Beyond her success as a DJ and producer for esteemed house label Crosstown Rebels (which includes artists like Glimpse, Damian Lazarus, Art Department and Jamie Jones), Deniz Kurtel is an audio-visual artist of considerable breadth. An accomplished interactive sculptor, Deniz has made a name for herself in the experimental art scene combining the use of sophisticated computerized LED arrays and mirrors — crafting the centerpieces of Brooklyn’s highly influential Wolf + Lamb parties. Now Kurtel’s work has expanded to various art festivals and exhibitions, with her work appearing at Burning Man, Communikey, Horizons, Love’s Secret Domain, Rabbit Hole and others. The daughter of championship racehorse breeders in Turkey, Deniz developed her deep love for electronic music during her studies in the America. “I’m always trying out different outlets for my creativity and music has certainly been one of the most exciting ones so far,” said Deniz of her decision to make music — the results of which are her debut album Music Watching Over Me. “I was inspired by my friends Wolf + Lamb to start producing about two years ago and have been completely sucked into it ever since.”

Allow me to introduce myself, I’m…
Deniz Kurtel

You can find me…
In Brooklyn NY till the end of this month, then in Berlin for most of the summer.

I pay my bills by…
Playing my music

You might’ve heard of me because…
Of my LED art and music

My next order of business is…
Designing a club that’s opening soon in Istanbul

If it wasn’t for my parents I wouldn’t be where I am today.

The best part about my job is…
Having the opposite work schedule to most people and getting to enjoy the world when it’s less crowded

If I was taking a train from Paris to Madrid, and I could choose one person to share the cabin with, I’d choose…
Leonardo Da Vinci

Continue reading our Q&A with Crosstown Rebels’ artist Deniz Kurtel after the Jump…

CRM069 A Deniz Kurtel Feat. Jada ‘The L Word’ Edit by Crosstown Rebels

The first piece of music I heard that I remember waking up my ears was…
Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”

The last piece of music I heard that woke up my ears is…
Dwilt Sharpp — “I Need You Close” featuring Lorett Fleur (Will, owner of The Electric Pickle in Miami played it a few weeks ago the night I played there)

If you want to put a smile on my face, you probably want to…
Make fun of yourself

If you want to wipe that smile away, then you should…
Praise yourself

The last time I saw the sun come up I was…
This past winter in Miami

The person I admire most is
My friend Phoenix (he’s a living comic hero)

The last time I lied was because…
To change a flight

If you hit shuffle on my iPod you might be shocked to find…
The original soundtrack of Alice in Wonderland

If you hit shuffle on my iPod I’d be embarrassed if it landed on…
My recordings of myself singing

When I get my first really big check, I’m gonna go score a…
A house / studio

But it’ll never replace…
My Bose headphones

My one magic power is…
Persistence

I’d like to give a quick shout-out to…
Mark and Margarita from Point B (the studio where I live in Brooklyn) – thank you for your sweetness and making me feel so at home!

And lastly, If I was Lost In a Supermarket, you’d find me in the…
Travel size cosmetics section

Deniz Kurtel’s “Music Watching Over Me”