Female Pressure: Bye-Bye Boys’ Club Part 2

Female Pressure: Bye-Bye Boys’ Club Part 2

16 March, 2010 | 2.58AM

• Written by: Beatportal
• Filed under: Music News: bloody mary, camea, dasha rush, dinky, maayan nidam, miss fitz, next girl dj, subeena

Last week, we launched a multi-part feature on women in electronic dance music. With a host of new talents on the rise, from house and techno to dubstep and beyond, we thought it was time to salute the women making dance clubs more equal—not to mention more fun—for everyone.

With help from the women behind We Make the Tea and the Next Girl DJ competition’s Ashley Douglas, we asked a number of women in the scene, both old hands and up-and-comers, to share their thoughts on gender and dance music.

The questions must have struck a nerve, because we got back more responses than we could print in a single sitting. Read on to see what Dinky, Maayan Nidam (aka Miss Fitz), Bloody Mary, Camea, Subeena and Dasha Rush have to say about gender roles, creative vision, and the music industry. And stay tuned for insights from Chloe, Cio D’or, and more.

Maayan Nidam

She’s a woman of many identities: Laverne Radix, Spunky Brewster, Miss Fitz. But these days, Maayan Nidam, who’s also known as one half of the tag-team duo Mara Trax (alongside Frankfurt’s Vera Heindel), is increasingly stepping out under her own name. Last year she released the ‘Nightlong’ album on Powershovel and an EP for Perlon, adding to a discography already thick with names like Archipel, Raum…musik and Contexterrior; last week she released her second record for Freak N Chic, an EP titled ‘A Turnaround’.

How did you get started DJing and producing? Did you ever feel that being a woman made it harder for you to get booked, get signed, or get respect?

I think the techno world has a lot built on friendships and hanging out. It’s very common that some DJ’s friend will also start spinning, and his little brother will do the same and drag his friend into it, and so on. The same happened to me. I was constantly surrounded by DJs and producers and got the bug pretty quickly. When I was 19, I got my first equipment for my home studio and started messing around on my own, but always getting tips and tricks from around. The spinning came later on even though I was collecting records all my life. When I was a kid, I collected all sorts of rock and pop, but I made a strong turn to electronic music in my 20s. At one point I shared an apartment with four DJs and three sets of decks. It’s quite hard to resist getting in there, so I didn’t.

I can’t be sure which of the difficulties I went through to get booked and so on came from being a female and which just came ‘cause that’s life. However, I can see how in this world the family feeling is more important than skills, and hangouts become catalysts. The hangouts between guys just naturally happen more often. But even when you look at it in this way, you have to ask the question, is it really gender that stands as a wall between DJs/promoters/label-personas from different sexes, or is it simply poor social skills that makes people prefer hanging out with their own sex?

What inspires you creatively?

I look a lot outside for inspiration. Books, films, concerts, shows and galleries fill my head with ideas on a regular basis. I like letting these ideas “marinate” for a while (sometimes months or years) and eventually mix it up with whatever is going on inside. Normally, romance or romantic troubles would trigger something extra special.

When and where was the best set you’ve ever played? What made it so special?

I think I have a good set when the energy is very strong between me and the crowd and I feel that they’re totally with me, when the tracks fit with each other and into one solid story, and the mixes are smooth or interesting.  The best times are when I’m so into the set that I feel almost like it’s not me playing. It’s pretty intense and also a lot of fun, although a different kind of fun, more of a trance-like feeling, that’s why I’d show no party-behavior signs during these sets. I had a set like that in Leipzig when instead of the Distillery club, Dreikomanull chose to have their birthday at an ex-factory. The whole building was taken care of with special decoration and other interesting oddities and I played a long acid house/ghetto-tek set. I was very happy to be able to play such a set, as it’s not always that the people are ready for it. You really need a special setting for this to work.

It’s no secret that electronic dance music has typically been a boys’ club. What’s your opinion? Do you think that things are changing?

It started as a boy thing in gay clubs. Also, most records that you hear are made by men, so obviously this is not the most natural sound and experience for women, but it’s still appealing to many of us and even though it’s taking some time there are already loads of female DJs/producers that stand out. However, I feel the scene is missing more females on its other sides, like promoters/music journalists/club owners/label owners, etc.

Do you think that house/techno is more or less accommodating to female artists than other musical genres?

