Meet Knox A.K.A @rebekahknox
What was your first big break as a DJ, and do you feel that being a woman made it any harder, easier, or just a different experience?
My first big break was when I played Jumbi last year, it was their anniversary and they opened up all the rooms. I thought I was going there just to play a small set and I played this one tune, and everyone went crazy for it! At that moment I was just like, oh, maybe I'm quite good. It wasn't the biggest crowd I'd ever performed to, but in terms of the vibe and the energy I received from the crowd, it was the moment I realised I should actually do this.
Whenever you're changing the USB over with a man before you, you always get that kind of awkward thing, ‘what are they going to be like?’ and ‘what’s their energy?’. You're constantly proving yourself in the music industry, and it feels like sometimes there's not enough space for all the women. It's only a select group. But there's loads more space for men, which I find frustrating.
What's one change you would like to see improve in spaces for females in music?
More women at the top and behind the scenes. I also do a lot of creative producing and casting work on a lot of creative projects, and there needs to be more women at the top calling the shots. A lot of the time it's a white man thinking that they're ticking the box because they've done their bit by putting a woman on stage. But we need more women in those positions of responsibility because we are great and can do the job better than them. So more roles for women in higher spaces, that's what my change would be.
What support have you received from other women in the industry? And are there any specific female mentors or collectives that have helped you along the way?
100%. I recently went freelance last year and I found it really daunting. Sian Rowe, who was the director at Young Space, was a massive help as well as Frankie Wells, the founder of foundation.fm and Becky Tong, our Head of Partnerships. Those three people were really informative, supportive and helpful. You need to be connecting with people who are more senior than you because they've done it and they understand.
Do you think club and festival line-ups are evolving in terms of gender balance or is there still quite a long way to go? Are there any promoters or events who are getting it right, right now?
There has been a bit of a difference. If you look at last year, you have Sabrina Carpenter, Chappel Roan and Charlie XCX - it was a pop girl's moment which was lovely to see but I think there's always more work that needs to be done. Especially with festivals and places like Glastonbury. You have white males who are booking everything, and they’ll just tick that box and do whatever. I think they need to be having people like foundation.fm and Pxssy Palace on the board of programming because then you're going to get a way more diverse range of DJs and up and coming talent.
What's one thing you wish club and festival promoters considered when booking female DJs?
Numbers don't mean talent. One thing I find frustrating is that today in the industry people think 100k followers means that they're an amazing skilled DJ. It just means that they have a big following, but I think they should consider not always booking talent that have the most following. Try out that talent that maybe has 2k followers, 4k followers, because you never know what you're going to find. I think let's change it up a bit and consider not always booking kind of like the same huge female DJ who's got like two million followers.
If you could curate a one-night all-female lineup at your favourite venue, who are three artists/DJs you’d have alongside you?
This is a very random lineup but I just love them all. It's gonna be Half Queen (@half.queen) b2b Lil C (@lil_clart) - love them so much, love the music, love their selections. Then performing it's gonna be Qendresa (@whereisqendresa) and BXKS (@bxksintokyo). Qendresa for the R&B vibe, and then BXKS for the rap, they’re amazing artists. And then I would say ELLADHC (@elladhc) and mi-el (@miel.co.uk). All these people are quite different genres, but it’s suited to my taste.
How do your different creative outlets: DJing, photography, and art direction influence and complement each other?
I come from a very academic family and I did not get that gene. So I'm a bit of an anomaly in my family, and as I've always been creative, I wanted to explore that avenue. When I started, I literally did everything and realised that I'm quite good at this, quite good at that. They’ve all been amazing at playing with each other and making me a good creative all round. I'm pulling references from here and there as they do speak to each other a lot. It's so fun. It also means when one's a bit quieter, I can focus on the other one. I think perspective is the key to understanding things in a slightly different way.
What's one goal you've set for yourself in 2025 that you're really excited about right now?
I want to get more bookings, but also need to be patient. I'm someone who always wants the biggest things, but that's not always great for growth. I think chipping away at something, gaining skills and being patient is a better route than just getting really big really fast. So, be kind to yourself and be patient.
