From top left to bottom right: Skyler Madison (courtesy of Skyler Madison), Whipped Cream (courtesy … [+]
As the dance music industry shifts to become more inclusive, more women are appearing on lineups than ever before—but there’s still more work to be done. In celebration of International Women’s Month, we talked to seven female artists on which women in the dance music industry have empowered them, how they’re using their space to uplift other female artists, the most influential women in their lives and more.
Lisa Kocay: What does International Women’s Month mean to you?
HoneyLuv: “To me, International Women’s Month means showing extra love, appreciation and support to all the bad b***hes who are out here setting the bar high for themselves and accomplishing their goals. I strive to do this every day of every month, but I definitely up my game in March.”
GG Magree: “I am woman, hear me roar. Women’s History Month is a reminder of how bada** we are. It’s empowering to look back and see how many women fought for what they believed in and never bent for anyone or anything.”
Josie Martin of Candyland: “Women’s History Month is somewhat like Black History Month for me. On one hand, I’m prideful and hopeful, and, on the other, it’s a reminder of how much more work there is to be done. So it’s tough. I hope it’s educational for people if anything.”
Kah-Lo. Courtesy of Kah-Lo.
Kah-Lo: “It means celebrating the strides women in music have made so far. We’ve come a long way from barely having women in the room to having more women as producers and engineers. It’s incredible to see, and it’s worth pointing out and uplifting others in the music industry.”
OBLVYN: “For a long time, we’ve had very few female role models in the music industry, especially electronic music. I think Women’s History Month is a great opportunity to put forward the names of women in particularly male-dominated industries and to spread awareness of their successes to influence a younger generation of aspiring females.”
Skyler Madison: “This month is all about recognizing and supporting women across all industries, but, even more so, I think it’s an opportunity to recognize the ways we can still improve equality for women across the board.”
Whipped Cream: “It actually means so much to me because I think that the main message through what I’m doing with my music is really to help other women get into making music themselves. This month, I really like all of the blogs that have been, like every year that this happens, pushing the narrative of just pushing out more women.
“There’s a lot of unnecessary things that come with just simply being [a woman]. So I think women’s month is very important because I think it brings light to all of the amazing women in music…. I feel like things are not as fair for women in music as a whole.”
Kocay: Which other women in the space have supported/empowered you? Can you explain how they did so?
HoneyLuv: “My best friend, Amanda Kay, has played a pivotal role in supporting me in this space. She is a full-time curve model who’s constantly on the move but still always around to give me advice on fashion, make sure I’m creating meaningful content and teach me new ways to help shape my career, particularly from a marketing standpoint. I’ve also had the privilege of meeting women like Kaleena Zanders, Lauren Kashuk and Tadia Taylor, who are all dominating the dance music scene in their own unique ways while cohesively pushing the envelope for the betterment of society. Being able to know, trust, lean on and learn from these women empowers me to be the best, most authentic, least apologetic version of myself in this industry and beyond.”
GG Magree. Courtsy of GG Magree.
GG Magree: “Mija, Royal and the Serpent, Rezz, Vampa, Zia, Level UP…for me it’s all about community. We all send each other unreleased music, give feedback and support the hell out of each other.”
Kah-Lo: “I wouldn’t have a lot of the knowledge I have today without the knowledge and support of LP Giobbi, Sophie of SOFI TUKKER and Kelli-Leigh. They’ve been so helpful and supportive in helping me navigate my way through the sometimes murky waters of the industry and are always there for me when I have a million questions. LP and Sophie helped me a lot through my first US tour opening for SOFI TUKKER and through the weirdness a lot of musicians went through during lockdown. Kelli-Leigh is a singer-songwriter and a prominent dance vocalist/part of the Featured Artist Coalition, so she understands first hand how challenging it can be to transition from being primarily known as a featured artist to being recognized as a solo act. It’s great being able to exchange tips and encourage each other while we navigate a similar journey.”