Not so accommodating. It’s very natural for a lady to pick up a guitar or sit at the piano and start singing. No one ever said, “Oh wow, Suzanne Vega is a woman,” or “Alice Coltrane’s got boobs!” Maybe techno and house are not yet established enough to appeal to more people from outside the scene—those that don’t know the DJ or the latest release from a label but would be able to express themselves through dance music.

Have you ever felt that, as a woman, you were somehow expected to “prove yourself” in a way that male musicians don’t have to?

I hate generalizing, but I do feel that most women are less competitive. I never wanted to be compared to a man and see who can piss the furthest. It’s just not interesting to me. This might be also a reason why women’s sports are less popular than men’s. So maybe men look at me and wait for me to “impress” them, but I don’t even get it. The female’s way is walking the road, not racing you there.

I’ve heard some people—men and women both—praise female DJs for creating a different vibe than male DJs do. Do you think that female DJs/musicians bring a different sensibility than men? Or is it totally up to the individual?

Not only DJs or musicians. I had real good times in parties organized by ladies. Maybe it was just a coincidence. Whatever it was, I felt an easy-going, nurturing vibe from people that do it for the love—man, woman or child. 

Maayan Nidam ‘Perplexday’

What advice would you give to girls/women that want to start DJing or producing?

The same as I would give guys, actually: do something that matters. Bring yourself to what you do, and if you’re a woman, then make femininity heard; and if dicks are what you’re into, then do it for the dicks. Music is a way to express one’s self, and all of us can use it individually.

If you could change one thing about the electronic music scene, what would it be?

The MP3 empire. I’m looking forward to the future and I don’t oppose progress, but I can see so many wrong things in the way the MP3 scene is handling itself, and I really wish people would wake up from their euphoria of how accessible it is and easy to handle, and start making the required improvements to get more quality and less spam.
I would also like to see more musicians and fewer producers putting out records. A lot of stuff sounds like it comes from DJ Cookie Cutter, who wants to sell a lot of the same record over and over and over again.

It seems to me like Berlin often has a more progressive attitude towards women artists in general than many other places do. Do you agree or disagree, and why?

Berlin is blasé with anything that has to do with DJs. We’re like the billionaires of clubbing, so it’s not surprising there’s no fuss about female DJs. However, the times I encountered strong emphasis on me being a woman didn’t occur at exotic places in a far, far land, but came from a few individuals that couldn’t see past that.

In the past few years there have been a bunch of male artists adopting women’s names (Sarah Goldfarb, Luci, DJ Donna Summer, Actress). What do you think, is this a show of solidarity or are they encroaching on your turf?

This might be an opening gate to artistic freedom. Instead of having male DJs posing dramatically with their RayBans, you got artists that deviate from the macho image in favor of a queer self-expression.

Finally, how do you feel about the word “DJane”?

I prefer the word “Boobs” or “DJina” which is like DJ and… vagina.

Dinky

Chile’s Alejandra Iglesias earned her nickname, “Dinky”, before she had even been born, but since the late ‘90s, she’s been building a profile that’s anything but diminutive. She was a founding member of the all-women Angels on Vinyl collective in New York, and these days she calls Berlin home, where she records for labels like Wagon Repair, Cocoon and Vakant, in addition to running her own Horizontal label.

How did you get started DJing and producing?

In the beginning of the 1990s I met Ricardo, Dandy Jack, Atom Heart, Tobi Freund, Max Loderbauer and later Luciano. My boyfriend at that time was Dandy Jack’s and Chica Paula’s younger brother, a Chilean DJ named Adrian, also Luciano’s best friend. Technically, I learned from him, but I got into this music before that because my sister was living in Berlin and involved with the scene. I visited her when I was 19 and went to E-werk and Tresor, where I fell in love with everything. So I bought records and learned how to play. Soon after, I was opening up for these guys in Chilean raves.

Did you ever feel that being a woman made it harder for you to get booked, get signed, or get respect?

Not much, honestly. Getting signed was not a problem. In New York, I thought it was rather hard to get big bookings, for sure. I was also younger and less experienced, so of course I was not going to get booked that easily in a city where, in those times, clubbing was difficult and only big names were given a “club spot”. But I did my own thing in small venues nevertheless. It was when I started releasing music when people took me more seriously there. In Germany I did not feel that way, but I was also more established when I came here.

What inspires you creatively?

So many things, it’s hard to list them all! Everyday life in general… But it’s also important for me to listen to creative people, and also it really helps to play an instrument or get closer to real, performed music rather than just programmed music.

