DIGGING DEEPER
SHAUNA EQUALITY IN DANCE MUSIC...
I’m Shauna, a DJ/producer from Leeds and part of the DJ collective SISU. Back in June me and Kahreign released ‘Underdog’ as part of Rhythm Lab Records’ ‘giRLs’ project, which aims to facilitate collaborations between female and gender nonconforming artists who have never met, creating a space for them to network and develop the skills necessary to get their foot in the door of the music industry. A door that is often locked to them (the whole EP, which also features collabs between Sutty and Migixhi and NIIX and Martha Pryer is out now). Women, and other minorities, such as a people of colour and the LGBT+ community, are underdogs within the dance music scene. Despite
being pioneered by the black, queer community, the genre is dominated by cis, straight, white men. A recent survey by Female:Pressure found that at international dance music festivals between 2017-2019 only 20% of the DJs on the line-ups identified as women.
"DESPITE BEING PIONEERED BY THE BLACK, QUEER COMMUNITY, THE GENRE IS DOMINATED BY CIS, STRAIGHT, WHITE MEN" However, it would be wrong to say that there is an absence of women in dance music. In fact, there are many actively 32
involved within the scene as DJs and producers. If we are to achieve true equality the emphasis needs to shift from simply counting the number of female DJs on line-ups, as focusing on a lack implies that simply increasing the number of women behind the decks would improve the situation. Unfortunately, the behaviour of (male) gatekeepers within the scene does not always change because the numbers have. There may be more female DJs than there was 30 years ago, but it does not necessarily follow that their experiences are reflective of equality having been achieved. Instead, the issue is with the scene itself. A microcosm of society at large, sexism and misogyny are deeply rooted in dance music, from the way in which female vocalists are rarely credited, to the lack of opportunities afforded to
