Alice DeeJay

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Alice DeeJay was a Dutch electronic music group from Amsterdam that was active from 1999 to 2002.

Members

The group consisted of record producers Pronti (born Sebastiaan Molijn), Kalmani (born Eelke Kalberg) and DJ Jurgen with Marc Lee-Smith remixing and the DJ's From Mars lead singer Judith Anna Pronk. They also had background dancers: Mila Levesque and Angelique Versnel.

After the successful years of Alice Deejay, Pronk, Levesque and Versnel left the group. Now, Pronk works as a freelance hair and make-up artist around the world. She is represented by Touche Models in Amsterdam. Lee-Smith continued his studies by completing a degree in Sports Science in London. Levesque graduated from the Lucia Marthas Dance Academy. After Alice Deejay, she is still active in the world of dance. She released the single "Lift Me Up" in 2003 for a lollipop commercial. The video played on the Box for months and she reached the Top 20 in Holland. She has been hired as a model by L’Oreal, Oasis, Urban Outfitters and the designer Anoosh. She is now known as Mila Lazar.

In 2004, Versnel started her own company (AV Performing Productions), which gives training lessons (and creative complete choreographies) to artists, bands and commercial shows.

Early days and success

Versnel began her education as a dancer at the School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, United States. After completing four years at the dance academy (as well as high school study) at Alvin Aley in New York, she became a part of Alice Deejay.

Alice DeeJay launched their career in July 1999 with the single, "Better Off Alone", credited to DJ Jurgen presents Alice DeeJay. In the UK, the song went platinum and reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart,^[1] and #3 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play, also reaching #27 on the Billboard Hot 100. Alice Deejay achieved success with the follow-up single "Back In My Life" in November of the same year.

The group's first and only album was Who Needs Guitars Anyway?, which was released on April 11, 2000. It entered the Top Ten of the UK Albums Chart.^[1]

Alice DeeJay made the UK Top 20 with three more tracks: "Will I Ever", "The Lonely One" and "Celebrate Our Love", although each single's chart position was lower than its predecessors.^[1]

Alice DeeJay won the award^{[clarification needed]} for their hit single, "Better Off Alone", in the category Best Chart Act, defeating other nominees such as All Saints, Jennifer Lopez, Eiffel 65, and Vengaboys. Alice Deejay also performed a cover version of the Mel C (of the Spice Girls) song "I Turn To You" in live performances.

American rapper Wiz Khalifa sampled "Better Off Alone" in his 2008 single, Say Yeah.

Decline and reformation

The group had not performed publicly since November 9, 2002, when they played seemingly their last gig in Utrecht.

A new act called Candee Jay was formed in 2004. Candee Jay shared many similarities with Alice DeeJay, and had two major hits.

On December 1, 2007, Pronti and Kalmani were brought to Los Angeles, under the title "Alice Deejay" for "Winter Fresh" by Fresh Entertainment. They were brought out again for "Fresh" in April 2008, performing for the last time as "Alice Deejay".

Alice Deejay returned in 2010 on a UK nightclub tour, entitled "Best Hits Tour". Their first return appearance was on 3 April at club Powerhouse in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Alice Deejay and Vengaboys producers, Danski and Delmundo have returned, and are working with Alice Deejay and the Vengaboys again after almost ten years.

Pronti and Kalmani have now resurfaced as the driving force behind Dash Berlin, who made their debut onto the Top 100 DJ list for DJ Magazine as the 15th top DJ in the world.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

References

External links

• Information on 'final performance'
• Alice DeeJay Allmusic page
• About Dance Music interview with Pronti and Kalmani
• Alice DeeJay Discogs page