When and where was the best set you’ve ever played? What made it so special?

I don’t know exactly the “best” one because I can’t remember all my sets after, like, 14 years. But the last set I remember feeling a great magic to it was last new year’s eve at Panorama Bar. I didn’t think so much and the music was just flowing. Everyone seemed to be in such an amazing mood, it was emotional. I also felt very touched last week at Fabric, paying live for the first time. The response of the people was something I never experienced before with a DJ set. The electric plug from my hardware got cut off for five minutes—silence!—which created more tension, but even made all the more special.

Dinky ‘Childish’

It’s no secret that electronic dance music has typically been a boys’ club. What’s your opinion? Do you think that things are changing?

Things are totally changing, though it is still a majority of men in the scene, no doubt. It is like being a pilot, for example: for some reason, men seem more interested than females in being pilots. There are many careers like that, but no rules in terms of who can do it best.

Do you think that house/techno is more or less accommodating to female artists than other musical genres?

People tend to think of female artists more as singers, vocalist or instrumentalists than as someone moving knobs and programming synths. Women and machines are rather exotic for a lot of people.

Have you ever felt that, as a woman, you were somehow expected to “prove yourself” in a way that male musicians don’t have to?

I have to admit that yes, technically, I felt that I had to mix perfectly. But not as a musician, that’s more in terms of DJing. That has changed now because I guess I’m more confident with myself after all these years and experience.

I’ve heard some people — men and women both — praise female DJs for creating a different vibe than male DJs do. Do you think that female DJs/musicians bring a different sensibility than men? Or is it totally up to the individual?

Females are different than men. Fact. It’s quite common that ladies have different tastes, and it’s also common that they like more basslines than men, and they tend to play slower. But I have seen females playing hard and totally unsexy as well, just as I have seen men playing feminine and bassy. So I leave it more to the individual and personality.

What advice would you give to girls/women that want to start DJing or producing?

Being independent is important, as it’s important to relate oneself with people you admire and feel identified with musically. It’s also super important to work hard and not be lazy. A lot of people think this career is so easy, but to get to a high and steady level one must work and work hard. You really have to dig and find your own sound and signature to be unique. It’s especially important to keep a good temper and take things with calm, and don’t freak out or be moody or diva-like. Keeping good relationships, of course, without being fake, is essential to one’s business.

Good health and energy help to perform better (at least for me). And not only relying on your looks, though keeping a nice or artistic image is key.

If you could change one thing about the electronic music scene, what would it be?

A bunch of things! But my favourite would be to change the concept of dance music, the idea that it has to be a certain BPM to make people dance. I’d love to hear 110 BPM in a 1000-person club without people complaining that the music is too soft.

In the past few years there have been a bunch of male artists adopting women’s names (Sarah Goldfarb, Luci, DJ Donna Summer, Actress). What do you think, is this a show of solidarity or are they encroaching on your turf?

Maybe it’s just a humorous thing? And it also creates a bit of curiosity! Let’s face it, whenever a female artist has a bit of a hype or interest, everyone seems to lay eyes and ears on her for a while. So making people think you are a female might drag more attention in the beginning. I’m not sure if they are doing it with that in mind though. It’s funny.

Finally, how do you feel about the word “DJane”?

I don’t mind it!

Subeena

London’s Subeena (Sabina Plamenova), may have changed the name of her first label from Immigrant Recordings to Imminent Recordings, in order to avoid confusion with a longstanding U.K. label with the same name, but you’re not going to find any compromises in her music. Her single ‘Solidify’ for Planet Mu was ‘90s-inspired electronica on some next-level vibe, which must make the material coming out on her new Opit label next-next level.

How did you get started DJing and producing? Did you ever feel that being a woman made it harder for you to get booked, get signed, or get respect?

I started DJing because I was producing. I never really thought about DJing when I started. In fact, at the very beginning, I was doing some random live sets on Reason, which is maybe partly why I ended up doing my sets on Ableton after a couple of years of vinyl. Production-wise, this friend of mine taught me the basics of a software and then I carried on by myself. My first DJ gig was also encouraged by another friend after I moved to London.

To be honest, you get gender jokes and odd things every now and then anyway. However, within music, I personally didn’t notice any particular problems, unless there were some and I never found out about them. I’ve found a lot of nice people supporting me over the years in a “male dominated scene”, etc. However, it’s funny, because some people actually point out that being a woman should be supposed to make it easier. I think it’s a bit simplistic overall, it just has it ups and downs like everything I guess, but yeah – nothing major in my personal experience so far.

