A growing number of talented Asian female DJs are making waves in the industry and challenging conventional gender roles, and this is something to celebrate as the DJ scene develops further. These bold women are breaking ground in their fields despite widespread sexism and gender inequality, demonstrating that talent and dedication know no bounds. It can be intimidating to make your way as a female DJ, but if you commit to developing your own distinct sound and hone your skills, you’ll develop the consciousness to succeed on your own terms. Let’s raise a glass to the success of Asian women DJs and take heart from their boldness.
RISA TANIGUCHI
With venues such as Contact and Vent setting the standard for industry heavyweight sets, Tokyo is home to some of the most interesting and underground clubbing experiences available anywhere in the world. It comes as no surprise that Japan has begun to showcase some of its homegrown talent in recent years, with Risa Taniguchi being one of the names to keep an eye on. She’s thrashing out pounding acid-flavoured techno that’s garnering support from artists such as Amelie Lens and Pan-Pot, the latter of whom signed her to their Berlin-based Second State label and released her How We Dance Again EP in the middle of 2020. STREAM
PARK HYE JIN
After releasing her debut EP “IF U WANT IT” in December of 2018, Park Hye Jin from South Korea caused quite a stir in the underground music community worldwide. She began experimenting with her own rapping and singing in 2015, and in 2017 she began learning to DJ before moving on to making her own productions in 2018. She will undoubtedly shine in the future after a successful European and North American tour. STREAM
NAKADIA
Nakadia is a true rags to riches story who hails from rural Thailand. She first made waves in the techno scene as a DJ, and then as a producer, after overcoming adversity. Currently a world-renowned DJ and producer, her work can be seen in a variety of high-profile venues around the world, as well as on a number of high-profile projects and collaborations. Nakadia pioneered the rise of the underground in Thailand, while also conquering the rest of the world at the same time, despite the fact that she did so without any guidance in a country dominated by mainstream music. STREAM
RAYRAY
Dj RayRay established herself as a fixture at one of Taiwan’s most popular nightclubs, and she was one of the country’s first disc jockeys to introduce bass music into the local scene. Because of her work as a producer, she was signed to the Barong Family, with whom she has been releasing single after single ever since. RayRay was drawn to the sonic realm from an early age, when she was just 17 years old, and a true love story with sculpting beats unfolded before her eyes. STREAM
PEGGY GOU
Peggy Gou has risen to international prominence in recent years as a result of her techno music, which has gained her widespread attention. Peggy exudes passion and energy, and she has quickly established herself as a festival crowd favorite as well as a budding fashion icon in her own right. Non-stop entertainment, she is also well-known for her fashion sense; she has even launched her own fashion line, which has received endorsements from celebrities such as Virgil Abloh..STREAM
KATSY LEE
Having risen to prominence as the Philippines’ youngest Pioneer DJ Champion, Katsy Lee has established herself as one of the most respected acts not only in her home country but also internationally. Katsy has performed at a variety of venues and festivals around the world, and she has worked as an ambassador for a number of major international brands. Katsy believes that music inspires the soul and that going out a night illuminates and opens up new worlds of imagination and possibility. Never settle for anything less than extraordinary! STREAM
OCEAN LAM
If you enjoy electronic music, listen to Ocean Lam. Her efforts have saved Hong Kong’s fragile music scene. Her love of Hong Kong’s once thriving music scene has supported new sounds as they have appeared on the scene. Ocean Lam released an EP in 2016 on Berlin-based imprint Biotop dedicated to love, friendship. Played a fantastic Boiler Room performance at Shi Fu Miz in Asia, where she’s been constantly entertaining between Europe and Asia, and always standing up to support her fellow DJs from Asia from the middle of the dance floor. STREAM
TOKIMONSTA
TOKiMONSTA, the Los Angeles producer and owner of the Young Art label, has helped define the sound of modern dance and beat music over the last decade. After undergoing two brain surgeries, TOKi had to relearn how to speak and comprehend music. Despite this, she has garnered the support of the industry’s biggest names and represented the West Coast underground at the Grammys – all without compromising the purity of her vision. The secret is that there is no secret, except for the compositional brilliance and futuristic melodies embedded in the TOKiMONSTA sound’s gleaming, technicolor mandalas of hip-hop instrumentalism, pop, R&B-soul, house, and IDM. STREAM
SONIA CALICO
Taipei-based DJ/Producer Sonia Calico is at the forefront of the city’s underground electronic music scene, helping to shape what the next generation is listening to. She is no stranger to tearing up the musical rule book, frequently fusing breakbeats with trap music and grime, as well as incorporating Taiwanese soundtracks and Mandopop. Her growing international renown has resulted in her gaining a worldwide following. STREAM
APSARA
Meet Apsara, an Indonesian-born DJ and producer who began her career in 2009 in San Francisco. She has never catered to music trends since she began her career as a DJ. She has always followed her own path, bouncing between trance, techno, and progressive house circles. Apsara now resides in Jakarta, she made a name for herself by showcasing her talent duringher sets. But it was her consistent production effort, releasing on labels such as Truesounds Music and Toolroom Records, and many others, that brought her to Mixmag’s attention as one to watch and helped launch the Mixmag Asia SELECTS series with ‘Biocat.’ STREAM
PATTY TIU
She began with an eight-hour desk job. She’d always been drawn to Manila’s nightlife as a means of escape. Eventually, landed a job as a public relations/marketing specialist for a DJ studio, and the rest is history. She shaped her persona through sheer determination and talent, which resulted in a long list of performances and ground-breaking shows throughout the Philippines and Southeast Asia with three distinct artist entities: Patty Tiu, Deuce, and Deus. STREAM
CLOSET YI
Closet Yi is a DJ/Producer who has played in some of Seoul’s most prestigious clubs. Her first official release was on Honey Badger Records, the label she now calls home. It’s been a busy year for her, with her incorporating Korean old beats, city pops, and world music into her creative process lending this young artist her experimental edge, which sees her injecting these genres with confidence and panache. STREAM
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