What's the most annoying assumption people make about female DJs?
We're not up to the same standard as men, which is just not true.
Best song to open a set with?
Indeed by Hannah. I just think it's like a nice house tune that gets everyone going. Perfect.
Best song to end a set with?
Mirrored River by Goldie, which is a jungle track. I always like ending on a bit of jungle.
Best venue you've ever played in?
The cinema in Selfridges. It was just very fancy with draped curtains and was very cool.
One word to describe the feeling of being behind the decks?
Euphoric.
One female artist everyone should be listening to right now?
I'd say Sasha Keeble and Lola Young. Everyone's already listening to Lola Young, but she's just fab. Watch her off the radar. It's really good.
What's been your favourite all-female line-up you've been a part of?
My favourite all-female line-up I've been a part of, I can't think of one, but anything that foundation.fm curates, they always curate the best female, all-female line-ups for sure.
Do you have a preset ritual or superstition?
My preset ritual is don't talk to me before the set. I get really nervous before, and I don't like to interact with too many people. I need to get in the zone and I like time to myself.
If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?
It's going to happen, babe, so just don't worry about it. Keep doing what you're doing, be patient and keep chipping away.
In The Booth w/ foundation.fm
We’re celebrating the females in our community today and every day with the help of foundation.fm. We spoke with @secrretluvvr, @rebekahknox and @jjess.mp3 to chat about male-dominated spaces, support they’ve received from women in the music industry, festival line-ups and feeling “euphoric” behind the decks. Here’s to more representation for female DJs in 2025.
Meet Jess A.K.A @jjess.mp3
What was your first big break as a DJ? Do you feel like being a woman made it any harder, easier, or just different?
I think for sure in terms of opportunities. I feel like I got certain opportunities a bit later than I should have, or in terms of how you are treated in those spaces, especially when you're using the decks. There are a lot of assumptions that you don't know how to do it because the music industry is very heavily male-dominated in many ways, and people don’t always have a respect for your craft.
What’s one change you would like to see improve the space for females in music?
I'd like to see more female-led initiatives starting from schools. I wish when I was in secondary school, someone had told me it was an option to become a DJ or there were DJ classes available, which I’m now seeing on TikTok in some primary schools. I would have loved that for myself, and I think a lot of young girls would have to.
Have you found support from other women in the industry? Are there any specific female mentors or collectives that have helped you along the way?
It has to be foundation.fm for me. The ladies from the community really championed me and gave me opportunities that otherwise I probably would not have had. Shout out to everyone.
Do you think club and festival line-ups are evolving in terms of gender balance, or is there still a long way to go? Are there any promoters or events getting it right we should know about?
Festival line-ups and club line-ups are still evolving. Yes, they are booking female DJs, but at the same time, they're not really giving them the slots that they deserve. There's nothing like an opening set, I love an opening set every now and then, but why can't you give women headlining spots? There's a lot more work to do where they position women over white men.
What’s one thing you wish club/festival promoters considered when booking female DJs?
I think it’s the language that the team uses, even when it comes to the security staff or the technicians. It’s about being mindful of how you speak to people, because I don't feel like it should be just how you speak to women, it's just how you speak to people. The same way you would treat a man, you should treat a woman. There needs to be more self-training and just being nice to people. There's a lack of awareness and education around a female person's needs within the industry.
Advice you would give to young women looking to start DJing or producing?
Watch people who you admire, that's how I learned - by watching, observing and asking questions. I'd also say do your research and dig deep into why you want to produce a DJ. You don't necessarily have to add anything ‘new’ or bring anything innovative to the scene, but as long as you have passion in what you're doing, I think that will definitely shine through, when you know your stuff.
If you could curate a one-night all-female lineup at your favourite venue, who are three artists/DJs you’d have alongside you?
I would program my own night, it would be a mix of DJs but also performers. I’d say performance-wise Kalela and Solange (@solangeknowles). Then DJs, I would have DJ Kem Kem, Jessica Udeh (@jessic_nt) and DJ Lovey.
What’s one goal you’ve set for yourself in 2025 that you’re excited about?
