Episode at a Glance
Step into basements, warehouses, and festival main stages where women behind the decks turned nightlife into liberation. From disco pioneers like Sharon White to today’s global icons Peggy Gou, Honey Dijon, Nina Kraviz, Amelie Lens, and Charlotte de Witte, female DJs have fought stereotypes and claimed their space — transforming dance floors into symbols of freedom, resistance, and unity.
Press play and dive in.
The Hosts
Daniel: Rock and metal devotee, captivated by the hidden stories behind riffs, tracks, and cultural shifts.
Annabelle: Drawn to pop, soul, and Latin grooves — for her, music is about community, emotion, and discovery.
Setting & Zeitgeist
- 1970s–80s: Disco and house pioneers like Sharon White, DJ Heather, and DJ Irene carve open doors in male-dominated scenes.
- 1990s–2000s: Drum & bass and techno figures like DJ Rap, Marusha, Miss Kittin, and Smokin’ Jo challenge stereotypes and rise to international stages.
- 2010s–today: Superstar DJs Annie Mac, Nina Kraviz, Honey Dijon, Peggy Gou, Amelie Lens, and Charlotte de Witte headline global festivals and reshape pop culture.
- Cultural context: Clubs and festivals as spaces of freedom, but also of struggle against exclusion, harassment, and tokenism.
The Sound of Female DJs
Eclectic range: Disco grooves, Chicago house, Berlin techno, UK drum & bass, electroclash, EDM, and beyond.
Signature styles: From Honey Dijon’s soulful storytelling to Nina Kraviz’s unpredictable chaos, from Peggy Gou’s hypnotic blends to Amelie Lens’ relentless techno.
Performance as statement: Mixing, fashion, gestures, and presence turning music into identity and politics.
Pioneers & Key Figures
- Sharon White: Disco pioneer in NYC, spinning at Paradise Garage.
- DJ Heather: Second-generation Chicago house force.
- DJ Irene: West Coast rave icon with wild energy.
- Ellen Allien: Techno innovator and label founder in Berlin.
- DJ Rap: Drum & bass powerhouse and producer in London.
- Marusha: Rave star who brought techno into mainstream TV in Europe.
- Miss Kittin: Electroclash icon blending irony, glamour, and grit.
- Smokin’ Jo: First and only female winner of DJ Mag’s “World’s Best DJ” (1992).
- Annie Mac: BBC tastemaker and festival curator.
- Honey Dijon: House historian, activist, fashion icon.
- Nina Kraviz: Techno disruptor, label founder, unpredictable selector.
- Peggy Gou: Global brand, bridging Seoul, Berlin, and fashion culture.
- Amelie Lens & Charlotte de Witte: Belgian techno queens, relentless energy and global dominance.
Suggested Listening
- Sharon White — classic disco sets at Paradise Garage (1970s)
- DJ Rap — Spiritual Aura (1994)
- Marusha — Somewhere Over the Rainbow (1994)
- Miss Kittin & The Hacker — 1982 (1997)
- Smokin’ Jo — Ministry of Sound & Ibiza sets (1990s)
- Annie Mac — BBC Radio 1 “Friday Night” shows (2000s–2010s)
- Honey Dijon — Black Girl Magic (2022), esp. Downtown
- Nina Kraviz — Ghetto Kraviz (2011)
- Peggy Gou — It Makes You Forget (Itgehane) (2018)
- Amelie Lens — Exhale sets (2010s–2020s)
- Charlotte de Witte — Selected mixes and festival closings
Core Ideas in This Episode
- Breaking barriers: Women in DJ culture faced skepticism, stereotypes, and exclusion.
- Representation matters: Seeing female DJs inspired new generations worldwide.
- Club as sanctuary: Dance floors as safe spaces for identity, queerness, and community.
- Beyond music: Female DJs as tastemakers, fashion icons, activists, and cultural leaders.
Takeaway
Female DJs didn’t just mix records — they rewrote the rules of nightlife and culture. From disco basements to festival headliners, they turned sound into freedom, fashion into politics, and beats into history. Their presence proves that the future of DJ culture is diverse, inclusive, and unstoppable.