Getting to Know 'Sisters In Sound'

Sisters in Sound is a multi-city grassroots collective of DJs, music producers, and artists such as painters, dancers, photographers, artisans etc. They host various activities including advocacy, skill-building/workshops, and panel discussions. They also facilitate networking and bookings and seek to showcase diverse talent through event lineups, a mix series, interviews and content development. Founder and DJ/producer, Fátima, shares the Sisters in Sound story below.

When and how was your collective formed?

Sisters in Sound was born in 2017 when my girlfriends and I decided to create our own sound camp at two regional Burning Man festivals—PEX and Loveburn. Our goal was to give more visibility to women artists in our scene. Back then, we had a cheeky name, “Boobs & Beats,” and we’d gift pasties during our sets and host a happy hour with playful drink names like “the motorboat.” It was such a vibe! After those experiences, we started hosting workshops, open decks, and even formed a database of women artists. At the end of the pandemic, while I was living in Mexico, we rebranded to our current name and began hosting musical showcases at venues across Mexico, D.C., and New York, featuring artists from all over the world. Our network and impact grew, and today we have over 100 DJs in our database.

What inspired the creation of your collective?

The collective was inspired by a desire to create more visibility and opportunities for women artists in the electronic music scene. It started from a place of wanting to support the incredible talent around me and has since grown into a platform to empower underrepresented DJs and producers.

What is the primary mission or goal of your collective?

Our mission is to empower underrepresented DJs and producers by providing them with the information, skills, support, and community they need to hone their craft and share their talents. My aim has always been to offer a platform that showcases the kaleidoscopic diversity of artists and sounds in music. It's not just about putting any woman on stage to fill a quota; it’s about giving opportunities to the innovative and emerging talent that surrounds us. We also focus on building confidence so that our sisters can truly shine in an industry that rewards assertiveness. 

Can you share some key milestones or achievements your collective has reached?

When the pandemic hit, we adapted by shifting into the virtual space, which opened up new opportunities to highlight women artists outside our immediate communities. Since then, we’ve hosted showcases, open decks, workshops, skill-shares, networking events, and fundraisers featuring over 60 artists from 8 countries in five cities: New York, Miami, Washington D.C., Puerto Escondido, and Puerto Vallarta. Many of our sisters have gone on to create their own projects to support underrepresented artists, such as Sound Sisters in Morocco and Connectribe in D.C.

What are the core values that drive your collective’s activities?

Some of our core values include Diversity and Inclusion, Collaboration, Cultural Humility, Artistic Expression, Authenticity, and Integrity.

How would you describe the electronic music community in NYC?

New York is always in a state of transformation. There are constantly new venues, event series, collectives, and artists popping up, which means there’s something for everyone. However, the sheer volume of choice can make it challenging for organizers and artists to make events financially viable. Right now, the underground scene is facing significant challenges due to lopsided business deals with venues and headlining artists. Agencies often push their artists, sidelining local talent who are actually drawing in the crowd. This makes it difficult for smaller groups and venues, who don’t have massive investments, to afford bringing in international artists. It's a balancing act for everyone involved, but I believe agencies, managers, and artists need to consider the financial realities and set realistic expectations for how their artists fare in different parts of the U.S. and beyond.

Residencies for DJs aren’t very common in New York, but some groups, like Gray Area, are leading the way by making several women, including one of our sisters Luzi Tudor, official residents of their events. This is a great way to nurture the underground community and make New York a mecca for music and talent, not just a host for European artists.

Can you highlight any notable trends or developments within the community?

The pandemic caused a massive exodus of artists who could no longer live off their craft, but I’m now seeing a bit of a resurgence. There’s been significant growth in electronic music events and activities like open decks and DJ and music production classes. I’m also seeing much more diversity in lineups. Ten years ago, it was rare to see a woman or artist of color behind the decks at events and festivals. Now, entire party series amplify artists from the beautiful array of communities rooted in New York, D.C., Miami, and more. Just to name a few in New York: Collective Bae, OnlyFemmes, Playhouse, Support Women DJs, Her Name is Shakti, and Liminal. As one of my sisters put it, “We are the daughter descendants of Discwoman,” which was formed over a decade ago in NYC. Women and other minoritized groups are now feeling confident enough to negotiate, push back, and ask for what they want.

What are your plans and goals for your collective?

Right now, my priority is to get more women, nonbinary, and black and brown artists into creating their own music. We collaborated with Pirate Studios in Brooklyn to host a demo feedback session this year, and it was such a pleasant surprise to see how many people from these communities are actually producing. 

This month, we’re hosting a workshop and afterparty at SILO in Brooklyn on Thursday, August 22nd. We’ve had a lot of requests to host orientations around Pioneer’s V10 mixer, so SILO is kindly letting us use their gear, and our sister Branqueeno will lead this aspect. We’ll have open assisted practice so people can ask questions and receive help while they play. Then, any music producers can meet with local labels and their A&Rs—Dauntless Recordings, Deepinside Records, and Rvdiovctive. After all this, we’ll kick off the dance party with DJs: GAWP, JO, and Lucia Haze. Registration is free and open to all.

Find Out More about Sisters In Sound.