The Berlin-based Venezuelan also contributed vocals to Hercules & Love Affair, among other projects.
Venezuelan DJ, singer-songwriter and classically trained dancer Aérea Negrot, real name Danielle Gallegos, has died aged 43.
The news was confirmed yesterday, October 13th, by BPitch Control, the Berlin label closely affiliated with Gallegos. "We're beyond heartbroken over the passing of our treasured and brilliant Danielle," the label wrote on Instagram. "Her light, music and beautiful uplifting voice, her one-of-a-kind artistic approach and performance have touched every soul they have ever encountered." The cause of death remains unknown.
Born in Caracas in 1980, Gallegos—who identified as trans—was raised by a family of professional dancers. When a knee injury halted her ballet career, she switched her focus to nightclubs, forming La Familia Felíz with Fata Kiefer and Milton Fermat and releasing "La Disco," which captures the quirky, theatrical style of dance music that would come to define her career.
According to Remezcla, Gallegos's first performance as Aérea Negrot took place aged 17 in Amsterdam's Central Station. She later secured a place at the prestigious London Centre of Contemporary Music, before joining Andy Butler's Hercules & Love Affair project in 2008 and contributing vocals to four tracks on the 2011 album, Blue Songs.
By that time Gallegos was already living in Berlin, where she resided until she died. She was a beloved figure on the local nightlife scene and established close ties to Ellen Allien's BPitch Control label, releasing her debut album, Arabxilla, in 2011, as well as several EPs. She also collaborated with the likes of Massimiliano Pagliara, Tobias. and Billie Ray Martin.
"The most surprising thing is that no matter which city I have played in, the clothes I have worn or the voice pitch I have used, I have mostly sensed understanding from the public," she told Remezcla. "When the emotions are real, people always identify."
Watch Aérea Negrot's HÖR set from August, and read some social media tributes.
Update, October 16th: This piece has been updated with Aérea Negrot's age at the time of her death.