It’s no secret that electronic dance music has typically been a boys’ club. What’s your opinion? Do you think that things are changing?

Some of the parties I used to go to had quite a few women DJing and producing...there were fewer in number than the men but seemed to be doing pretty well! I think there are definitely more and more women contributing recently though, and I’m sure the numbers will carry on increasing!

Do you think that dubstep is more or less accommodating to female artists than other musical genres?

I think I don’t really know what to say about it right now. It’s changed a lot in terms of its sound and the crowd, and I hardly ever go to “dubstep” nights anymore, so for how things are now, I wouldn’t know what to say, plus I’ve got no means of comparison for that particular moment. I think it was overall very friendly and I learned a lot from it, so in my case, it was totally fine.

Have you ever felt that, as a woman, you were somehow expected to “prove yourself” in a way that male musicians don’t have to?

This goes back to the more general side of the topic, I think: just gender differences within society. As a woman, generally I think you have to work harder in certain contexts, but I think the music scenarios I’ve been into have always been very open-minded and I hardly ever got treated differently or openly expected to do more. Some men are just more skeptical about women, but that’s just how it is. What I’m trying to say is that I think in music it’s actually more chilled and open-minded.

Subeena, ‘Solidify’

I’ve heard some people—men and women both—praise female DJs for creating a different vibe than male DJs do. Do you think that female DJs/musicians bring a different sensibility than men? Or is it totally up to the individual?

I personally think it’s up to the individual. Obviously there are clichéd jokes about girly music, etc., but seriously, I really don’t think it’s that easy to define women’s music and men’s music. I just really never tried to figure it in that way.

What advice would you give to girls/women that want to start DJing or producing?

The same that I’d give to both women and men: to see if it’s really what they want to do, and if they really and sincerely enjoy it, to just go for it and try to improve all the time. Also, not to rush the first releases!

What inspires you creatively?

It depends… Most of the times I just enjoy the moment of sitting down and making a track, but it’s just normally something of my everyday life that puts me into a particular mood. I get more inspired by moods of a moment rather than by long reflections about particular periods of my life, but I guess that will be changing all the time. Sometimes I also get an idea randomly popping into my head and if I’m lucky enough to be home when it happens – which is very rare – so I can remember it, I just quickly sit and do it.

When and where was the best set you’ve ever played? What made it so special?

I think the RBMA one I played in Barcelona was amazing. It probably wasn’t the best one musically, but it was my biggest gig ever, and all the people I was with were amazing. It was definitely the most special one, one of those once-in-a-lifetime kind of things. Musically, I really enjoyed one of the sets I played at Corsica Studios in October for We Fear Silence.

If you could change one thing about the electronic music scene, what would it be?

Wow I never thought about this. I definitely think the internet has lots of benefits, but I also think that it killed what is “underground” and what isn’t, just because you can find everything instantly. I wouldn’t necessarily change this or wish that there were no internet, but I sometimes miss that feeling of being part of something that most people don’t know and that you had to get yourself into.

Finally, how do you feel about the word “DJane”?

I though it was only in German? However, I don’t think I ever entirely got it. If some people want to use it, they’re very welcome to, not sure it’s my cup of tea though!

Bloody Mary

Bloody Mary (Marjorie Migliaccio) hails from the South of France, but these days she’s a fixture on the Berlin scene. After two records for Sender in 2006 and 2007, she’s kept her output steady across Toys for Boys, Einmaleins and finally Contexterrior, where she released her debut album, ‘Black Pearl’, last year.

How did you get started DJing and producing? Did you ever feel that being a woman made it harder for you to get booked, get signed, or get respect?

I started DJing when I was very young. At the time, it was not really “in fashion” to be a DJ. I did it because I fell in love with music and with vinyl. I started my international career later, in 2005, and I have been producing for four years. And this year, in 2010, I’m starting my label Dame-Music.

It’s no secret that electronic dance music has typically been a boys’ club. What’s your opinion? Do you think that things are changing?

I guess girls are relatively fresh into this whole “nightlife” thing. It’s a bit harder to work at night, to travel so much. That’s the reason there’s more men in this scene, that’s it. It’s just a question of lifestyle.

Have you ever felt that, as a woman, you were somehow expected to “prove yourself” in a way that male musicians don’t have to?

