For DJ MODGIRL, aka Kellee McQuinn, music must have a great groove and melody that take hold of her heart, and catchy lyrics with a funky bassline. “I love disco, funk, soul, Swing & Rat Pack, the 80s, old school hip hop and some new stuff that has a nod to the old stuff,” she says.
Born in New Jersey, she lived in LA for 20 years, and has been a Palm Springs resident since 2017. “The best decision I’ve ever made. The people, the parties, the pools, the Palm Springs way of life - I love it all,” she said. DJ MODGIRL has been dancing since her mother, a dance teacher and a musical theater director, was pregnant with her while directing Guys & Dolls. “Whenever she rehearsed the number Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat, she had to actually sit down because I was doing triple time tap in her stomach – in perfect rhythm, of course!” she laughs.
And in the family tradition, her list of favorite musicians includes Frank Sinatra, along with so many others from Depeche Mode to Henry Mancini, taking in the Rolling Stones and Chic along the way.
She became a DJ because she loves music, dancing, parties and connecting with people. “I love evoking fun, joy and happiness in others,” she says. “I’m not your typical generic DJ - I’m much more of a performance oriented production. I love anything with a clear theme that I can dive into … first it starts with my outfit (I have one for every possible occasion) and that inspires my playlist, which evokes the lighting and decor, and that carries onto the dance floor. Palm Springs loves a theme... an excuse to dress up and get down.” Her own dress style is vintage.
“From a wiggle dress to a mod mini to a wide legged jumpsuit, if it’s made of polyester, it has my name on it.” And the name? “Like Cinderella’s glass slipper, it just seemed to fit. My fiancé designed the logo, inspired by the album cover for Keely Smith’s Swing Swing Swing.”
To see and hear DJ MODGIRL in action, she’ll be doing her thing at the Modernism Week opening gala on Feb. 17, as well as Fashion Week El Paseo.
