The music industry is still largely dominated by men, and although more women are taking up space and positions of power, the gender disparity is still insurmountable. Despite this, there are many women in the industry who have not let inequality or lack of representation deter them from their dreams or their desire to make an impact. With International Women’s Day (IWD) taking place on Sunday, 8 March we are zooming in on six key figures in the music industry who are challenging the status quo, building their own paths and ultimately are beacons of hope for women and girls all over the world.
In the article we highlight techno titan Charlotte de Witte, global trailblazer Peggy Gou, melodic techno maverick ANNA, house music luminary Jayda G, techno stalwart Amelie Lens, and lastly dynamic sister duo NERVO.
Charlotte de Witte: 
Arguably one of the most recognised names in electronic music today, Charlotte de Witte has been building her career for over 15 years now. The Belgian techno producer, DJ and label owner has released 25 EPs to date, and dropped her debut self-titled album last year. With over 2 million monthly Spotify listeners, Charlotte made history last year as the first artist to perform an opening and closing set at Tomorrowland, Belgium on the same day. She launched her label KNTXT in 2019, which has released music by the likes of Chris Liebing and Monoloc, while she was voted the 9th Best DJ in the World by DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs poll last year.
Peggy Gou:
After her breakthrough in 2016, Peggy Gou’s career has skyrocketed to unforeseen heights. She wears many hats as a singer-songwriter, producer, DJ and label owner. Based in Berlin, she has collaborated with the likes of Lenny Kravitz, while she has also released music on major labels like Ninja Tune and Phonic. She was also the first South Korean DJ to perform at the iconic Berlin club Berghain in 2016, and she constantly makes headline appearances at prominent festivals like Coachella and Glastonbury.
ANNA:
ANNA is a Brazilian techno DJ and producer who is based in Lisbon, Portugal. Known for incorporating spiritual and ambient influences into her music, ANNA has released on labels like Drumcode, Kompakt and Afterlife. Her hypnotic melodic sets have earned her headline spots at festivals like Movement Detroit and Tomorrowland. Her career spans more than two decades and her impact is undeniable, as she’s delivered official remixes for the likes of Orbital and Jon Hopkins.
Amelie Lens:
When you think techno, one of the very first names that comes up is Amelie Lens. The Belgian producer, DJ and record label founder gave up her career as a model to pursue music and has never looked back. Her high-powered sound is probably one of the most recognisable in modern electronic music. She burst onto the scene officially in 2016, and since then she’s become one of the most in demand DJs in the world. She founded the event brand and record label EXHALE which is known for its world-class productions, with nearly all of its events selling out due to high demand. Last year, she released the One Mind EP which was a collaboration with fellow Belgian artist Charlotte de Witte, which catapulted both of their careers to unseen heights.
Jayda G:
Jayda G is an iconic and energetic house music DJ and producer. As one of the most in demand DJs in the world, she never fails to bring joy, warmth and authenticity to her sets. Originally from Canada, her career started over 10 years ago when she moved to Berlin in order to take her DJ career more seriously. In 2019, she released her debut album Significant Changes via Ninja Tune, and in 2021 her single ‘Both of Us’ received a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording. Jayda has also delivered official remixes for the likes of Dua Lipa (‘Cool’) and Taylor Swift (‘Anti-Hero’). She holds a Master’s degree in Resource and Environmental Management, and specializes in environmental toxicology, while she has also incorporated science into her music through sampling field recordings in her track ‘If We Only Knew’ for her environmental documentary Blue Carbon: Nature’s Hidden Power.
NERVO:
Australian sister duo NERVO are synonymous with the electronic music industry. With over 1 million monthly Spotify streams, the pair have written and produced music for the likes of Kylie Minogue, Steve Aoki, Afrojack and Miley Cyrus. Additionally they received a Grammy award for their writing of ‘When Love Takes Over’ by David Guetta and Kelly Rowland. Over the course of their decades-long career, they’ve played over 200 live shows annually and have held residencies at super clubs like Omnia and Ushuaïa. With consistent headline slots at Tomorrowland, EDC and Creamfields, they’re also one of the highest paid EDM acts in the world.
