Your new favorite DJ:

grrlkiss on appreciating art and having unapologetic queer fun

Words by Staff Writer: Yaa Mensah-King | Photography: Aiden Aric | Model: Zara Lindiwe

East Coast native Zara Lindiwe, better known as grrlkiss is a DJ and producer on her way to becoming a permanent fixture at gigs in downtown Los Angeles. The unique sonic signature she’s dubbed “kunt dance music” has been electrifying crowds since 2025, but it is only one aspect of the much larger predominantly pink and pastel world of grrlkiss. Her social media is just as bold in its creative direction as her music. 

i-candy had the opportunity to speak to grrlkiss about her craft, her experience in LA and what’s next for her.

What’s the story behind the name “grrlkiss”?

The first part pays homage to riot grrrl and also a DJ that has really inspired me, GRRL. It’s just a homage to being proudly expressive as a queer woman as well as homage to the queer electronic scene. The full DJ name was actually originally “grrlkisser”, but it was kind of long so I just made it “grrlkiss”. I just thought it was funny because it used to be a little cheesy nickname, but I was just like, “You know what? It’s a serve.”

When did you get into DJing and music production?

DJing was more recent. I started in 2025 where I actually started trying to mix on a controller (an essential tool made up of turntables and a mixer), but I’ve been interested in music since forever. I know everyone says that but genuinely when I was little, my family was very big on dancing to music. Always finding the rhythm and just moving your body was something I always enjoyed. Electronic music and dance music were always big. In elementary school I started doing “deep dives” on YouTube just finding a lot of cool music videos. And then in 2020 during quarantine, I had a lot of free time on my hands and my mum had an old Mac so I opened GarageBand and then I just started messing around on there and around that time I was already listening to a lot of Björk, FKA twigs, Kelela, Arca, the electronic scene. I guess that’s where I transitioned into DJing. During quarantine as well I was really heavily on Soundcloud and being from the East Coast I was really knowledgeable on the New York and DC music scenes.

There were a lot of female DJs just releasing underground mixes like crazy during quarantine.

When life returned to being more in-person I was like, “I need to get my hands on a controller, save up” and in 2025 that’s when I started.

Where is home for you?

I was born in DC there for a bit and then I moved around the DMV (Greater Washington). I guess that's where I would call home and then being a child to immigrant parents, I definitely visit Zambia a lot. I guess there are a number of homes for me as well. It’s very interesting on the East Coast. There's a lot of people with a lot of different backgrounds and heritages. For me, it’s definitely interesting to tell people I’m from the DC area, I’m also Zambian and I have Zulu heritage. It’s just very interesting. You meet a lot of different people for sure.

How would you describe the music scene in LA right now and how you fit into that tapestry?

The LA scene, specifically the electronic scene, I'm still discovering for sure. I’ve been in LA for two years. I think right now there is a very big queer underground scene. I really am enjoying how expressive the DJs and artists are really. Historically what people may associate with a DJ just generally would be somebody in a hoodie just locked in to the controller not necessarily an expressive visual artist of their own but I’m really enjoying seeing people incorporate different creative aspects like adding visuals. I love being involved with the LA scene, doing fun photoshoots, and just the whole world of art right now. That’s really cool and I think there’s just a lot of different people from a lot of different walks of life. Again, me being from the East Coast, I feel like that also informs how I navigate the scene cause I love anything underground. I do love going to a good, proper rave and whatnot and finding those things under a bridge or near a tunnel–that type of vibe. I feel like that’s where you find really cool music and I kind of find myself pulled to those in the scene.

You’ve performed at events for CreepyGirlsClub, CloudWatching and Parti Collective. How much would you say your craft has been evolving from one event to the next as a performer?

All of my recent events have been in the same or similar fun, hyperpop influenced electronic scene. I feel like doing different gigs has opened up different facets of my music enjoyment. I also have done rap mixes, and I also find me doing that very genuine because I love listening to a lot of alternative rap. There’s a lot of overlap between trap and electronic music so I feel like doing things like different gigs has allowed me to explore all different sides of my enjoyment of alternative music as a whole.

What goes through your mind as a DJ when you are performing?

Usually the first song, I get a little anxious. I hope I’m bringing the right vibe to the crowd. After that, when everyone starts dancing, that’s when I get into a flow state. Sometimes I put in a song that may be risky. It’s completely different but I just toss it in and just trust my instincts then it works out well. I’m usually listening, just following and looking to the next three tracks for sure. I really enjoy just seeing people enjoying my mixes and music when I’m DJing. I think that’s a big part of it. We’re enjoying this kunt music together, we’re dancing, we’re hype. That’s the vibe I always try to bring.

How do you typically go about making a mix? What’s your creative process like?

