What are some of the most memorable interactions you’ve had with people after your set?
Recently after a set in Ireland, I had someone approach me to tell me how much it means to them to see a woman of colour doing what I do. Moments like those are so special as they remind me that there’s more to this music stuff than just selling tickets.
What do you think are the biggest barriers women face in taking up becoming an artist and DJ? And why do you think for so long there was a lot less representation of women in DJ’ing and producing?
DJ’ing has been a major boy’s club for so many years — part of that has to do with men gatekeeping the craft of DJ’ing and conversely, how technology has made it much more accessible. I think one of the biggest barriers women face in the scene is people not taking us seriously. It goes without saying that when your peers don’t take you seriously they’re a lot less likely to support your growth and development. Something else that sort of relates to this is the pressure put on us by the male gaze of industry marketing. A sentiment I’ve talked about with other female DJ’s is that a lot of us feel pressured to de-sexualise (or de-feminise) ourselves as a reaction to the misogynistic narrative that women DJ’s get ahead just by being hot or sexy.
