You have very likely heard/heard of Kristy Lee Peters, the DJ/Singer/Producer/Radio Host, who has been generously contributing beats to the world under the moniker KLP for the past year. Between hosting triple j House Party and being a facilitator at Heaps Decent (a non-profit initiative set on nurturing underprivileged, indigenous and emerging artists, well worth checking out) she has found time this year to play a killer Splendour set and rip it up at our Bachelorette of the Year party. In the words of triple j, her omnipresent employer, she “has also spent the last four years DJing around the country and honing skills which will now culminate in one hell of a party, every Saturday night.”
Never one to hide KLP has also been smashing out a number of excellent local and international collaborations, one of which has already scored her and What So Not (Flume and Emoh Instead) a Hype Machine #1 for their track ‘Jaguar’:
We’ve previously asked the arbiter of young Australia’s music taste what three things she would take if she had to hide away on a desert island (“My laptop, some good headphones, and a never ending power supply,” of course) and so, this time, we thought we’d chat about the music end of things:
What was your first job?
My first job was singing TV commercials for my dad who ran a studio. I started doing that from as young as I can remember.
How did you get your foot in the door at triple j?
I first uploaded songs to triplejunearthed.com and won the Field Day 2014 competition. When I went in for an interview about the competition, I made them a mixtape (so they then knew I could DJ), and I then think my experience growing up doing voice overs and acting helped with my “hey this is KLP” ID I had to do… so, when they needed a presenter who could DJ to take over form Nina, I guess my name popped up!
What’s it like being the disembodied voice of Australia’s favourite youth music station?
I don’t think I am that. I definitely have a face, I gig weekly and travel the country existing in a very physical sense 😉
How do people react meeting you in person when you tell them/they find out who you are?
To be honest, people are still finding out who I am. A lot of people now know me from triple j, but they don’t realise my history with music as a singer, writer, performer. But everyone is always nice and positive, which is great.
Do you consider it part of your job to be balls deep in ‘the scene’ at all times?
I don’t really do anything that feels like I job or obligation because that’s not what life is about ya know! I genuinely enjoy and love making music, singing, performing, DJing and now radio. The scene comes with that, but I don’t feel obliged to be in it in any way.
Who are your all time favourite DJs?
I’m going to give you my favourite song writers as they’re way more in the forefront of my head right now and that’s by far way more close to my heart!
. Joni Mitchell
. Gwen Stefani
. John Lennon
. Pharrell
. Michael Jackson
Without giving too much away, how do you source your new music?
They’re no secret or trick to give away, the internet! Be it DJ promos, sitting and going through Soundcloud, beatport or iTunes. And of course, Shazaam is amazing for when you hear something out on the go.
What are some up and coming acts you recommend people check out?
I think Just A Gent is going to be interesting to watch. The Kite String Tangle writes beautiful songs. There is an unearthed band called Black Vanilla and I am obsessed with their track ‘Throw It Down‘ – but I don’t know what else they have coming up.
