Dance music has no excuse for being a boys' club.
Though they don’t always get their due in a patriarchal industry, there’s no shortage of talented women who can hold their own behind the turntables. From seasoned veterans to rising stars, here are 15 female DJs you can’t afford to be clueless about.
Anna Lunoe
Hailing from Australia, Anna Lunoe is a skilled DJ, producer and singer who has previously supported the likes of The Weeknd, Disclosure, and M.I.A. The Los Angeles resident has also become a staple at HARD events, from Destructo’s Ship 2 Ship tour and Holy Ship to the recently announced Go HARD Tour.
Annie Mac
Since landing her first BBC Radio 1 show in 2004, the Irish host has emerged as one of dance music’s most important tastemakers. Her Friday night Radio 1 show regularly draws more than a million listeners, and her recent expansion to BPM Channel 51 and SiriusXM has boosted her stateside profile.
NERVO
These Aussie twins got their start in songwriting, famously co-writing David Guetta and Kelly Rowland’s Grammy Award-winning single “When Love Takes Over.” With marquee festival gigs and a forthcoming album, Mim and Liv belong on every dance fan’s radar.
Cassy
Earning a residency at Berghain’s hallowed Panorama Bar is one of dance music’s toughest hurdles, so it’s no surprise that Cassy’s name is synonymous with credibility. She's released music on Ostgut Ton and Cocoon and worked with the likes of Luciano and Ricardo Villalobos.
Ellen Allien
A prolific producer with eight full-length albums to her name, Allien founded influential label BPitch Control -- home to the likes of Modeselektor, Apparat and Paul Kalkbrenner -- in 1999. Her envelope-pushing blend of techno and experimental electronica has earned her prestigious residencies across the globe.
Nicole Moudaber
Born in Nigeria, reared in Lebanon and currently residing in London, techno’s dark queen has traversed a winding road to prominence. Her 2013 album, Believe, elevated her to the ranks of techno’s elite, where she has solidified her standing by virtue of her dynamic DJ sets and MOOD Records imprint.
J. Phlip
Dirtybird’s first lady -- born Jessica Phillippe -- comes from a diverse musical background, and it shows on songs like “Coefficient” and “Say My Name.” Combining house and techno influences drawn from time spent living in Chicago and Berlin, J. Phlip is one of the beloved S.F. label's most exciting talents.
Gina Turner
Gina Turner has hosted a number of syndicated shows encompassing Scion, iHeartRadio, Underground FG and her present gig at Sirius XM’s BPM. She’s also released on top-tier labels including Ultra, Ministry of Sound and Sound Pellegrino. And did we mention that she’s a certified vinyasa yoga instructor?
Magda
The Polish native became a fixture in Detroit's underground techno scene under the tutelage of Richie Hawtin. When her mentor moved to Berlin in 2003, his protégé followed suit and launched her eclectic Items & Things imprint with Troy Piece and Marc Houle three years later.
Miss Kittin
The French veteran may be best known for early 2000s singles like “Rippin Kittin,” “Frank Sinatra” and “Silver Screen Shower Scene,” but she’s worth a refresh for those who haven’t followed her since. Miss Kittin has proven herself a dual threat behind the decks in addition to her vocal work.
Mija
Inviting Skrillex to join her playing back-to-back on a Bonnaroo art car was the best career move this Phoenix native has ever made. The OWSLA boss has taken her under his wing since, whisking her off to Los Angeles and AM Only, where her career has blossomed with a series of quality bookings.
Louisahhh!!!
Following a stint in rehab, this New York native has turned her career around in a major way. A fateful meeting with Louis Brodinski led to fruitful collaborations and a move from L.A. to Paris to join his Bromance Records. Don’t sleep on her new Friction EP with Maelstrom.
tINI
After gaining recognition on Loco Dice and Martin Buttrich’s Desolat label, this Munich native with a magnetic persona has truly come into her own. Known for varied vinyl-only sets, her free tINI & the Gang party is fast becoming one of Ibiza's crown jewels with expansion niches at Sonar and BPM Festival.
TOKiMONSTA
Jennifer Lee became the first female to join Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder imprint, where she released her Midnight Menu LP in 2010. Since then, she dropped albums Half Shadows on Ultra and Desiderium on her own Young Art Records, plus built her Spam n Eggs event brand in L.A.’s Koreatown.