How's Life Kléo?

Kléo, an Amsterdam-based DJ and producer, is known for her all-vinyl mixes that blend uplifting keys, vocal house, and Jersey sound. Her sets are known for merging raw, jacking acid grooves with soulful rhythms reminiscent of Motor City's legacy. This unique blend of classic and contemporary styles, enriched with deep chords and hypnotic basslines, defines her dynamic approach. As a rising star in the electronic music scene, Kléo’s fresh and innovative sound makes her a key figure to watch. Dive deeper into her world in our "How's Life?" series.
Hi! Can you please introduce yourself to our readers? Hi! My name is Clélia aka Kléo, I'm a French-born DJ/ Producer and visual artist based in Amsterdam. Can you take us back to the beginning of your musical journey? Ever since I was a kid I’ve been into music. Music has always been there. As far as I can remember I used to give 7” singles as birthday presents to my friends in the '80s, we used to have turntables as toys and yes I'm from that decade! Lol. Collecting and searching for music has always been there, under different genres evolving through the years. I think two things ignited the fire back then. There was a bar, it was kind of a rip-off of what you think an Ibiza lounge should look like, but a suburban Parisian (where I grew up) version of that. So … quite corny. Even though I had never been to Ibiza, that was my idea of it. It was the only bar with a DJ booth for miles around, that’s for sure. I used to go there with my friends, order one coffee, and hang out for hours. House music in Paris in the late 90’s was quite a thing I will never forget the first time hearing “I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun” from Nuyorican Soul featuring Jocelyn Brown around 1997. That track hit me so hard! Only I didn’t know the track and there was no Shazam at that time either! But by then the genie was out of the bottle. In that same period around 1998-1999, Radio Nova had a huge influence on me and this is also when I started going out to clubs in Paris, where my love for House and Disco began. It’s been a never-ending journey into discovery ever since, it keeps on expanding and I love it. What was that one album or artist your parents used to play? Did they influence your taste in music? My father used to listen to a lot of Disco, Soul, and Funk from the '70s, he loved going out and dancing at the Disco, I guess that’s where I caught the vibe. The Floaters album “Float On” was big in our home. My mum loved classical music and French singer-songwriters, it was an interesting mix of music. Serge Gainsbourg for example was a favourite of hers, which I grew very fond of.  To this day, what was your favorite gig, and what made it so special? By far Christmas Day last year at Panorama Bar together with Lakuti and Tama Sumo. I feel a very strong connection with them on both human and artistic levels, they inspire me deeply. It was my first time playing Panorama/ Berghain, and the only room open that day. From my first record to my last, I felt loved and lifted by the whole room, in complete synergy. Magic, to this day the feeling is unmatched.
You are hosting a stage, who would be on your dream line-up? Chicago legend Derrick Carter. What is your favorite place to shop for records and why? Well obviously Rush Hour here in Amsterdam, I work every Wednesday at the store and this is my day to dig, catch up with the new releases, and have normal human interaction! Lol. What’s your favorite record to play in front of a crowd at the moment? What time would you play it and what makes it so good? My own record, shameless self-promotion here! I have a new EP coming out Acid Coolada, possibly early 2025, for now we’re doing a limited drop of test presses for ADE in exclusivity at Rush Hour. So I have been testing it every where, at very different times… Seeing the crowd vibe to your own music, that’s a pretty special feeling. Everybody has a guilty pleasure, what’s yours? Any R&B from the late 90s-2000s will hit my spot!! (e.g Mariah Carey - We Belong Together) What’s the number one thing on your bucket list?  Visiting Japan. Any advice for the beginners out there? Get yourself a bar gig with an extended set of like 5 hours, do the work, put the hours in, go to record stores, and dig the second-hand bins, but mostly be patient. And put the music first.