Josie Martin of Candyland: “Without a doubt the two women in the industry that completely changed the game for me were Yasmine and Jahan Yousaf of Krewella. They took a chance on Candyland back in the day and brought me on tour with them. That first tour changed my career and my life. I think seeing how the industry and even fans treated them as women opened my eyes to those realities as well. They taught me a lot without even knowing it—I have so much respect for those two.”
OBLVYN: “I’m blessed to be friends with so many incredible female artists who are all working their a**es off to have successful careers in music. It’s really motivating to see and makes me want to work even harder. We help each other out in whatever way we can whether it be giving advice, sharing skills or reminding each other about grant deadlines. Celebrating our successes is important to make all the hard work feel worth it.”
Skyler Madison: “Finding female support in the EDM space hasn’t been the easiest for me, outside of vocalists. I think it’s mostly due to the fact that I chose a non-traditional lane of becoming a hybrid future bass and trap producer. It’s less common to dive into these genres compared to house or dubstep. When my first EP came out, Krewella was the first female act to publicly support and rinse out my music live in their sets. For them to be the first, and somewhat only, females to show me that love is something I’ll never forget—especially because they’ve been one of the OG’s who’ve paved the way for women in bass music and I’ve always been a fan. It felt like a full-circle moment having people I looked up to support me back. It was so surreal and I’m extremely grateful.”
Whipped Cream. Courtesy of Whipped Cream.
Whipped Cream: “TOKiMONSTA, Alison Wonderland [are] really, actually a great example. When I first started, I didn’t know any other female producers, let alone even male producers where I was from. So when I started, having some things come up just simply because I was a woman, I felt very alone. It wasn’t until more recently in the last couple years that I have actually started to meet amazing women that have literally faced the exact same things that I faced. Alison Wonderland is a really great friend to me. Whatever the situation is, it’s really nice to know I’m not alone in it. The same things that happened to me happened to her, and she’s a really great role model and friend to me. I think in general, even the women on the up-and-coming, there’s so many more women making music right now than there were 10 years ago—I’m talking like electronic production wise. I feel like the space is feeling a lot more welcoming, if that makes sense, because there’s people like Alison who are there to talk to you and you’re not feeling so alone. I really want to be that person for other women as well.”
Kocay: How are you holding your space and using your platform to uplift other female artists?
HoneyLuv: “I’m holding my space by being me. I don’t try to be, act like or resemble anyone else. I don’t dim my light just because some people mistakenly believe we can’t all shine. I am a proud Black woman who knows her worth and commands respect. I’m blessed to be able to use my reach on social media to promote female representation in the dance music industry. I only hope that being vulnerable about who I am and my story will inspire women, especially ones who look like me, to chase their dreams and not allow anything or anyone to deter them. I know that’s not easy, especially in a field like mine. Growing up, I rarely saw women of color up on these stages, which made it hard for me to envision it for myself. So if I can help open doors for that to change just by being proof that it can be done, I feel like I will have fulfilled my purpose. My DMs are always open for those seeking advice, needing motivation or simply hoping for a supportive chat.”
GG Magree: “I’m a weirdo, I’m broken, I’ve got ADHD, I’m dyslexic and I’m so proud of it. Be yourself and be unique—don’t ever let anyone put you in a box. I think it is so easy for people to compare themselves to others, especially online. I want to be that reminder and safe space for people to be unapologetically themselves.”
Josie Martin of Candyland: “Now that I’m stepping back into this scene, it’s something that I want to focus. I definitely want to be able to use whatever resource that I have to help women in the scene however I can. Not just women, but other people of color or other LGBTQ+ artists. That would be very special to me.”
Kah-Lo: “I love being a woman, and I love supporting women—especially women in dance music. As often as I can, I share their music on my platforms to put more people on to their music.”
OBLVYN: “Seeing another woman doing the same thing is just so cool to me. I understand the extra obstacles in trying to make it as a female, so it’s more impactful to me when I discover a great female artist or see one reach another milestone. I’m more inclined to bring up her name in a room of industry people when the opportunity comes up or share her music on social media. I also love to help a sister out whenever there’s a chance to suggest a writer, artist for a feature or to pass along a brand partnership deal when it comes up. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t use this chance to bring up a few names, so if you’re reading this make sure to check out Tianda, RIELL, Laur Elle, Talltale and JESSIA.”
