Amelie Lens

Amelie Lens was born on May 31, 1990, in Vilvoorde, Belgium. Raised by her grandmother from the age of five, she later attended art school in Antwerp. Her interest in electronic music began at 15 after attending the 2005 Dour Festival, an experience she described as life-changing, leading her to explore the history of electronic music and discover new artists. During her early career, she also worked as a model in London, Paris, and Milan, walking for Jean Paul Gaultier and campaigning for H&M.

Lens began her DJ career under the name Renée, her late mother’s name, securing a residency at the Labyrinth Club in Hasselt, Belgium, in 2013, where she primarily played bass-heavy minimal techno. In 2014, she transitioned from fashion to focus fully on her musical career, adopting her real name. Her debut track “Exhale” was released in 2016 on Lyase Recordings, followed by releases on Pan-Pot’s Second State and a collaborative EP with Regal on Involve Records. In 2018, she established her own record label, Lenske, providing a platform for emerging techno artists. Concurrently, she expanded her curated EXHALE club nights to venues like London’s Fabric and major festivals such as Creamfields, OFFSonar, Dour, and Extrema. In December 2023, Lens gave birth to a daughter, embracing her role as a touring DJ mum. Her sound is characterized as energetic techno, spanning various moods and eras by integrating classic acid and tribal elements with contemporary big-room sounds.

Her career progression is marked by consistent recognition in the industry, including multiple nominations for Best Techno Artist at the DJ Awards and International Dance Music Awards. She also steadily climbed DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs and Alternative Top 100 DJs rankings, demonstrating increasing influence and popularity. In 2016, she won the Red Bull Elektropedia Award for Breakthrough artist for her work. Lens often utilizes a Pioneer RMX 1000 in her live sets to enhance mixes with layers and effects, and in production, she uses Ableton Live DAW and the Elektron Analog Four synth and sequencer.