From Russia with love, lust and all points between – prepare for the deliciously diverse dissident DJ from Darlinghurst via Odessa: Ms. Sveta Gilerman a.k.a. DJ Sveta.
With a leather-clad boot firmly planted on either side of the barbed-wire fence of contemporary pop culture, Sveta has staked out the unique (and painful!) crossover point between underground and overground, fame and infamy, cash and credibility.
From the most obscure subcultural sex parties in Sydney and New York, to the biggest hands-in-the-air mass appeal events like Mardi Gras and Sleaze Ball, Sveta manages to keep everyone happy whilst maintaining her own passion for the music she’s mixing.
IT’S A HARD LINE TO WALK!
But walk it she has, for over a decade becoming the darling of Darlinghurst, the Empress of Enmore, and the queen of the queer and quirky culture that defines inner-city life in Australia.Sveta began her career as a radio DJ on underground community radio station 2SER-FM and joined FBI upon their launch. She has also hosted programs on other community stations such as all-dance station Radio Dex and Free-Fm.
Sveta has held a true national club DJ profile and has played regularly all over Australia for well over a decade. As well as playing regularly with the Bang Gang DJ’s during their three year long stint at Moulin Rouge and Club 77, Sveta has held a diverse range of residencies spanning from The Hellfire Club to Chinese Laundry.

Sveta has played alongside Big Freedia, Kim Ann Foxman, Peaches, Amanda Palmer, Yo Majesty, Josh Peace, Calvin Harris, Larry Tee, Cazwell & Amanda Lepore, Boy George, L.A Riots, The Bloody Beetroots, Les Petits Pilous, Autoerotique, Ladyhawke, Kap Bambino, Le Castle Vania, Alexander Technique, Jo Jo De Freq, Fagget Fairys, Bart B More, the likes of the legendary DJ Junior Vasquez, John Digweed, Deep Dish, Frankie Knuckles, Tony Moran, JD from Le Tigre, Victor Calderone, Johnny Dynall, Sneaky Sound System, Jeffree Starr; many more.
Sveta has programmed and performed live soundtracks for the top Australian haute couture designer Alex Perry at all his Sydney Fashion Week shows since 2005 as well as Zimmermann, Arrabella Ramsey, Flamingo Sands, Bonds and John Frieda. She programmed the music for two Collette Dinnigan shows in 2009 including Paris Fashion Week and launched Birthday Suit at 2009 Sydney Fashion Week. Sveta just completed the production of soundtracks for two VOGUE catwalk shows as Music Director at the Melbourne Fashion Festival.
Sveta toured Australia with Peaches in Jan 2010 as her opening DJ at her Big Day Out sideshows. She also toured Australia with Shunda K (Yo Majesty!) as her DJ playing live beats & mash-ups in Dec/Jan 2010. Sveta collaborated with Emmy Award winning pianist & composer, Lance Horne on a live piano/house set performed at the Sydney Opera House in March 2010. She was also part of the Future Music Festival in 2010. In March 2011, Sveta will be making her debut as a producer, with a remix release for US rockstar Amanda Palmer’s (feat Peaches) new single ‘Map of Tasmania’.Other notable gigs include The Big Day Out, DJing in between Chicks on Speed and Gonzales & Feist in the Hot House. She has supported The Detroit Grand Pubahs and Larry Lee at Killer for Fuzzy, DJed at a Patricia Field Party in New York and launched the Sydney Opera House’s new Recording Studio with Dieter Meier from legendary electronic band Yello.
Sveta also specializes in thematic events including art openings and launches. In collaboration with art collective, the ‘Kingpins’, Sveta has performed at the opening night party at the Adelaide Arts Festival in March 2006 & 2010 and was invited back to play at the official Adelaide Festival opening night in 2007. Sveta has also supported TOMMY LEE (Motley Crue), and was selected as the DJ for the 2006 MTV Awards after party, and took her place in the 2007 Good Vibrations festival line up. In 2009 Sveta was theDJ for the series of events at called ‘WRONG PROM’ at Carriageworks. 2008 saw her play at ‘The Famous Spiegeltent’ opening night party at the Sydney Opera House in October as well as headlining Earthdance and Sleaze Ball.
Sveta has been well recognised for her achievements and contributions to DJing. In 2005, Sveta became the first femaleDJ to ever win the DIVA (Drag Industry Variety Award) for Most Popular DJ. National dance publication 3D World gave Sveta the 2005 Award for ‘Best Local DJ’, ranking her between Ajax and Kid Kenobi. Sveta was recently voted ‘Best DJ’ award in the ‘Best of Sydney’ 2008 awards.The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has recognised her contribution to the dance music scene over the years by selecting her as one of the top DJ’s around Australia who compile the official weekly ARIA Dance chart. Since 2001, she has been a specialist judge for the ARIA Awards.Sveta has mixed two commercially released CD’s; Mardi Gras’ Millennium commemorative CD in 2000, and Elastic Vol 1, on Universal records in 2001 which featured “Phoenix”, the first of several original music collaborations between Sveta and Tonemeister, which featured a remix by internationally renowned electronic band Infusion. Sveta has had five live sets aired on the national radio network Triple J’s Mix Up show, and has appeared as a special guest song presenter on Will Anderson and John Spencer’s Breakfast Show.
Sveta has simultaneously established an overseas profile, beginning back in Toronto, Canada in 1998. Since this time Sveta has played high profile gigs in Tokyo, New York, New Zealand and London, where amongst other events, she has headlined at the legendary Torture Garden Fetish night and London’s massive Pride Party.
Sveta’s New York profile exploded in June 2006 in her role as the special guest DJ at Mr.Black (Voted ‘Best Night Club’ by The Village Voice) along side DJ Sammy Jo; tour DJ to the Scissor Sisters. In October 2006, Sveta returned upon request to Mr Black in order to take over the residency of DJ Sammy Jo during his tour with the Scissor Sisters. Sveta filled up her New York stay with high profile guest spots at Mr Black, The David Barton Gym, The (infamous) Cock, China White, Hiro, Snapshot & The Bubble Lounge. Her success in this role lead another trip in the same year and she has returned to tour then every year since. 2009/2010 saw Sveta return to Europe with gigs in Verona, Paris & Copenhagen.Sveta currently play regularly or holds residencies at DTPM, FAMILY nightclub in Brisbane, Starfuckers at Club 77, legendary notorious lesbian strip night ‘Gurlesque’, Bitch @ Mars Lounge, Loose Ends @ the Phoenix, and Queer Central at the Sly Fox & Oh My! @ Home Sydney.
Sveta is amongst the few underground DJs that have crossed-over to a diverse audience of straight, gay, young, old, queer and fetish audiences alike. She’ll grab hold of a dance-floor and take it to the edge with a spellbinding mix of music that will leave the collective audience absolutely breathless.