​Dutch ‘First Lady of techno’, Lady Aïda, has died aged 63

Techno pioneer and writer, Aïda Spaninks, better known as Lady Aïda, has passed away aged 63.

The news of her death came on Monday via Eindhovens Dagblad, who reported that the DJ passed after a "short illness". 3voor12 reported that the 63-year-old had breast cancer.

Diessen-born Lady Aïda later moved to Eindhoven where she spent most of her life, starting her career in the music industry in 1985.

As she started producing house and techno, Aïda became a mainstay of dance music and was one of the most prolific artists leading the scene through the late 80s.

Netherlands DJ Serge paid his respects on Facebook earlier this week, saying: “Sad news… Our dutch first lady of techno has left us. She started DJ’ing in the mid-80s and was one of the dutch techno pioneers with a long-running club night in Eindhoven!”

“I remember sending her a mixtape and the very first Clone releases with a handwritten letter introducing myself. Many years later she reminded me of that letter which she kept in her archive and with her well known infectious laugh,” he said.

Aïda set up her own DJ school, Rebelbass, in 2009 while writing for a blog under the same name. The writer-come-DJ also wrote a monthly column in the local Eindhoven news outlet, Eindhovens Dagblad.

Shinedoe also paid tribute to the techno pioneer on Twitter earlier this week alongside a photo of Lady Aïda with her record collection, of which she was reported to have nearly 50,000.

“Rest in musical peace, rebel DJ Lady Aida. I'm glad I have met you and shared the DJ booth in the past. Your energy was always fierce and beautiful. You always stayed true to yourself and never afraid to speak up your mind,” she said.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter