Label boss Just Her was asked to write for Faze Magazine Germany, from a female perspective.
(Read the official magazine article in German HERE)
Music Has No Gender.
Whichever way we look at it, we are still at a point where we need a women’s movement in electronic music. The fact that I have the opportunity to write an article from a female perspective shows that the gap, despite getting smaller, still exists. The term female DJ, and associated ‘female’ events, despite their good intentions, are ironically creating the very problem we are trying to eradicate. The distinction between male and female in electronic music should not exist, and yet it still does.
I can’t deny there are times when being female has been an advantage. Getting booked for female nights when there is not so much competition for the line up, the fact that most of the females in the crowd when I play are in awe. I often get told how cool it is that I’m a girl, up there, you know “doing my thing”. But is this really a compliment?
There have also been times when a well-meaning guy has shown me how to use the mixer before a set. Both men and women have asked if I was “just the vocalist” in the duo Him_Self_Her, they’ve asked me who engineers my music for me, they have been surprised when I get on the decks and am “actually a pretty good DJ”.
Well… yes, I’ve been grafting at this for 15 years. I’ve played vinyl sets in sweaty back rooms, I’ve sold tickets in the street for my events, I’ve got a Degree in Creative Music Production, I write, produce and engineer my own music. I lecture in Music Technology and I own, manage and promote my own record label. I just don’t have a penis.
So you could say as a female in a predominantly boys club, you have to work harder to prove your skills and your worth. But then again, in today’s market where everyone is a DJ, so do the guys. I’m a firm believer that if you love what you do and work hard you can stand out in what is a saturated industry, but also an environment where worldwide exposure is at your fingertips. If your music and concept is good, it is easier than ever before to be heard. It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years of relentless hard work and tenacity, but it can happen.
I’m also a strong believer that being a nice person will get you further than any amount of ‘selfies’ you can ever take. The online environment we are creating of criticism and witch-hunts is detrimental to us all, male or female, and we need to shift it back to the positive, supportive ethos from the roots of dance culture itself. We need to remember that our energy and spirit affects everyone around us and we have the power to change the atmosphere within the industry with our every word and action. We need to be humble. We need to be ourselves. We need to change our collective consciousness to show unconditional kindness, compassion and support to others. We need to change our perspective on female DJs and no longer judge talent based on gender. We can change the industry. We can change the world.
Kindness and compassion have no gender.
Music has no gender.
