Deee-Lite, with their hit single “Groove Is in the Heart,” introduced the vibrant essence of New York’s club culture to a wider audience. The group, formed in 1986, was spearheaded by lead vocalist Lady Miss Kier, also known as Kieren Kirby from Youngstown, Ohio. Accompanying her were DJs Super DJ Dmitry, a classically trained guitarist and Russian emigre born Dmitry Brill, and Jungle DJ Towa Towa, born Doug Wa-Chung in Tokyo, Japan. Deee-Lite’s musical style combined house, techno, rap, ambient, and funk genres with a visually striking aesthetic inspired by the drag queen community, including Kier’s love for Fluevog platform shoes which fueled the ’70s fashion revival.
Their debut album, ‘World Clique’ in 1990, was a commercial success with tracks like the classic ‘Groove Is in the Heart’ featuring the bass of Bootsy Collins and saxophone of Maceo Parker. The group gained immense popularity among New York club-goers, transcending racial and sexual boundaries. In 1992, their follow-up ‘Infinity Within’ delved into political themes like the environment, safe sex, and democracy. Towa Towa departed from the group and pursued a solo career as Towa Tei, releasing ‘Future Listening’ in 1995. While Dmitry and Kier collaborated with DJ Ani for ‘Dewdrops in the Garden’ in 1994, a sensual album influenced by the burgeoning rave culture. After disbanding in 1996, the members embarked on individual paths, with Dmitry relocating to Berlin and working as a producer, and Tei continuing his solo career alongside projects like Metafive. Notably, in 2017, Cherry Red reissued ‘World Clique’ in a deluxe edition featuring a plethora of remixes and an interview with Kier.