Music
Circuit Breakers: Trans Representation in Electronic Music The ever-evolving genre is a hive of experimentation and welcomes all
Trans representation is slowly seeping into mainstream music. Don’t get me wrong, there is still an awful long way to
go, particularly when it comes to non-binary and genderqueer representation. Although the world of pop is still very much cis-dominated, there is one section where trans people have flourished and that’s electronica. This subgenre has developed past pulsing EDM-embellished rhythms and has separated itself from dance melodies and club bass drops. The scope that is offered by electronic music is a hotbed for creativity and innovation, reinvention and modernisation. Samples can be mixed into varying sounds ranging from industrial to ambient, creating music that is beyond traditional. It’s no wonder that there has been an influx of trans music producers and artists in this genre, showing music as a safe haven for inclusion once again. In the more general sphere, non-binary musicians, producers and DJs have been included in lists and directories alongside their female counterparts. We’ve Only Just Begun, a mini music festival held in Whelan’s, released a directory of Irish women and non-binary people involved in the music industry. The online index allows bookers and promoters to easily find performers and is a great example for showing how there are a plethora of female and non-binary acts producing fantastic music out there. Banding together to create a community has levelled the playing field that bit more. A musician can shift from genre to genre over the course of their career and in electronic, it can be easy to slide from one style to another. India Jordan’s music has gone through a transformation alongside the non-binary artist. They have moved away from producing ambient and new age inspired tracks to more upbeat, house-inspired dance grooves. Growing up in Doncaster, their choices were limited in terms of gay clubs and spaces where freedom of expression was prioritised. It wasn’t until Jordan made their way to London that everything came into full colour focus. Their DJ sets are a sleek mix of modern sample-riddled electronic and throwbacks to disco, dance and rave. In particular, their boiler room set is funky and masterful with perfect picks that sleekly flow into one another. ‘For You’, their latest six track EP is a joy to listen to. Jordan graces the cover, hand running through their hair, looking at themselves assuredly in the mirror of one of London’s LGBT venues, Dalston Superstore. The euphoric tracks are upbeat mixes of drum ’n’ bass and electronic with a hint of disco. Grabbing your attention from the outset, they pulsate with energy, building to satisfying peaks of sub bass and acid-y synths. Remaining anonymous is a hard act to keep up now with the era of social media and what with stans being more hardworking than most government officials. Artists who usually use a pseudonym never appear in public and those who do such as Orville Peck maintain a certain air of mystery around them, but speculation is always around the corner. 14
