Hailing from Hawaii and Taiwan, DJ/producer Timo Lee now calls Brooklyn home. Her DJ journey began with a radio show in Honolulu more than two decades ago, leading to performances and residencies at DJ Harvey’s thirtynine hotel. Now Timo plays in Brooklyn at many nightclubs and bars including Good Room and a regular on The Lot Radio. She also co-owns Bevy, a cocktail discotheque in Honolulu for the past decade. She is the booker behind Good Bar’s vinyl sessions and label head of Chomp! Chomp! Records.
We sat down with Timo to get her take on some life and death questions for our favorite topic: Music.
What artists and/or genres have been your biggest musical inspirations?
Growing up in the 90's and surrounding myself within the rave culture from a young age, I always been into electronic and dance music from house, techno, breakbeat, to drum and bass. I also have the love for jazz, ambient, balearic, soul, funk, pop and underground hip-hop as well. I got into disco when I was in my early twenties, and from there on I started to collect more and more records. I feel like music should evoke emotions from within, and there are endless inspirations and feelings we can draw from it.
If you could spend one night with a person (dead or living), who would it be & what would you want to do together?
I would love to spend a night with David Mancuso and go to The Loft at 99 Prince St to experience a night in the 70's as his guest, just dance and talk about music till sunrise.
How do you feel music has changed in the last decade?
I'm happy that vinyl is back in demand, and people are getting more into collecting and sound systems. I feel like a lot of 90's influences are back and I'm excited about that, it makes me feel like a kid again :) There are so much music out there and so many outlets now, and it takes a while to filter thru them. There are too many noises, but to find the qualities of it all, you really need to dig and be around likeminded people. It's so easy to find music now, but it's important to support the artists and their creativities.
What places/spaces are you drawn to for creative inspiration?
I feel like when I'm going thru some emotional changes that I find a lot of creative inspirations. Sad or happy, sometimes thru a heartbreak or after an amazing party. I also find inspirations when I'm traveling or going to new places, nature, museums and films also give me some fresh perspectives in life as well.
What’s one party coming up in NYC you’re most excited about?
Really excited to play at Public Records upstairs on April 12th to share some of my records with everyone. I had a good time doing so last summer, and it's a beautiful space and sound system to get into. Hope to see y'all there!
Timo Lee emerged her background in Honolulu and Taipei. From early childhood, Timo has kept her ear to the speaker, fingers tapping to the rhythm. A child of the 90’s, she was weaned on rave culture’s pulsing electronic beats. As the 2000’s progressed, her tastes evolved as she embraced underground techno, disco, house and electronica.
Her love for music manifested in a remarkable way as she hosted a three-hour weekly radio show on KTUH Honolulu for eight years. During this time, Timo shared the stage with a constellation of talented DJs, including luminaries like DJ Harvey, Bonobo, James Murphy, Thomas Bullock, DJ Garth, Tiger and Woods, Daniele Baldelli, Tim Sweeney, and many others at thirtyninehotel. She also served as the club's booker for six years, actively shaping the local dance scene in Hawaii. In 2014, Timo took her talents to the bustling streets of Brooklyn, NY. Commuting between the energetic vibes of NYC and her beloved Honolulu, she co-owns Bevy, a popular cocktail discotheque in Kaka’ako for the past decade. Timo's presence in the New York music scene has been significant, with regular performances at iconic venues such as Good Room, The Lot Radio, and various nightclubs across the city. Timo wears multiple hats as the booker of "Wax the Van," all-vinyl session at Good Bar. Since 2020, she has also led Chomp! Chomp! Records, showcasing diverse artists in the underground dance music scene.
For the many partygoers who has had the privilege of losing ourselves in her sets, it's common knowledge that when Timo takes her place behind the decks, she'll take it up a notch.
