13 Asian Female DJs Forging the Future of Electronic Music

The global electronic music scene is experiencing a seismic shift, with a new vanguard of female producers and DJs from Asia and its diaspora leading the charge. More than just selectors, these artists are community builders, label owners, and cultural innovators, reshaping the sound of tomorrow. From Tokyo’s driving techno to Manila’s experimental bass and London’s diasporic jungle, these are the 13 artists defining the future of electronic music.

Manami (UK/Japan)

Manami fuses deep, sub-heavy Bristolian sounds with the emotional depth of progressive house and breakbeat. Her eclectic, high-energy sets, honed at foundational Bristol parties like Timedance and Mala’s Deep Medi nights, have earned her spots at festivals like Glastonbury and a residency on Rinse FM. In April 2024, she launched her own label, VMR (Virtual Myth Recordings), to release her genre-fluid productions, starting with the ‘Dreaming Still’ EP. Beyond the booth, Manami is a passionate community builder, mentoring FLINTA individuals in DJing through the Saffron initiative and connecting with fellow East and South East Asian creatives via the East & Most project. Her work is a powerful expression of her hybrid identity, blending her Japanese heritage with her Bristolian upbringing to create a sound that is uniquely her own. [ Instagram ]

Ezzrei (Philippines)

A key architect of the Philippines’ underground bass scene, Ezzrei is the founder of the Continuum collective, a movement dedicated to bringing drum & bass, jungle, and footwork to Manila. After pioneering the nightlife on Siargao Island as its first female DJ in 2016, she moved to Manila and co-founded Continuum to create a dedicated home for the bass music she champions. As a community builder, her work extends beyond her versatile DJ sets—which blend jazz, soul, and hip-hop with deep techno—to include marketing and booking for the collective. She also produces jungle, incorporating samples of Filipino music. Her efforts have been recognized by publications like Mixmag and Vice Asia, and she has performed for international platforms like Foundation FM and Unchained Asia. Ezzrei’s pioneer mindset continues to cultivate a vital sanctuary for bass music in Manila, pushing the scene’s creative envelope. [ Instagram ]

Risa Taniguchi (Japan)

Tokyo’s Risa Taniguchi is an emissary of dark, driving techno, crafting powerful, atmospheric tracks defined by searing acid lines and distorted textures. With a background in classical piano, her disciplined approach to production results in a sound that is both precise and intensely physical, earning her the support of techno titans like Chris Liebing and Amelie Lens. Her uncompromising vision has led to releases on elite labels such as CLR, Kneaded Pains, and Mind Medizin. Her 2025 ‘Cared Less’ EP represents her freshest work, with tracks carefully structured to blend into her commanding DJ sets. With a confirmed spot at EDC Las Vegas 2026, Risa Taniguchi is a global force, translating formal musical training into pure dancefloor dominance. [ Instagram ]

DJ RayRay (Taiwan/USA)

RayRay is a bass music powerhouse known for her high-energy blend of trap, hard dance, and hip-hop. An early winner of the Red Bull Thre3style competition, her career was catapulted by a signing to Yellow Claw’s influential Barong Family label, where she established her signature “alien” branding. Now based in the US, she’s a global touring artist with releases on major labels like Dim Mak and a relentless schedule that includes festivals like Tomorrowland and EDC Las Vegas. Her dynamic live shows often feature her own rapping and vocals, showcasing her versatility as a performer. RayRay’s strategic move to the US has solidified her position as a global contender, bridging Asian and Western markets with her otherworldly sound. [ Instagram ]

riria (UK/Japan)

Tokyo-born, London-based riria became an overnight sensation after her 2024 Boiler Room Tokyo set went viral, showcasing her infectious energy and masterful genre-blending. Her sets are a thrilling, high-energy fusion of amapiano, Jersey Club, UK garage, and K-pop, reflecting the borderless taste of a new generation. This viral momentum immediately led to a Rinse FM residency, a mix for Diplo’s SiriusXM show, and a spot at Hong Kong’s prestigious Clockenflap festival. Her ability to weave together cult classics and underground gems from different eras and scenes makes her the quintessential DJ for a generation raised on the internet. With an Asia tour underway and a French debut at We Love Green festival, riria is proving that a single, perfectly curated set can launch a global career. [ Instagram ]

Raissa Febriani (Indonesia)

Bali-based producer Raissa Febriani masterfully fuses experimental club sounds with traditional Indonesian Gamelan and Gendang rhythms, creating a sound that is both ancestral and futuristic. This is not superficial sampling but a deep structural integration rooted in her upbringing, showcased on her 2025 ‘Hutan Timur’ EP released via New York’s Human Pitch. The signing was the result of a serendipitous encounter at a rave in a Balinese rice field, a testament to her authentic connection to the scene. Beyond her own productions, she is a key community builder, running the experimental event series ORBITWARE and her co-founded label, NON ARCHIVE, to champion rising Indonesian talent. Raissa is exporting a fundamentally different sonic perspective, re-engineering the rhythmic DNA of club music. [ Instagram ]

Ocean Lam (Hong Kong)

