This Friday, Venezuela's DJ Ngelik spins her first set of a month-long residency at Zeta Bar. She talks to CW about her approach to music and why a stint as a MAXIM model can only help a DJ's career.

This is your first trip to China. What are you looking forward to seeing and doing in Beijing?
Beijing is an interesting and historical place, so I hope to learn a little about everything. About my music, I know I will keep people dancing at the parties I play.

In addition to DJing, we understand you have done a fair amount of modeling. Which came first your model or your DJ career? And what is the relationship between the two?
I have worked in the past few years as a punctual model. That means I work when I get a call for it. I have worked as a model in videos for a Venezuelan pop band, as well as in advertising. Recently I have posed as a model and DJ for MAXIM Magazine and FHM Magazine. I’m always open to doing more. I love pictures. But when it comes to the relationship between my two careers, there isn’t a problem because I’m mostly a DJane. Not a model.

You use your sensuality as part of your brand as a DJ. We imagine that approach attracts listeners and promoters, but might attract a few critics as well. Are we off base? What surprises has being a dancefloor sex symbol brought?
I use my sensuality as a way to be. What you see is how I feel deep inside. For this career, it’s helped me because I get to do my promotion with my ideas and the costume I choose. And yes, the concept attracts listeners because for us artists, promotion is everything. Even if you work a lot, if you don’t promote yourself in the end you’ll be doing nothing. I’m very picky with the music I choose, so I don’t like everything I hear. My main course is minimal, techno and progressive, but sometimes I play house when I feel like it. I don’t consider myself a sex symbol, just another woman who has been lucky in many things.

Ngelik comes from the gamelan music … though it also makes us think of the word “angelic.” Why did you choose this name?
That was a rare coincidence because my name actually came from a co-worker. She used to call me “Angelique.” So when the time came for me to find a name, it wasn’t so difficult. I just remove some letters from the name … and I change the last C to a K. After some time, I Googled my DJ name, and I found out about the gamelan music. I thought it was really cool that I had created a name that has a musical meaning.

You learned a lot of your DJ-ing skills from DJ Ennio Visconti, right? What other artists have inspired you?
Yes, he taught me how to mix, as well as other basics. We have been very good friends for a couple of years. I have also been inspired by Ben Armas, MEG and Israel Sunshine

We understand that your are working more on producing. How is that going? Where can we hear your tracks?
Actually I haven’t touched music software in a long while, and I don’t have time right now either. I prefer to work with producers and write the lyrics and do the vocals for their songs. Now I’m making new lyrics and doing vocals for a producer friend. You can hear it on my Facebook page.

So, what’s the next step after Beijing for DJ Ngelik?
I’m planning to do more parties in the year to come. I love traveling, music and adventure. As you can see I do what I like. What more could I ask for?