She wants to spin for you

[MarrickG]

THINK DJs are meant to be heard, not seen?

Then you haven't met this former Playboy playmate, DJ Affecta.

The curvy, icy blonde gyrates wildly in skimpy costumes and, oh yes, she occasionally works the turntables topless too.

The 26-year-old Russian, whose real name is Anna Cherkashina, is part of a Europe-based group called Topless DJs.

This is a loose association of about 20 women deejays, most of whom started out as nude models.

They have done gigs all over Europe and China too.

DJ Affecta was in town this week to spin - a mix of funk, electronica and house - at two Russian Standard Vodka parties at Alcova and New Asia Bar.

No nudity was involved although her shapely figure was showcased in skimpy Swarovski-studded costumes.

DJ Affecta, who wants her critics to know she is a bona fide deejay, told The New Paper in an exclusive interview: "People can't imagine that a topless, sexy DJ can play good music."

But she stressed that she works hard to hone her craft, playing about 10 gigs every month. Her week is typically spent writing remixes, recording, listening to music and searching for tracks.

"First and foremost, I'm a deejay," she said. "It's not just my job, it's my life. It's not just about going topless."

The nudity is just a gimmick, in the same way as say, the Naked News, an online news service which began in 2000, with female anchors stripping down as they reported on current affairs.

Or the Canadian cooking show Barely Cooking (2003), which showcased its cooking hosts wearing nothing but an apron.

DJ Affecta pointed out that while some of her clients have requested a topless gig the first time, they have repeatedly engaged her clothed after that.

She said proudly: "If you are only showing (your body) and are not professional, people won't want you to come back."

Besides, she was a deejay first. The topless gimmick came later.

She picked up the technical points of deejaying from a male friend over five months in 2004.

And though she has a law degree from a Russian university, she decided to go into music full-time.

She further honed her skills by spinning to crowds as large as 5,000 in 26 countries including France, Germany, Russia and Vietnam.

She started stripping for her gigs three years ago after someone from Topless DJs approached her to join the group.

She recalled: "They said I have a sexy style and I would be a good performer so I thought why not? The idea is to be sexy and glamorous."

Being naked while on the job isn't something completely new, as she has modelled for Playboy magazine.