For over a decade, Ocean Lam has been a guardian of Hong Kong’s underground scene, tirelessly cultivating a space for deep, atmospheric, and non-commercial sounds. As a long-standing resident at the city’s top clubs like Oma and the founder of the Hypnotic party series, she has played a crucial role in supporting local talent and fostering cultural exchange. Her hypnotic sets, which journey through minimal, techno, and deep house, prioritize a deep groove over fleeting trends. This dedication has made her an ambassador for the city’s scene, with annual European tours and a landmark Boiler Room performance at Shi Fu Miz festival. With releases on labels like Moteur Ville Musique and Opilec Music, Ocean Lam continues to be a vital, stabilizing force in Hong Kong’s fragile but vibrant music culture. [ Instagram ]

Qrion (Japan/USA)

From Sapporo, Japan, and now based in Austin, Texas, Qrion crafts emotive, lush soundscapes that have made her a staple on the esteemed Anjunadeep label. Her acclaimed 2025 album ‘We Are Always Under The Same Sky’ is a deeply personal work exploring themes of rebirth, addiction, and resilience following her father’s passing. Her unique style, which ranges from soft, exploratory works to driving, soul-sampling house, has garnered support from industry figures like Pete Tong and Lane 8. Recognized by Forbes Japan’s 30 Under 30 and DJ Mag’s “Future Star,” Qrion uses the noise of the world around her to create intimate songs anchored by energetic beats and lush synth textures. Her music is a form of therapy, connecting with listeners on the dancefloor through shared emotion and memory. [ Instagram ]

D Waviee (Philippines)

A force in Manila’s underground, D Waviee is a self-described “trans visionary artist” delivering genre-hopping productions that span hyperpop, hard house, and tech-trance. Her work is defined by a deep-rooted love for storytelling, with tracks like the queer club anthem “The Future is Trans” serving as powerful statements of identity and resilience. A defining artistic statement was her debut EP, ‘HYPOMANIA’, which reclaims the clinical term for manic euphoria as a source of creative power. Her 2025 album ‘Epitome’ continues this exploration, solidifying her place as a fixture at key local events hosted by collectives like Danza Organika and Normiecorp. D Waviee uses the visceral energy of dance music to explore challenging personal and political themes, making her music a profound act of testimony. [ Instagram ]

Chinese Daughter (UK)

In a digital age, Chinese Daughter is a purist championing the art of vinyl, specializing in jungle, drum & bass, and old-school hardcore. The South London-based DJ is an affiliate of the influential Swamp 81 label and a resident on legendary stations like Rinse FM and Kool FM, platforms that are pillars of UK underground music culture. She is a respected “digger” known for her deep crate and watertight mixing, delivering sets that are bass-led and full of soulful, emotional vocals. She finds joy in the tactile nature of the format and the act of sharing beloved records, choosing to focus on her craft as a DJ rather than feeling pressured to produce. Her commitment to the foundational principles of DJing makes her a vital, compelling force in the scene. [ Instagram ]

Nasthug (Japan)

A disruptive force in Tokyo’s club scene, Japanese-Jamaican DJ Nasthug bridges hip-hop and club music with infectious energy. Influenced by her father’s reggae roots, her sets are a high-octane blend of dancehall, trap, and Jersey club that have made her a rising star in the city’s hip-hop dance scene. Her dynamic performance style sets her apart; she dances and lip-syncs, becoming the main event and encouraging the crowd to join in the celebration. Her 2025 Boiler Room Tokyo performance showcased her unique style to a global audience, cementing her status as an artist to watch. With support slots for major artists like Bad Gyal, Nasthug is poised to take her unique Tokyo-via-Kingston sound worldwide. [ Instagram ]

ZEEMUFFIN (USA/Pakistan)

A sonic ambassador for the South Asian diaspora, New York-based ZEEMUFFIN channels her Pakistani heritage into a vibrant, global club sound. A classically trained violist and dancer, she brings a unique musicality to her sets, which are a joyful journey through Bhangra, Afrobeats, Baile funk, and house. Her talent has taken her to major festival stages like Governors Ball and Afro Punk and earned her features in Vogue and on BBC Radio. In March 2025, she curated and hosted “AZADI” at Brooklyn’s Elsewhere, a sold-out event featuring artists like UNiiQU3 that celebrated freedom and community. ZEEMUFFIN’s work is a living bridge between cultures, creating spaces for connection through the universal language of music. [ Instagram ]

bb. bulan (Malaysia)

Kuala Lumpur’s bb. bulan is a conceptual selector whose artistic identity is built around the moon and astronomy, exploring the realms of leftfield techno and IDM. Her signature “moon mixes” are “time capsules of tracks” she connects with during specific lunar phases, creating a rich, multimedia world for her followers. Inspired by artists like Minor Science and festivals like Sustain-Release, her cerebral sound has earned her spots on lineups with respected international artists. In March 2025, she launched her own event series, Auracccle, in Japan, exploring themes of free will and fate. For bb. bulan, a DJ set is a temporal marker and a curated space to explore the ideas that connect us. [ Instagram ]