From the Underground to the Mainstage: How Queer Artists & Producers Are Pushing Boundaries in Electronic Music
In honor of Pride month, we're highlighting some of the iconic queer producers and DJs in the scene.
salute
The Manchester based DJ & producer is a prominent voice for inclusivity in the electronic music scene. Speaking to Austrian Music Export, salute noted their religious childhood and how they grew up questioning it all. They have previously identified as a bisexual man and now publicly identify as non-binary, using they/them pronouns. Their unique sound is a blend of soulful UK garage, house, and pop-infused samples which gives a fresh melodic twist. Everyone should experience a salute set at least once in their life.
Yaeji
The Korean-American DJ and singer/rapper blends both house music and hip-hop perfectly. She is an active queer ally and works hard to create inclusive havens for queer people of color. She spoke to Yale Daily News, “Some pretend to care about these issues for clout or attention, but don’t actually understand why we need these spaces. The problem seems to be deeper, more complicated and interconnected with deep-rooted problems we see in America.”
Tinzo
The Filipino-American DJ from the sibling duo Tinzo + Jojo is making waves in the NY dance scene. She draws inspiration from indie and house with roots in the LGBTQIA+ experiences. Her along with her sibling Jojo are the founders and resident DJs behind the YouTube channel and party, Book Club Radio.
Honey Dijon
The genre-blending superstar from Chicago has been able to merge the high fashion world with the underground music scene seamlessly. Her charisma and push for open-mindedness on the dance floor has given her a global platform. To this day, she continues to champion marginalized groups. She spoke to HuffPost in 2017, "When dance culture went from being a safe space for marginalized people and started to cater to the mainstream, it became entertainment. Watered down and colonized for the masses. It went from people who were creating to people who were consuming."
J. Worra
J. Worra, heavily influenced by her Chicago roots, has created such a distinct, unique sound. Her creativity as a producer and skills behind the decks shows within her music. Along side her musical influence, she does her best to get involved with charities that support LGBTQ youth. Speaking to Metal Magazine, “It is very important for me to create not just a safe, inclusive space, but also one that makes people feel like they belong right where they are.”
Eris Drew
The self-proclaimed High Priestess of the Motherbeat and underground DJ has played some impressive shows. Being around the scene since 1994, she was inspired by a spiritual moment. An interview with Glamcult Magazine shared, "In 1994, on her way home from a rave, Eris had a psychedelic vision of a healing goddess power (revealed to her through an air conditioner in a minivan) that, on the spot, her friend named Motherbeat, and that would shape the rest of her life." Eris continues to break barriers and is a legendary veteran to the underground scene. You can follow more releases on her co-founded label and party series, T4T LUV NRG.
