talented musician and DJ from Detroit, Michigan, United States. She was known professionally as Kelli Hand and K-HAND. Many people say she helped open doors for Black women in the world of techno and electronic music during the 1990s. This music scene was mostly male at the time. She was even called the "First Lady of Detroit techno" because of her important role. Kelli Hand was a very active DJ and continued to make and play music until she passed away in 2021.

Life and Music Career

Kelli Hand was born in Detroit on September 15, 1964. When she was younger, in the 1980s, she loved the club scene in New York. She often went to famous clubs like Paradise Garage, where the legendary DJ Larry Levan played.

Kelli Hand bought her own music equipment. She taught herself how to create and mix music right in her bedroom. Soon, she started playing at clubs. She even got a regular job as a DJ at Zipper's Nightclub in Detroit.

Starting Her Own Music Label

In 1990, Kelli Hand started her own music company, called a "label." At first, it was named UK House Records. But she quickly changed the name to Acacia Records. This was after a street in Detroit where she used to live. Her very first music release was a short album called Think About It.

In 1994, her song Global Warning was released by a British label called Warp Records. The next year, in 1995, her first full album, On A Journey, came out. By the year 2000, she had released seven more albums with different labels.

Even today, her company, Acacia Label, still releases new vinyl records. They also re-release her older music, so new fans can discover it.

Her Unique Musical Style

Even though Kelli Hand was from Detroit, she said her music was mostly inspired by electronic music from Chicago and New York. Some of her biggest influences included Larry Levan, Marshall Jefferson, and Larry Heard. From Detroit, she was inspired by Jeff Mills, the group Underground Resistance, and Ken Collier.

Kelli Hand often used special "jack" and "swing" sounds in her music. These sounds are very common in Chicago house music.

The K-HAND Sound

A music writer named Matt Unicomb described Kelli Hand's sound in 2016:

The K-HAND sound uses clever samples and amazing drums. Like the percussive Chicago style by Paul Johnson and others, her tracks are simple and full of life. They are built on swinging beats and catchy basslines. Many of her great songs, like "Love Games" and "Candle Lights," are full of character. It's a sound from a past time, with the funk, rawness, and emotion that people love in this kind of US dance music.

Kelli Hand was greatly influenced by the years she spent listening and dancing to Larry Levan's music. He passed away in 1992.

The energetic songs played by Larry Levan at Paradise Garage shaped Hand's style for many years. Like Levan, Hand would get surprising results from different sounds. She created new meaning by cutting short phrases and mixing them with strong, swinging MPC beats.

Kelli Hand also loved vinyl records. She famously said, "if it's not on vinyl, it's not final." She liked the "warm" and "analogue" sound that vinyl records have. Many of her songs have a "very specific and strong sense of emotion." Kelli Hand herself once said that "a lot of my songs are lovey-dovey."

Awards and Honors

In 2016, Kelli Hand received a Spirit of Detroit Award. Other electronic musicians like Jeff Mills and Juan Atkins also received this award. In July 2017, the city of Detroit honored her as a "First Lady of Detroit." She received a special certificate for her important contributions to techno and dance music.

Death

Kelli Hand passed away at her home in Detroit on August 3, 2021. She was 56 years old.

Discography (Selected)

Kelli Hand released most of her music as K-HAND. She also used other names like Etat Solide and Queen Mecca.

Studio Albums

Extended Plays (EPs)

Compilations

• 2012: fabric 66– 'K-HAND Starz (Fabric Records)
• 2016: Various - I Have A Question – K-HAND Sound 6 трип (Trip Records)

See also

• Detroit techno
• Music of Detroit, Michigan