Alluring. Intriguing. Sydney femme fatale of the decks Keli Hart captures your heart and ensnares your soul with her sizzling beats and searing melodies. Agitator from the studio or provocateur from behind the decks, Keli Hart is striking the perfect balance that satisfies every chin stroker’s love for the underground and every party girl’s desire to shake it loose on the dancefloor.

Mixing together a heady brew of all the house genres, Keli then presents this in an overwhelming fashion and packaged with the female touch. With plenty of finesse on the knobs and levers, a love for great beats and an abundance of stage presence, Keli has diligently been mastering her craft for the last five years since her first gig in Sydney’s L’Otel.

With plenty of national and overseas tours under her stylish belt and her female charged label Dolls House featuring a mass of successful productions, Keli emerges as an electronic enchantress determined to follow her dreams and talent. In the lead up to her exclusive house set tonight in Brisbane for Zuri’s launch of Provocateur, ITM sits down with Keli and chats about the Keli Hart signature sound, ladies in music and dolls in the house.

How did you first find yourself behind the decks?
Probably like a lot of DJ’s, when I started going to clubs, I fell in love with not only the music but also the skills of the DJ’s playing. The idea of being able to play music of my choice and selection to a crowd in just the right way that would make them move was too great to let lie. Now to actually experience that and be able to live what I thought was going to stay a dream makes me realise that you really can do anything that you set your mind to.

What does music mean to you?
Music to me is my life. I grew up in a very musical family. To have no music in my life would be as though I’d stopped breathing. There is just no other way to describe it. It also means passion and escape. It’s not a secret how hard life can be sometimes but the way that music can lift your spirits and change your mood instantly is an amazing thing.

With few ladies behind the decks in the industry, how do you cope in a male dominated industry? What do you think should happen to get more ladies involved?
Five years ago I would have answered this differently but it is refreshing to be able to say that it is becoming less and less of a male dominated profession. More and more talented females are coming onto the scene as DJs and holding their own, which in turn is making it easier to cope. Strength in numbers! Now we need that same strength on the production side of things. I have always felt that females bring that extra something – perhaps it is the female touch – to their sets. Now I want to see that happen in the studio. A big part of launching my label Dolls House is to source more female produced music and give it the support and release deserved. Dolls House as a brand, is focused on helping and encouraging females in the dance music industry – from DJs to producers, songwriters to vocalists and any other females wanting to step up and stand out in the industry. The more we support each other the more females will want to get involved!

What advantages do you think you have over the boys? What disadvantages?
I believe that being a female may have helped present a few more opportunities than I otherwise would have been offered (I’d be kidding myself not to think this!) However, I do feel that I have had to work a hell of a lot harder once on the other side! Being a female may have in some cases gotten me the gig but there is a lot of pressure there to be exceptional because of it. It has not been the fact of me being a female that I have kept those gigs and been rebooked. I have had to work hard at gaining the respect of the crowd and other DJs/Producers/Promoters in the industry – even more so as a female. I refuse to feel guilty for wanting to look and feel like a female behind the decks. All anyone wants to do is look and feel the best they can. I also feel that we continually battle the idea of female DJ’s being a ‘gimmick’ and work extra hard at having people recognise our skills and talents also.

What would you say is the Keli Hart signature sound?
All things house – from electro to vocal big room, tech to prog, breaks to funk. Whatever makes you dance your arse off.

What are you working towards?
I’m always working towards being the best that I can be. I have very big dreams when it comes to my music and Dolls House – somewhere along the lines of “conquering the world” perhaps. But I am also very realistic about the solid smaller steps that need to be achieved along the way to make “conquering the world” possible. At the moment those steps consist of music production, touring and growing Dolls House both as a label and a brand.

What are your thoughts on Queensland’s scene?
I love playing in Queensland. I find that the crowd is always up for a massive night. They are always receptive to new music and new sounds, which makes it more exciting and enjoyable for me when playing.

You will be coming to Brisbane for an exclusive house set for Provocateur at Zuri. What can we expect from you on the night?
I’m excited to say that you can expect something a little bit different to the sound that people are used to hearing from me. You can still expect to see me with the same energy and passion as always and the music will still always have the same ‘Keli Hart flavour’ – just with a lot more laidback funk house and uplifting vocal beats which will be suited to the Zuri atmosphere.

Keli Hart performs for Provocateur at Zuri with an exclusive house set on Friday July 2, including supports from Benn Hopkins and Matt Kitshon