Skyler Madison: “I’m always looking out for rising new female talent in the scene. Whether it’s reposting, rinsing out their music or engaging on social media to stay connected, I’m always trying my best to keep up with other female artist peers in any way I can. Ultimately, I am trying to build my own lane so I can create a new, more supportive space for like-minded female creatives to connect with each other on every level.”
Whipped Cream: “I feel like it was very interesting because right before COVID, I played one of the most bass-driven festivals in the world, Lost Lands. I was one of the only women to play their main stage. I thought it was absolutely crucial that I would bring more women onto that stage when I played, so I brought on fellow women artists, VAMPA and Jinx. It felt really good to close out. And I waited till the end of my set, so the stage was packed, to bring these women out and really showcase the energy.”
Kocay: What’s the state of electronic music for female producers today?
HoneyLuv: “The state of electronic music for female producers today is improving but still needs a lot of work. I truly feel like we have made some real noise and are finally being heard, but the truth is that women are still being overlooked in many markets in dance. And no, it’s not ‘enough’ to feature one or two women on these labels or lineups. There are a lot of us out here who are talented beyond measure who aren’t being given the same opportunities as men. That needs to change.”
HoneyLuv. Courtesy of Niki Cram Photography.
GG Magree: “We are on fire. It’s amazing to see so many talented women crushing it and reminding young girls to follow their dreams and do what they love.”
Josie Martin of Candyland: “I think it’s the most exciting time for female producers yet, simply because people are actually starting to care. Ten years ago articles like this didn’t exist, and I was the only female on most of the lineups I’d play. There’s a whole new wave of beast female producers out there with something to prove, and they’re killing it live, too. I love it.”
OBLVYN: “There are certainly still more male producers than female and the majority of electronic female artists are vocalists, but the number of women who produce electronic music is slowly growing. I think the current generation of female producers that have gained notoriety faced more resistance and had to work their a**es off to make it. We haven’t had enough examples for girls to consider becoming a producer or DJ, and much of society has been conditioned to assume it as an occupation for men. But now that more and more women are coming up, and with production technology becoming more accessible, I think more young girls will see a future in electronic music to be within reach.”
Skyler Madison: “It’s definitely at an all-time high compared to where it was just a few years ago. I think it’s dope to finally see more females getting bigger opportunities and seeing more women on lineups, tours, labels and [collaborations]. It’s finally getting to a point where you see more than just one or two female artists on a festival lineup, so gradually we’re starting to move in the right direction to where it’s more inclusive, and I can only hope it goes up from here.”
Whipped Cream: “I think I’m very excited to see how many more women are line-ups now. When I would look at a lot of electronic festivals, let’s say five years ago, I’d see maybe two women on a lineup. And now I’m seeing the diversity with a lot more women on the main stage, on the techno stage and the dubstep stage—the diversity is very beautiful to see…. I’m excited for the future of women in dance music.”
Kocay: What do you think the scene needs to do to become more inclusive to women?
HoneyLuv: “The majority of labels and festivals are run by men. Imagine all the untapped potential that creates. Women historically show up and show out, so just give us the opportunity so we can seize it. Scoot your chair over—we can all have a seat at the table. Hire us. Promote us. Listen to our ideas. We need representation both on and off the stage.”
GG Magree: “Book us because you love our music—not because we are female.”
Josie Martin of Candyland: “I would love to see the space be more inclusive to Black females and other women of color. I’m not sure how to make that happen, other than the people in charge of booking shows and curating these spaces to actually do it. But it would be a great start to improving the scene.”
Kah-Lo: “I think it’s as simple as adding more women to lineups and more front facing opportunities. The talent is out there but they’re constantly being passed up or being forced to scramble for the very little opportunities available. There’s more than enough room for everyone.”
