From the global rise of our favourite half-Gujarati party girl Charli xcx to DJ sets popping up in clubs, coffee shops, and even rickshaws across the country, there’s no denying that electronic dance music has sunk its teeth into our collective consciousness. The genre’s popularity has been growing within India for two decades now, and now, finally, it is being treated with the legitimacy it deserves. Whether you want to kick back and relax to a deep house set on YouTube or hit the club and dance the night away, there’s a DJ out there ready to give you what you need.

Unfortunately, while interest in dance DJing has soared, women have been and continue to be overlooked in this industry. For instance, DJ Mag, one of the world’s most prominent electronic music platforms, drops a list of the world’s “Top 100 DJs” annually, and every year, women are suspiciously absent from their ranks. In 2024, only 14 women were featured on the list, and even this abysmally low figure was a significant improvement compared to the singular female act that made the list a decade prior. 

People like to brush these numbers off by insisting that DJing isn’t a woman’s hobby. Likely, they’re convinced that a woman doesn’t have the skillset to adequately handle complex DJ equipment or the charisma to energise a crowd. When influencers and models of all genders take up DJing as a hobby, vitriol is specifically aimed towards women if their performance is below par. Obviously, we know this is just misogynistic nonsense. As with virtually every other case where women are undermined (which is basically always), we manage to break through and prove our worth. 

Here are some of our favourite homegrown woman DJs, showing everyone that women really can do it all:

Desiree Saldanha, also known under the moniker Suggahunny, caught the world’s attention with her viral auto rickshaw set a few months ago and is now blossoming as one of Mumbai’s most exciting up-and-coming DJs. She describes her style as “equal parts playful and psychoactive”, amalgamating several genres like hip hop, afro beats, house, and even Bollywood to get you moving.

Follow Suggahunny here. 

We can attest to Nida’s immense talent, considering she had us on our feet for her entire set at The Homegrown Festival just a few weeks ago. The Mumbai-based music curator, DJ, and designer plays with genre, blending acid house, cosmic house, and leftfield techno with afro-infused beats. Nida also founded Paradisco, a party experience that spotlights homegrown DJs and creatives across the country. 

Follow Nida here.

Born and raised in Amsterdam, now based in London, and with Indian blood, it’s almost as though it was destined for Jyoty to take the world by storm. From her start as a part-time door worker at a nightclub to exciting mid-career highlights like gracing the cover of MixMag, we definitely aren’t the first to say Jyoty is one to watch. 

Follow Jyoty here. 

When Arthi performed live from Boiler Room London, we became obsessed with her infectious energy. From how she plays with a wide array of genres to the even wider smile on her face, you just can’t help but dance along. This year, the British-Indian DJ, journalist, and dancer also started a 4-show residency with the BBC, making moves in a career that we’re sure will only continue growing from here.

Follow Arthi here.

While most of the women featured in this list are up-and-coming, Ma Faiza has already solidified herself as a part of India’s electronic music history. Hailed as India’s “Mother of Electronica,” she has revolutionised the Indian scene through her unique psychedelic trance sound and her fight for queer equality as an open and proud lesbian performer. 

Follow Ma Faiza here. 

Named one of Mixmag’s 25 Breakthrough DJs of last year, OG Shez is clearly a force to be reckoned with. After having established herself as a powerhouse in the Indian underground club scene, the Mumbai-based DJ has gone on to perform in the UK, across India, and in Dubai. 

Follow OG Shez here. 

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