When starting out, of course you have to prove yourself—whether you’re a male or female, it’s the same!

I’ve heard some people—men and women both—praise female DJs for creating a different vibe than male DJs do. Do you think that female DJs/musicians bring a different sensibility than men? Or is it totally up to the individual?

Of course, everything is different. The sensibility is not the same between a man and a woman. But the creativity is what’s most important. That’s the point!

Bloody Mary, ‘Black Pearl’

What advice would you give to girls/women that want to start DJing or producing?

Be confident with your musical choices and don’t pay too much attention to the others.

What inspires you creatively?

Life, nature, my family, my friends, love…

When and where was the best set you’ve ever played? What made it so special?

Probably at Fabric. It’s my favorite club in the world and I was going there when I was younger. It’s always special to think to myself, hey, now I’m DJing there!

If you could change one thing about the electronic music scene, what would it be?

All the problems with the police (clubs, alcohol, drugs). It would be great if everybody would be part of this movement. But it is ten times better now than before, so things are always changing. Be positive!

It seems to me like Berlin often has a more progressive attitude towards women artists in general than many other places do. Do you agree or disagree, and why?

I agree, but it’s not only Berlin, it’s Germany in general. It’s a question of culture.

Finally, how do you feel about the word “DJane”?

It’s okay, just a word. Let the music play to find out the rest!

Camea

Camea Hoffmann grew up in Seattle and discovered her love for techno at a rave in Vancouver where a DJ named Jackie Christie was spinning. After moving to New York she founded Clink, a boutique minimal-techno label with a roster including Ambivalent, Tony Rohr, Tim Xavier and Alexi Delano. Today she lives in Berlin, continues to run Clink, and is all but unstoppable on the decks and in the studio.

How did you get started DJing and producing? Did you ever feel that being a woman made it harder for you to get booked, get signed, or get respect?

I got started DJing in the late ‘90s in Seattle, but didn’t start producing until about 2006 after I had moved to Brooklyn. I loved the music, loved going out dancing, and eventually got into the performance and studio aspects of it. I have always been a music junkie and can’t think of a more exciting area to have a career. I have never really been faced with obvious sexual discrimination, and I feel really lucky for the success I have had and the people I have ended up working with.

It’s no secret that electronic dance music has typically been a boys’ club. What’s your opinion? Do you think that things are changing?

Well, I hate to admit it but there is some truth to that.  Most of the imbalance I see is in regards to festivals, but the rest is pretty even.  However, I do think that women and men are faced with mostly the same challenges, and I don’t think it’s specific to gender. I have noticed a lot more women getting in the studio in recent years and I think that is really exciting!

Do you think that house/techno is more or less accommodating to female artists than other musical genres?

No, I think everyone has the same opportunities across the board. The real defining factors are talent, how bad you want it, and how hard you are willing to work for it.

Have you ever felt that, as a woman, you were somehow expected to “prove yourself” in a way that male musicians don’t have to?

I don’t think so, I see how hard most of the men (and women) around me are working to have a career in music, and I don’t think there is an imbalance there.  As in any career, no matter who you are, if you want to move up then you have to prove yourself.

I’ve heard some people—men and women both—praise female DJs for creating a different vibe than male DJs do. Do you think that female DJs/musicians bring a different sensibility than men? Or is it totally up to the individual?

Haha – well, the only explanation I can think of: When women DJ it is common for more females to show up at the events, and everyone seems to have more fun when there are ladies around!  Otherwise I think it really depends on the personality of the DJ. If you are projecting a good vibe onto your crowd than you will usually receive the same in return – provided that your skills can pay the bills, of course!

Camea and Tim Xavier, ‘You Control Myself (Take Me There Edit)’

What advice would you give to girls/women that want to start DJing or producing?

Aspiring girls and boys: get ready to work, and have fun! Don’t forget to appreciate the beautiful thing that you are a part of.

What inspires you creatively?

Everything, I am easily inspired. I can have a bad or a good day and feel the same amount of creativity. I can see a beautiful tree alone in a field; a dark, murky train tunnel, or children playing in a park and it will move me. I am a very emotional person and it’s easy for me to channel my feelings into music.

When and where was the best set you’ve ever played? What made it so special?

Rome Amore New Year festival 2009! I got to play in between Ricardo Villalobos and Marco Carola, two of my favorite DJs. It was a big honor for me. Also, one of my other favorite sets of last year was the Fusion Festival in Germany, the amazing crowd and sunset made it really special.

