Aïda Spaninks, better known by her DJ pseudonym Lady Aïda, has passed away at the age of 63 of as yet undisclosed causes.
Born and raised in Eindhoven, Spaninks was often cited as a pioneer of the late ’80s house and techno movement. A regular fixture at Netherland festivals Pinkpop and Lowlands, she also had her own night at Effenaar, widely regarded as the country’s most respected musical/cultural hub.
Spaninks was well known for her work ethic, having worked into her 60s. In 2009, she opened Rebelbass, an Eindhoven-based DJ school teaching everything from basic beat structure to ecstatic dance. An avid writer as well, Spaninks regularly blogged for Netherlands public broadcasting station 3voor12. She was also known for her massive music collection of over 50,000 vinyl records.
Another Dutch public broadcaster, VRPO, produced a three-part docuseries titled 30 Years of Dutch Dance. Spaninks played a major role throughout the series, acting as a sharp critic to the rise of commercial EDM. “The children I teach nowadays all think it started with Tiësto,” she said. “That’s all devastating music, commerce and marketing.”
According to 3voor12, a farewell ceremony honoring Spaninks is set for October 4th, 2021. Attendance is limited due to COVID-19 but it will be live streamed. “Call it a final release party,” 3voor12 writes.
