Kayper

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{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Kayper

| image = Kyper_black_and_white_press_image.jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| image_size =

| background = non_performing_personnel

| birth_name = Kaajal Bakrania

| alias =

| birth_date = 6 August 1983

| birth_place = London, England, United Kingdom

| origin = United Kingdom

| instrument = Turntable, Sampler

| genre = Techno, House, Hip Hop, Dubstep, Breaks

| occupation = DJ, Producer

| years_active = 1995–present

| label =

| website = {{URL|www.kayper.co.uk}}

}}

Kayper (born 6 August 1983) is a British DJ, music producer, and broadcaster. She hosted several shows on the BBC Asian Network and BBC Radio 1Xtra between 2006 and 2012, and is known for her contributions to hip hop and electronic music.{{cite web |title=BBC DJ Kayper Show Archive |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0073159/episodes/guide |access-date=5 June 2025}}

Career

Kayper began DJing at the age of 11, growing up in a family of DJs and music producers.{{cite web |title=Kayper Biography |url=https://www.ra.co/dj/kayper/biography |website=Resident Advisor |access-date=5 June 2025}}

While studying Music Technology at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, she gained recognition as a scratch DJ, winning several DJ battles in the early 2000s. In 2003, she joined a four-deck DJ crew with DJ 279, DJ Pogo, and DJ Skully, performing weekly at Bar Rumba in London for a party called The Get Down.{{cite web |title=The Get Down at Bar Rumba |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/clubs/the-get-down |access-date=5 June 2025}}

In 2004, she launched her own club night, Ebonics, at The Fez Club in Cambridge. She curated lineups featuring DJs such as DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Premier, DJ Cash Money, and reggae sound system Stone Love.{{cite web |title=Kayper launches Ebonics |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/for-its-next-act-eton-messy-picks-up-kaypers-terminal-ep/ |access-date=5 June 2025}}

In 2006, Kayper joined the BBC Asian Network, presenting The Hype Show, later renamed The DJ Kayper Show. The program spotlighted emerging British South Asian talent and showcased a wide range of genres including hip hop, dubstep, UK garage, drum and bass, house, and global music. Her eclectic style and technical skills earned her a global following, leading to performances at Fabric, Ministry of Sound, Printworks, Eden Ibiza, Amnesia Ibiza, Coachella, and Glastonbury.

In the United States, Kayper built a parallel career, performing at venues such as SOB's and House of Blues. In 2011, she signed with a Hollywood-based agency headed by actor and DJ Chris Masterson. She later headlined at clubs including LIV Miami and Hakkasan Las Vegas. Between 2011 and 2022, she performed at Brent Bolthouse's Neon Carnival at Coachella for 11 consecutive years. Her sets at these high-profile events led to private DJ engagements for celebrities such as Chris Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rihanna, Jay-Z, and members of the Hilton and Rothschild families.{{cite web |title=Neon Carnival Lineups |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/coachella-neon-carnival-2022-guest-list-1235054443/ |access-date=5 June 2025}}

After leaving the BBC in 2012, Kayper focused on music production. She released her debut single in collaboration with dubstep producer Engine Earz on Diplo's Mad Decent label.{{cite web |title=Kayper Releases on Mad Decent |url=https://www.maddecent.com/releases/gimme-some-kayper/ |access-date=5 June 2025}} She followed with solo releases on her own label, Futurebox Records, and released Out My Mind on Main Course, receiving support from Pitchfork{{cite web |title=Kayper: Out My Mind Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/16421-kayper-out-my-mind/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=5 June 2025}} and BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac.{{cite web |title=Annie Mac Recommends: Kayper |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0073159 |access-date=5 June 2025}}

In 2024, she released three EPs on Hypercolour Records, reflecting a shift toward a darker, underground sound rooted in techno, breaks, and dubstep.{{cite web |title=Hypercolour Signs Kayper |url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/news/2024/kayper-hypercolour-ep |access-date=5 June 2025}}