Lady Starlight

Lady Starlight

Lady Starlight is a DJ, performer, writer and style figure from New York, United States, born in 1975. She works primarily with rock, heavy metal and electronic-influenced dance music, and is associated with techno, acid, rave and minimal techno tags. Her sets centre on classic rock and metal vinyl, and she also uses fashion and performance as part of her presentation.

Background and work in New York

She is active in the New York City underground from the early 2000s and produces nightlife events focused on overlooked genres. Her selections range from late-1960s psychedelic rock through 1970s glam rock and into the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. She is described as a record collector and a scholar of rock history, and she uses clothing as a way of expressing her connection to music.

Lady Gaga collaborations

Lady Starlight is best known for her work with Lady Gaga. The pair form a duo in 2007 called Lady Gaga and the Starlight Revue, with Starlight playing 1970s glam and metal records between Gaga’s pop songs. Their stage show becomes known for the contrast it creates. She also works with Gaga on fashion styling, onstage performance concepts and set design.

She later serves as first support on Gaga’s The Monster Ball world tour from July 2010 to May 2011, and is featured in the HBO special The Monster Ball at Madison Square Garden. She is also announced to join Gaga again on the Born This Way Ball.

Live appearances and touring

Lady Starlight tours internationally as a DJ with stops in London, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Chicago. She appears at major rock events including Download Festival at Donington and High Voltage in 2011. She also tours with Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy and Rival Sons, and plays by special request of Iron Maiden at their O2 shows.

Style, media and recognition

Her performances mix DJing with interpretive elements and stage props, including a metal shield and a short sword. She is associated with a “soundhouse” style influenced by Neal Kay, and performs in clubs, stadiums and festivals. She partners with the Morgan’s Hotel Group to help position its venues as rock-and-roll destinations, and holds a weekly residency at the Royalton and Hudson Hotels. Her work is covered by US Weekly, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, Urban Daddy, NBC Nightline and Life & Style, among others. She is also featured in an AOL homepage feature and interviewed by Rolling Stone, NME, Classic Rock, MTV and The Guardian.

She is voted Best Female Hard Rock DJ by The L Magazine. She is also a guest on the Chicago radio show Mancow in the Morning alongside Perry Farrell and Gene Simmons.

Other work

Alongside DJing and touring, Lady Starlight works on radio, music production, writing and fashion design projects.