OBLVYN. Courtesy of OBLVYN.
OBLVYN: “There are so many talented women out there ready to be discovered. It’s unfortunate that women are faced with more personal and social obstacles when pursuing a career in music and too often get stereotyped and sexualized in the process. It can be pretty discouraging to push through and some things are just hard to change, but I think there can be ways to elevate women despite all the hurdles. A&R’s could pay extra attention to discovering female talent, and it would be cool to see a bigger label hold a female-only contest once in a while, which might help to skip past some of the difficulties. I’ve seen promoters make an effort by throwing all-female shows, but I’d like to see mixed lineups become the norm, with less discrepancy between genders. For both listeners and industry people, I feel like a shift in behavior toward seeing women in the electronic scene is also important. Giving credit where it’s due, being respectful and accepting, not always describing us as ‘female producers’ or as the ‘female version of’…. These are just a few ways that I think could make the scene more inclusive to females.”
Skyler Madison: “I think the real change will happen when women get more opportunities to sit at the table behind the scenes. Like any industry, a female’s worth in the EDM scene is judged on so much more than just their talent. There are so many women who don’t get the opportunities they deserve because of materialistic reasons that shouldn’t matter. For the scene to truly be equal, there need to be female empowered voices at every level from behind the scenes as well as at the forefront.”
Skyler Madison. Courtesy of Skyler Madison.
Whipped Cream: “If I’m feeling like I’m getting treated unfairly, I’m just saying no. I’m saying, no, I will not do that festival or, no, I’m not going to do that anymore. Where before I felt like, oh, I have to do this, I have to do that, I have to prove myself. But then I started just simply not getting treated fairly still, even [when] doing everything everyone’s telling me to do. So now I’m just saying, no, and it’s helping a lot…. Women just need to do what they love and not care about what anyone else thinks, says or does. It’s not a sex thing here. It’s like a man can go and create whatever he wants, dresses how he [wants] and be placed fairly, usually. So I just think that the main thing is…even though things are going to be unfair as a woman producer…[you] can’t let it eat at you. You chose to do what you do because you love it. Let your art and your work do the speaking for you.”
Kocay: Which woman in your life has empowered you the most?
HoneyLuv: “I come from a long line of empowering women. Each one of us has learned from those who have come before and created lives surrounded by fellow badasses. My grandmothers, my mother, my aunts and my close female friends have all shaped me into the woman I am today.”
GG Magree: “My mumma, my wife (Vee Hudge), and my right hand (Mija).”
Josie Martin of Candyland: “My mom, no question. No matter what we were going through growing up, she always made me feel like I could take over the world. I never questioned that I couldn’t do something because I was a woman, and that was because of her. Adopting me when she was 22, or raising two kids as a single mom, she was just the best example of a woman who got it done regardless of what life throws at you. I don’t think I would have attempted to do music or anything creative for a living if it wasn’t for her.”
Kah-Lo: “My sisters are constantly empowering and uplifting me.”
OBLVYN: “There are so many women I’ve met over the years that make me feel empowered—I can’t really single one out. Every woman I’ve worked with in art has inspired me and encouraged me to keep chasing my goals.”
Skyler Madison: “I would like to think that my grandmother has hands down been my biggest advocate in empowering me the most in life as well as with my music career. If it wasn’t for all her support over the years, I’m not sure if I’d be where I am today. I can without a doubt say I can’t admire anyone more in my life than I do her and I’m so grateful to have such a strong and encouraging woman in my corner who’s always pushed and supported me to do and be the best I can in everything.”
Whipped Cream: “I’d say probably my best friend, Laura. Look, I have a great mother—she’s empowered me. She’s taught me what love is. She’s taught me what being pure is and what caring about people is and what love is as a mother-daughter’s situation. She’s always told me to go after what I want and believe in, but I guess the biggest role model that’s empowered me is probably my best friend. Laura is a big believer in the self. So what you believe, you can achieve. If it’s got to be, it’s up to me. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
