Women of Wub

Being a writer for Relentless Beats, I have gotten the opportunity to discover artists I would never have thought to listen to. From bass to techno to experimental, all the artists I have discovered has broadened my pallet and urged me to see new DJs on line-ups stacked with the biggest names. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend festivals from Arizona, California, Nevada, Illinois, and Texas to bless my ears with just about every name I’ve written about, and then some. But I can’t help but take stock of all those wonderfully talented and life-changing artists and realize that something is lacking.

It’s no surprise that the industry is dominated by men. You can count the names on several lineups and notice the ratio is strikingly off. In 2018, Pitchfork did an in-depth review of the misrepresentation of women in the scene and the lack of their appearance on festivals, primarily in the US. Only a quarter of artists booked on 23 of the largest music festivals in 2017 are women, but the industry is looking up, because with those pushing the movement, writers covering these producers, and fans like you, finding women to support is easier than ever!

Recognizing the gender disparity in EDM is the first step and noting how every artist redefines each subgenre that stems from the scene is the next. Bass music specifically continues to prove how versatile it can be. Coming up with new drops that range from booming melodies to neck-snapping wubs, artists are vying for the top spot of fresh, original takes of everything bass. I was definitely guilty of locking myself into a niche of artists that seemed to do this seamlessly, and being locked in, it can feel daunting to find artists among the ever-growing scene. Not knowing where to start, I turned to forums, Beatport, other EDM news sites, and social media to discover some wubby women who are truly reinventing bass music.

Of course, we have the big names like Rezz, Whipped Cream, and Alison Wonderland, but the women that are up and coming are ready to snatch souls and blow your speakers out. Some of these names we’ve seen here in Arizona, others have just been announced, and even more, we can look forward to on future shows.

Starting with a producer that goes beyond her music is Brooklyn-based JEANIE. A delicious mix of trap and bass, this artist creates pieces that twist and turn full of subverting synths and filthy drops. JEANIE’s influence extends passed the decks though, into a group created to empower women in EDM. GRL GANG is a radio channel, multimedia platform, and bada** community designed to inspire women breaking ground in the industry. Check out GRL GANG Radio 013 with up and comer Lizzy Jane and see just how these women are overcoming obstacles in the scene one wub at a time.

If you saw Riot Ten at AURA late last year you might remember opener Jessica Audiffred. I swear I didn’t know how I was going to survive the rest of the show after she absolutely wrecked my neck. Each of her tracks oozes those classic dubstep sounds, infused with grimy overtones and choppy hits there is truly no time for rest. If you like her, heavy hitters Zía, Sippy, and Lucii are all ones to add to your playlist too.

In addition to producing tracks that are equal parts ear-drum rattling and entirely unique one track after the next, Sippy is the owner and instructor of three production schools across Australia. A product of Deadbeats and a graduate from ICON collective, she is not one to miss out on. Very recently, she performed at AURA with fellow “zealous” music producer from Philadelphia Zía (z-eye-uh). Listening to their mixes, I’m experiencing major FOMO for a show that already happened. Each artist was also RB’s DJ to Watch and trust me you’re going to want to keep following.

Another merciless producer who also induces some effortless melody is newfound space bass producer Lucii. Emerging in 2017, her unique blend of dreamy lush vocals layered on top of whopping bass that makes us all go wub is here to stay. New listeners don’t have to wait long because she just appeared on Phoenix Lights’ lineup, a perfect show for her intergalactic vibes. Click here for tickets!

But what’s bass and dubstep without another subgenre added to the list. If you’re in the mood for some house but still need those deep wubs, check out Lucille Croft. Want a subtle G-House infusion, HVDES has all things dark and sultry. If you want some pixelated melodies that still leave a little hit, find JVNA. Need some liquid bass and trap, Canabliss is where you should turn, and DNB fans, Mollie Collins has everything and more.

I can go on and on about these artists and their uniquely dark (or vibrant) blends of bass, but I’m afraid I’d never stop. There are so many talented producers out there that are steadily climbing the ladder of a misrepresented space and as fans, we have the opportunity to challenge gender and industry norms.

Connect with JEANIE: Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud

Connect with Lizzy Jane: Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud

Connect with Zía: Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud

Connect with Sippy: Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud

Connect with Lucii: Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud

Connect with Lucille Croft: Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud

Connect with HVDES: Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud

Connect with JVNA: Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud

Connect with Canabliss: Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud

Connect with Mollie Collins: Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud