COLUMN: Electric dance music enthusiasts need to spotlight more female DJs
In the world of the electronic dance music industry, as in almost every other industry, there is a significant gender disparity. All of the top billboard DJs are male, including Tiesto, Martin Garrix and Avicii, presenting an important issue regarding the women of the EDM world.
Not only are the female DJs of the EDM scene some of the most interesting and exciting, they are also huge pieces of the industry puzzle. Women of the EDM industry have participated in expanding the industry, transforming it from a cult following to the mainstream world phenomenon it is now.
When I spent my semester abroad in London, I discovered the huge influence of electronic music among millennials. Not only is dance music an incredibly popular genre within the British musical narrative, it also focuses on a history of EDM that is not gender specific. In fact, one of my favorite DJs is a U.K.-based rave lady named Annie Mac. She is famous for her work with BBC, curating several shows highlighting leading artists, events and international influences in dance music. She also has a spot called “Annie Mac Presents” on Sirius XM’s BPM channel, featuring some of the most important artists in the electronic scene. Her focus on house and deep house music, especially in the British context, brings an international understanding and progressive voice to the current music scene.
Additionally, last year at EDC Las Vegas, I discovered another remarkable international force. Sydney-based DJ Alison Wonderland is a quickly rising DJ that has now inspired significant talk among the festival scenes. Having started her career by playing in Australian warehouses, she now takes the stage with major DJs such as Diplo. Her tracks include forward-thinking collaborations that speak to her eclectic but addictive style that has now infiltrated all music platforms.
Almost anyone who has any interest in dance music, or has turned on the radio in the last few years, has heard the song “Alive” by Krewella. This DJ group has been featured at almost every major festival since 2013, including Insomniac events, Ultra and Paradiso. The original group consisted of a trio, headed by the Yousaf sisters and their producer Kris Trindl. These girls became some of the most interesting people in the EDM scene, experimenting in the styles of hardcore, dubstep and trap. To this day, I have very rarely heard of a female-headed group that so singularly defines the “harder” styles of dance music. The sisters, aside from live performances and album recordings, released their “Troll Mixes,” which include hour-long remixes of some of the top dance tracks.
Furthermore, the song “When Love Takes Over” by David Guetta and Kelly Rowland, which also won a Grammy, was backed by a female EDM duo known as Nervo. These Aussie girls have influenced the industry both on stage as DJs and behind the scenes as writers and producers for some of the top artists of today. They have teamed up with popular dance artists like Afrojack and R3hab to produce some of the most popular dance hits such as “Revolution.” Not only have they been the masterminds behind many of the dance hits in circulation, but they have also taken the festival scene by storm since 2013, performing at Tomorroworld, EDC UK and Road to Ultra.
A woman with real power in the industry is Amy Thomson, manager of Swedish House Mafia and leader of their powerhouse career. Starting her career in the famed London club Ministry of Sound, Amy has constantly pursued the ideal of electronic music in keeping with the trends of dance culture. Not only has she helped some of the most famous artists rise to fame, but she has also brought light to the ambition and innovation within the industry of the genre.
These ladies have shown that DJing and one’s influence in the music industry go far beyond pressing play on a sound system. Female power in the music industry is always going to be a challenge, especially considering the male-dominated world of production and management. However, these women, along with many others, are transforming the industry by infiltrating the production, genres and lyrics that are the base of all dance music. Female DJs help bring a consciousness to politics, industry and gender equality that can continue to help break down barriers for all future female music titans.
Madison Cisiewski is a sophomore majoring in music industry. Her column, “Electric Industry,” runs every other Monday.