Honestly, just vibes. I remember I was doing a set. I love inviting my friends to be with me while I’m DJing and I remember one of them saying it’s kind of like a flow state. Just reading what people are dancing to and feeling like I can throw in a little FKA twigs, a little rap here, a little Bktherula. I think also because in high school I was obsessively making playlists so it’s just that vibe curation that I love.

You describe your music as “kunt dance music”. Could you expand a little on what that means to you?

I think I’m really inspired by the queer ballroom scene and so whenever I think of anything being kunt I think of it being just authentically you. Just self-expression in its purest form so when I say I like to DJ kunt dance music, I just love to DJ exactly what expresses how I feel or underground queer artists as well. It’s just kunt, it’s just tea, it’s fun, it's in a way juicy, it's just everything. I guess that’s what it is to me. Kunt dance music is everything.

Who would you say are your biggest artistic influences?

Definitely Kelela and I think she’s a big inspiration to me because she’s from DC. I’m listening to a lot of PinkPantheress, definitely Arca, FKA twigs, Björk. I like listening to a lot of Solange as well, even alternative R&B. I just think anywhere where there’s a lot of experimentation happening. I really value spaces where you can experiment. Amaarae as well. Her Black Star album was so dope. I’ve been listening to a crazy amount of different sounds and I remember in high school I was also listening to a lot of Yeule. I'm back home briefly but on my wall I have all these artists including Yeule, Grimes, Aphex Twin. I used to also listen to a lot of LANA too. Just anyone who’s doing really cool electronic music. I love seeing how people have their different takes on songs and I think what’s cool even as a DJ when remix albums are released is you get to see how many variations of a song can be made. It’s fire.

Who is your dream collaborator?

There are so many. I didn’t mention earlier because there are just so many inspirations but Kaytranada’s definitely a big inspiration especially in house music. Definitely FKA twigs. I would love to open for Cannelle or Natanya–just cool artsy black girls who have already been doing it. That would be such a fun tour or even just doing just a tour stop with one of them. That would be so fun, I feel like. Let's just bring the alternative black scene together. I feel like just curating a space like that is very important.

You have a very striking visual presence across your platforms. What inspires it?

I think going back to high school again, I felt especially during and after quarantine, I developed a routine of being chronically online. When it comes to music for sure but also when it comes to visual art. Not just Pinterest but even as I was scrolling through Instagram I kind of curated a feed where I was seeing a lot of fashion designers from New York City, Tokyo, and all over the world. Cannelle is a big inspiration. Her visual curation and direction just really inspired me because you can actually DIY a lot of things now. Whenever I’m curating a Pinterest board, I’m like I kind of want to bring this to life. Through grrlkiss, that’s kind of like an alter ego for me. I can just express all my cute aspects that I normally don't through this DJ persona.

You’ve been releasing a number of tracks this year but how many more can people expect to get in the second half of the year?

I’m definitely expecting to rev up a little more with my releases and working towards more collaborations that I’d be excited to have posted. I’m excited to be posting some concepts that I’ve been working on the whole year since February. I’ve been just planning out and working on that visual direction and curation. Even when I started the DJ account the first post I just barely started DJing but I love visuals to accompany it. I feel like worldbuilding is everything so my friends were like, “What if we just did a photoshoot?” We found a cheap studio in LA, drove there, did it, and then I quickly learned Lightroom and Photoshop so I can edit and clean up. I feel like audio and visuals go hand in hand so I’m excited to be revving up everything in the next year. 

In terms of performances, do you have any gigs coming up in the near future? What’s next on your calendar?

Yes and no. I say that because I’m actually a university student, so the school year is still on the table. I definitely hope to rev up even just the amount of live performances but being a college student . . . it’s crazy I’m already over halfway through but basically everything will be told as the time comes closer.

What are you studying?

Music industry and that's more of the business side. I feel like it’s important to understand the legal aspects and whatnot. I’m really big on ethnomusicology and learning the history of black music so I’m also minoring in African American studies. I’m studying in LA and that’s actually what brought me to LA. I was like, “You know what? I’m here, I might as well explore my self-expression and creativity.” There’s just so many opportunities to do that.

What’s something people should absolutely know about grrlkiss?

With grrlkiss being my alter ego, I feel like everyone should be able to just develop a space for yourself where you feel the freedom to express your true authentic self. It doesn’t even have to be as public. It doesn’t have to be through DJing or music specifically but just curating that. I feel like that’s really important because being in these scenes, we’re very big on community but to be able to really effectively grow community you also must grow that within yourself. Being able to trust yourself with self expression so you can do that with the community as well. 

What’s your favourite sweet treat?

I love malva pudding. I miss the East Coast so much because my aunt would make it. A runner up is… I don’t actually think there’s a runner up.

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You can dive into the world of grrlkiss by visiting her website.