It’s very easy to name your top five favorite DJs. But actually name them, are any of your favorite DJs female? EDM has arisen as a male-dominated industry with few women topping the “Top DJ” lists and the charts.
Groups like NERVO and Krewella are leading the charge as the most visible and top-earning female EDM acts in the world, but they can almost be seen as rarities in the electronic music industry, why?
According to Forbes in a recent interview, Krewella explained the disadvantages of being a women in this industry:
“People wanted to immediately jump to these conclusions that ‘Of course they’re women, they use their sex to sell the group. They manipulate men in the industry. They can’t be trusted.’ And those were the constant themes that we kept seeing.”
“It’s important to recognize that there is still certain stereotypes,” said Jahan, 25. “There are so many rumors that go around still–if there’s a woman that’s successful it’s because… she slept with this person or she bought her way into this rather than her just having talent.”
There are a slew of female DJs in the EDM industry that are just as talented and original as their male counterparts. Over the past few years, however, females have been climbing the latter of popularity in the EDM industry – and we hope to see this trend continue.
In fact, this past Mysteryland USA had 16 female artists performing on the Holy Grounds of Woodstock, Bethel Arts Center.
There are a myriad of dance floor crushing female DJs that been in the scene for years now, such as Nicole Moudaber, Ida Engberg, Cassy, and countless others. They’ve not only been destroying dance floors with each and every scintillating performance, but they’ve helped to paved the way for the uprising of more leading female musicians.
To shed light on the pool of talented producers, DJs, and musicians that you might not know about, we’ve compiled a list of female DJs who are absolutely killing it in the electronic music industry. Here are 10 of dance music’s leading ladies:
Nora En Pure
Born in South Africa but raised in Switzerland — Nora En Pure brings a style that combines both the best of deep and melodic house.
Already proven to be prolific in her mission to spread dance floor smashing tunes, she has dropped her deep and funky works through Enormous Tunes and Tokenish since 2009. Her 2013 single, “Come With Me“, put her on the map as it made its way up the Beatport charts.
Mija
If you’re looking for street cred in the DJ scene, Mija has it in spades. At Bonnaroo 2014, Mija invited Skrillex to join her to play a back-to-back set. It crushed. After this, the OWSLA boss (Skrillex) took her under his wing, whisking her off to Los Angeles where her career has continued to explode ever since.
HELENA
The UK-born, Australian-bred, and Los Angeles-based HELENA dominates dance floors with her unique electro house sound. With her most recent single, “Shake It“, released via Tiësto’s Musical Freedom Records, HELENA seems to be well along the path to becoming one of the world’s biggest talents.
Having toured through the U.S., Asia, Europe, and of course her home ground of Australia – expect to hear more big things from HELENA with each subsequent release.
Ida Engberg
Also known as the Techno Queen, Ida Engberg was born in Sweden and built her career as a DJ/producer through relentless touring and hard work. With a discerning ear for deep house, Ida’s production catalogue only continues to grow as she continues to ascend through the electronic music ranks.
Having worked with Eric Prydz, Roger Sanchez, John Dahlbäck, Sebastian Ingrosso, and more – Ida Engberg has proven herself to be not only a mainstay but an influential force in the dance music community.
Maya Jane Coles
Hailing from London, England – 2011 saw Maya Jane Coles’ breakthrough with the single, “What They Say“. Reaching the top of her field with her multi-faceted style and well-regarded releases, Maya has brought her music to fans at the world’s top festivals like Coachella, Glastonbury, Tomorrowland, and Electric Daisy Carnival.
Nicole Moudaber
Born in Nigeria and currently residing in London, England – techno’s dark queen has made a name for herself in the dance music community. In 2009, Carl Cox described her to DJ Magazine as “the most underrated DJ”, helping to take her career to the next level.
Her debut album, 2013’s Believe, held the number one spot on the Beatport techno, tech house, and deep house charts for an entire month. Launching her MOOD Records imprint in 2012, Nicole Moudaber is one DJ who’s been slaying the charts with every track that she touches.
Lauren Lane
The Los Angeles-based Lauren Lane first broke through while DJing in the New York house scene. Now with a residency at Sound Nightclub in Hollywood, she’s received support from major industry players like Seth Troxler, Carl Cox, Jamie Jones, the Martinez Brothers, and TEED as well as playing major festivals like Coachella and Wavefront Festival – keep an eye our for Lane and her fiery productions.
Juicy M
Juicy M is an electro and progressive house DJ and producer who cut her teeth in Ukraine’s fashionable clubs like Orangerea Supper Club, Patipa, and Matrix. Having participated in a slew of international DJ championships, Juicy M won the “Best Female DJ of the Year” award at the 2010 ProDJ Awards.
In June 2013, she started a weekly podcast entitled JuicyLand, which is now broadcast to 11 countries. More recently, the talented DJ has somehow found the time on to start her own label, JUMMP Records, as she continues to crisscross the globe with her incendiary performances.
J.Phlip
Born as Jessica Phillippe — J.Phlip has a diverse musical background that combines intricate house and techno influences drawn from time spent living in both Chicago and Berlin.
Eventually hooking up with Claude VonStroke and his Dirtybird imprint, J.Phlip has been destroying dance floors ever since with her signature blend of righteous tech-bass.
Cassy
Catherine Britton AKA Cassy has had an interesting trip through the electronic music scene over the years. Starting her career in dance music as a vocalist, Cassy eventually earned a residency at Berghain’s legendary Panorama Bar.
With a diverse body of work on highly-regarded labels such as Playhouse, Perlon, Ostgut Ton, and Cocoon and a stream of club scene successes – Cassy’s dedication to music has grown her career to the point of worldwide recognition among fans and key players and within the music industry.
If those 10 aren’t enough, here are more top female artists that you should definitely have in your catalog:
- Anna Lunoe
- Ellen Allien
- Alison Wonderland
- Yvy Fay
- Annie Mac
- Alison Wonderland
- Gina Turner
- Louisahhh!!!
- Magda
- Miss Kittin
- tINI
- TOKiMONSTA
- Aanandi
- Maayan Nidam
- Niki Mcnally
- Anja Schneider
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