Pic by : Justin DeSouza
THE FEMALE DJ What does it take to be noticed as a talented DJ ? Good skills behind the deck ? An ear for good music ? Or how about the ability to rock a crowd and keep them entertained on the dance floor ? Now should it matter if the DJ has all these skills but is a female ? A talented DJ should be recognised as a talented DJ , not just based on their sex , but still today it seems that working as a female DJ has its boundaries and obstacles to overcome .
DJ Mag a top publication for DJ ’ s publishes a top 100 DJ list every year and often female DJ ’ s are nowhere to be seen on the list . DJ Peaches a well-known musician and female DJ voiced her opinion openly on Facebook saying “ DJ MAG ! Your Top 100 DJ boy club list can eat a d !* k ! Where the ladies at ???” Strong words from DJ Peaches , but she is not alone in a vast list of other female DJ ’ s who wish to be heard .
DJ Mag has tried to redeem itself by at last featuring Twin sisters Miriam and Olivia Nervo at number 46 in the top 100 DJ list this year , but they are the only female DJ ’ s on the list . Now although the world today has become obsessed with being politically correct and there are always new laws and opinions on gender equality , sadly it would seem that in this area of a female taking on the role of a DJ , it is not recognised or women are not taken as seriously .
Annie Mac a huge household name , presenter on Radio 1 and an international DJ hopes to inspire other young women to become DJ . Annie Mac believes that what the industry needs is more female DJ ’ s so that other women who want to become DJ ’ s have role models to look up to and that gender should not determine what kind of DJ sets you are going to producer . Nina Kraviz a female DJ from Russia who specialises in minimal house and techno says “ There ’ s an attitude still in the Eastern Bloc that women are good for the bedroom and the kitchen but not much else – so when a women gets successful there ’ s a bit of a debate . I ’ ve had really mean comments from all over Europe , people asking who I slept with to
DJ Annie Mac get where I am , or saying that a man must
be doing all the work for me !" I myself am a DJ going by the name Mystikle Blue and have won awards such as West Midlands Region King of the Decks Champion 2010 and West Midlands and West Midlands Smirnoff King of the Decks Champion 2011 and still face a lot of obstacles as a female DJ .
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