The women are showing up and showing out on the decks. A far cry from a decade ago when men dominated the scene, female DJs are achieving mainstream success with viral mixes and performances at some of the biggest festivals and locations in the world. From Singapore and Japan to the US, Australia, and beyond, these are some of the girls to watch.
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A/K/A
Straight from the Lion City, A/K/A knows how to start a party wherever she goes. One of the stars from ELLE Singapore's June 2024 issue, the local DJ is still at the top of her game almost a decade later, bringing high energy and impact to every stage she's at. Most recently, she played at the Boiler Room in Singapore last year—and she did it while six months pregnant. That's a true Mother if you ask us.
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Nasthug
Over in Japan, Nasthug is a rising star in Tokyo's club scene. Since starting at Circus Tokyo when she was 19, the Japanese-Jamaican DJ popped up on everyone's radar after her hallmark performance at the Boiler Room in Tokyo featuring dancehall, hip-hop, trap, and afrobeats. With her infectious energy and mixes, her sets are not one to miss.
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Baby J
Turning things up from down under, Australian DJ Baby J is one of the female DJs on everyone's radar this year and for good reason. With a dynamic blend of jersey club, baile funk, hip-hop, house, and jungle, the Indonesian-English star has had her live sets go viral with over 10 million views and reshares across TikTok and Instagram. She recently performed in Singapore at GrooveTop's "House of Hearts" in February and the Boiler Room in Hong Kong last week.
Lady Shaka
Lady Shaka knows how to put on a show—anyone who's been to her live sets can vouch for that. Having previously been a member of Parris Goebel's Royal Family dance group, the New Zealand DJ brings a fusion of musical influences to re-indigenise club culture. Having spun at the Boiler Room in New Zealand, Melbourne, and London, she most recently opened for Kehlani during the Auckland stop of their world tour.
ZEEMUFFIN
Over in the Big Apple, ZEEMUFFIN is a star on the rise. The Pakistani-born, New York-raised DJ and producer brings a fusion of genres from her upbringing and worldwide. From bhangra, afrobeats, and baile-funk to house, dance, and hip-hop, she has performed at the Governors Ball, Afro Punk, and alongside artists such as Duckwrth and Kaytranada.
Riria
Another up-and-coming female DJ is none other than Riria. The Japanese DJ is one of the most talked about rising talents in the scene after her performance at the Boiler Room in Tokyo, where she combined K-pop, Parisian rap, techno, baile funk, and reggaeton. Experience her live set when she arrives in Singapore on 10 May at the Tuff Club as part of her Asia tour.
Lex
Those online may be familiar with Lex's work. The Californian DJ has amassed over 700,000 followers on TikTok with her blend of hip-hop, R&B, and throwback hits. Since then, she has opened for artists such as Summer Walker and collaborated with the likes of Air Jordan and Def Jam Records.
TxC
TxC is a duo from South Africa spicing things up on the decks. Composed of Tarryn Reid and Clairise Hefke, their amapiano sets have taken them around the world, including the Boiler Room in London. In addition, the duo are also producers and have released two EPs, A Fierce Piano and Turn Off The Lights.
Katayanagi Twins
Double the trouble and beats, the Katayanagi Twins are another duo turning things up a notch. Consisting of China and Rain, the New Zealand twins went from watching their dad spin to them playing their live sets all over the world, most notably at the Boiler Room in their home country.
Arthi
Journalist, dancer, and DJ, Arthi is the triple threat that'll get you on the dance floor. The London-based DJ and producer fuses British sounds with international genres for sets that have headlined sold-out shows across the United Kingdom. She has a residency on BBC Radio 1 and, like most of the women on the list, has performed at the Boiler Room in London and Sydney.
Taylah Elaine
Since 2017, Taylah Elaine has been mixing it up on the international scene. The London-based DJ is known for her curation of sounds and impeccable style every time she steps onto the stage. Whether spinning for brands such as Nike and Miu Miu, or festivals like Rolling Loud and Lollapalooza, you can trust the star to bring the hits back to back.