If you could change one thing about the electronic music scene, what would it be?
The bathrooms.

In the past few years there have been a bunch of male artists adopting women’s names (Sarah Goldfarb, Luci, DJ Donna Summer, Actress). What do you think, is this a show of solidarity or are they encroaching on your turf? (I’m sort of kidding, but I’d be curious to hear if you have any thoughts on this.)

No, it’s totally fine.  In case you haven’t noticed all of the bro-mancing lately, guys in touch with their feminine side is the new black.

Finally, how do you feel about the word “DJane”?

Hehe, every time I think of that word I hear the Tarzan jungle call in my head!

Dasha Rush

Dasha Rush discovered techno in her home country of Russia, but instead of waiting for the scene to come to her, she went out to meet it on her own terms, moving first to Paris, then London, then Tokyo, before finally coming back to Europe and settling in Berlin. The mastermind behind the Fullpanda label, she crafts a version of techno that’s deep, trippy and alien. Her ‘Sonic State’ EP for Sonic Groove is just out.

How did you get started DJing and producing?
My first dj experience was when I was about 14 years old, in Moscow. I was familiar with vinyl and listening to various styles, because my parents had record players. But of course it took some time to figure out how to mix, etc.

Did you ever feel that being a woman made it harder for you to get booked, get signed, or get respect?

Well, I didn’t think about it at all when I started playing records, and then producing. Even now when I am actually making music, that question doesn’t enter into the creative process.

But the last few years, the subject comes up in discussion more. It’s evidence that there are more men on this side of music industry. Personally I do not suffer from it, but I’m always happy to see feminine artist playing, especially when it’s a good performance.

What inspires you creatively?

Inspiration is something you cannot define really, it could come from anything—people, sounds, a person’s smile, a story in a book, traveling, and so on. The very fragile “substance” of human emotional being.

When and where was the best set you’ve ever played? What made it so special?

It’s hard to say, I could mention several places or gigs, but I don’t really see the point. But what really makes it special, I think, is when you’re playing a live act and building a way, sort of a story , and the audience is there following along with you. Those moments are precious to me. Basically speaking, it’s the energy that flows and the exchange that you get with the public, no matter how big the audience or club is.

Of course, there is a technical aspect of it as well. When the sound system is good, it seems like you can focus more on the emotional part of the music. Not caring about the technical aspects of the sound makes it more expressive.

It’s no secret that electronic dance music has typically been a boys’ club. What’s your opinion? Do you think that things are changing?

Yes, I think it’s changing , little by little. There are more women making, performing, DJing. But it’s funny, I had a dinner with my “techno” collegues the other day, and I realized that I was the only woman at the table. It didn’t bother me, really, but it’s something I noticed.

Have you ever felt that, as a woman, you were somehow expected to “prove yourself” in a way that male musicians don’t have to?

It could happen, to a slight degree.

Dasha Rush ‘Wave Traveler’

I’ve heard some people—men and women both—praise female DJs for creating a different vibe than male DJs do. Do you think that female DJs/musicians bring a different sensibility than men? Or is it totally up to the individual?

Well , personally I think is more up to the individual, not their sex. But in a way, it’s true that women have different sensibilities than men, and not only in music. I guess it’s a sort of default by nature. So it works both ways.

What advice would you give to girls/women that want to start DJing or producing?

Just do your thing, find your way. If you’re sincere and persistent, with a minimum of ideas and talent, everything is possible.

If you could change one thing about the electronic music scene, what would it be?

Prejudice! But not only in electronic music scene.

It seems to me like Berlin often has a more progressive attitude towards women artists in general than many other places do. Do you agree or disagree, and why?

Well, I guess Berlin in general has progressive attitudes for electronic music anyway, and women in it. But in other aspects of the arts, I’m not sure, I have seen many women doing many interesting thing all over the place.

In the past few years there have been a bunch of male artists adopting women’s names (Sarah Goldfarb, Luci, DJ Donna Summer, Actress). What do you think is this a show of solidarity or are they encroaching on your turf?

Hehehe , well I do not feel offended by it, I can find even funny. I guess you should ask them what their reasons were! There were some people thinking that I’m a man, when they listened to my music—before they figured it out!

Finally, how do you feel about the word “DJane”?

I just do music, and put my soul, time, and ideas into it. The rest is not really up to me.

• (8) Comments
• (7284) Views