The Score Magazine - Archive December 2016 issue! | Page 37

discrimination against women in any artistic field : bias.
Add to that the fact that being a DJ requires a formidable
amount of technological expertise, and we find ourselves
confronting the fundamental underrepresentation of
women in STEM ( Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics ) fields. The UNESCO Institute of
Statistics released a fact sheet in 2015 that said “Gender
stereotypes of male and female roles in society, especially
with regard to the professional engagement of women in
the field of science serves as a common obstacle to female
researchers.”
Now, I don’t mean to downplay the fact that things
are changing. Women are, like in most things now,
everywhere in EDM. They have always been making the
requisite waves, but what gives them pause is having
to navigate a minefield of bias, sexism, inappropriate
propositioning and general distasteful behaviour.
However, people like DJ Kennedy Jones are making
it a point to bring this issue to the attention of fans
and industry participants alike. Kennedy collaborated
with female DJ Dani Deahl on a four hour Periscope
discussion that took some serious shots at gender
inequality. At Tomorrowworld 2015, Jones called out for
greater attention to female DJs and producers, while on
stage.
One can assume that the same applies to the scene in
India. Nonetheless, we are in no lack of women who
generate electronic magic behind the console. Case in
point :Ma Faiza who, when she started playing electronic
music was actually booed off stage. Now, 13 years later,
she is practically the mother of electronic in this country.
DJ Pearl, with husband Nikhil Chinapa co-founded
Submerge – India’s preeminent EDM party which
showcases home-grown talent while being headlined
by some of the most vivacious talent in the world. DJ
Megha Kawale has been globetrotting for over a decade,
playing for everything from fashion shows to palaces in
Udaipur to train stations in Switzerland. Sandunes or
Sanaya Ardeshir has played the legendary SXSW festival
in Austin, Texas and Tanvi Rao of Sulk Station has been
featured at Southbank Centre in London.
In conclusion, despite their residual darkness, things
are looking up for women as they decide to assume the
creative mantle of DJ-and-producer, but the path is, by no
means, as pristine as it should be in any world based on
an easy acceptance of basic decency. Happily, the human
nature allows for the most astounding changes, and in
that train of optimism, you should go ahead and listen to
a kickass track spun a lady who knows her way around
the sound.
The
Score Magazine
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