Sure, we’re always curious to know about an artist’s upcoming release, most recent tour, or arsenal of analog gear, but XLR8R‘s also got a curiosity for quirk. Thus, each week, we email a different artist and find out what makes them tick, in the studio and in life. Now, don’t go within 10 feet of this next artist and her records if you’re armed with abrasive foam window cleaner. It’s Chilean-born techno queen Dinky.

What are you listening to right now?

Portishead, Third.

What’s the weirdest story you ever heard about yourself?

That I slept with Sven Vaeth to get a career in techno.

What band did you want to be in when you were 15?

Depeche Mode.

Worst live show experience?

I was lucky with my live sets, but as a DJ I had a couple of bad [incidents] the first time I was booked abroad in the Dominican Republic, in 1998. It was my second gig and my records were full of dust after the first [set] at the beach. I asked someone if they had window cleaner fluid to clean my records (which works wonders, by the way). They told me, ‘don’t worry, go get ready and we will clean the records for you.’ Instead of cleaning them with normal window fluid–which is not abrasive–they found an abrasive foam which destroyed 70 percent of my records!

I didn’t realize [this] until I started playing. There was no groove left on any of them and they all were sliding off the needle, making this horrible sound. I had to stop after 10 minutes and didn’t get paid. I was more devastated because of the loss of some really good gems than I was from the gig or the money.

Favorite city to play in?

Berlin

What was it like joining the Martha Graham School of Dance?

Exciting. Very challenging and competitive, which I hated, but hey, another dream came true!

What is your favorite thing you own?

My three-step sequencers and my amazing boyfriend!

Name one item of clothing you can’t live without.

My Pashmina; if I don’t have it (especially on flights), I’d get a cold.

What’s cuter: Kittens, penguins, or Scarlett Johansson?

Scarlett, for sure!

What did you always get in trouble for when you were little?

Not much. I was quiet and always liked playing the piano.

Which pop star would you most like to work with?

Justin Timberlake or Thom Yorke.

What’s the last thing you read?

The Sound on Sound’s last issue.

Complete this sentence: In the future…

I don’t think much [about the future], ’cause the present is too good and keeps me busy.

Stupidest thing you’ve done in the last 12 months?

Spill a cup of tea on top of my brand new Elektron machine drum. ):

What’s next?

So many things! My dance album being released October 6 on Vakant, some remixes, and I’m preparing my live set again. But my next big project is my fourth album, which is going in a completely different direction than anything [I’ve done] before. It’s not necessarily a dance album, and will be the biggest challenge for me to date.

Mind – Dinky

MP3: “Mind”

Last Week: Rafter