I started doing my own listening events last year, so I want to do more of those this year and build and grow that.
You have your own IG page @dancefloor.theory which explores the relationship that Black people have with dance and electronic music in the UK. Is there anything that’s stood out to you since researching?
I love research! I discovered three amazing female DJs who had contributed so much to the dance music scene in the UK - DJ Paulette, Smoking Joe, and Chemistry, who sadly passed away many years ago. Seeing what they had contributed to the scene and the fact that it's not common knowledge unless you go out and look for it was really beautiful. Their stories really encouraged me to be unapologetic as a black female DJ in whatever space I'm in. Dance music isn't only suited to one specific demographic, it's for everyone.
The most annoying assumption people make about female DJs?
We can't mix.
Best song to open a set with?
Omoto Sexy by Blonde.
Best song to end a set with?
Any Caitriona Ardern song to be honest.
What's been your favorite all-female lineup you've been a part of?
Anything Foundation.FM have done, especially the All Points East lineups, which I've been a part of a couple of times.
Club or festival?
Festival.
Best venue you've ever played?
Warehouse Project.
One word to describe the feeling of being behind the decks?
Euphoric.
One female artist everyone should be listening to right now?
Lauren Duffus.
Do you have a preset ritual or superstition?
My preset ritual, not really a ritual, but I always try to catch the last 15 minutes of the last DJ.
If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Trust your instinct and keep practicing, it'll be worth it.
What was your first big break as a DJ? Do you feel like being a woman made it any harder, easier, or just different?
I think for sure in terms of opportunities. I feel like I got certain opportunities a bit later than I should have, or in terms of how you are treated in those spaces, especially when you're using the decks. There are a lot of assumptions that you don't know how to do it because the music industry is very heavily male-dominated in many ways, and people don’t always have a respect for your craft.
What’s one change you would like to see improve the space for females in music?
I'd like to see more female-led initiatives starting from schools. I wish when I was in secondary school, someone had told me it was an option to become a DJ or there were DJ classes available, which I’m now seeing on TikTok in some primary schools. I would have loved that for myself, and I think a lot of young girls would have to.
Have you found support from other women in the industry? Are there any specific female mentors or collectives that have helped you along the way?
It has to be foundation.fm for me. The ladies from the community really championed me and gave me opportunities that otherwise I probably would not have had. Shout out to everyone.
Do you think club and festival line-ups are evolving in terms of gender balance, or is there still a long way to go? Are there any promoters or events getting it right we should know about?
Festival line-ups and club line-ups are still evolving. Yes, they are booking female DJs, but at the same time, they're not really giving them the slots that they deserve. There's nothing like an opening set, I love an opening set every now and then, but why can't you give women headlining spots? There's a lot more work to do where they position women over white men.
What’s one thing you wish club/festival promoters considered when booking female DJs?
I think it’s the language that the team uses, even when it comes to the security staff or the technicians. It’s about being mindful of how you speak to people, because I don't feel like it should be just how you speak to women, it's just how you speak to people. The same way you would treat a man, you should treat a woman. There needs to be more self-training and just being nice to people. There's a lack of awareness and education around a female person's needs within the industry.
Advice you would give to young women looking to start DJing or producing?
Watch people who you admire, that's how I learned - by watching, observing and asking questions. I'd also say do your research and dig deep into why you want to produce a DJ. You don't necessarily have to add anything ‘new’ or bring anything innovative to the scene, but as long as you have passion in what you're doing, I think that will definitely shine through, when you know your stuff.
If you could curate a one-night all-female lineup at your favourite venue, who are three artists/DJs you’d have alongside you?
I would program my own night, it would be a mix of DJs but also performers. I’d say performance-wise Kalela and Solange (@solangeknowles). Then DJs, I would have DJ Kem Kem, Jessica Udeh (@jessic_nt) and DJ Lovey.
What’s one goal you’ve set for yourself in 2025 that you’re excited about?
I started doing my own listening events last year, so I want to do more of those this year and build and grow that.
You have your own IG page @dancefloor.theory which explores the relationship that Black people have with dance and electronic music in the UK. Is there anything that’s stood out to you since researching?
I love research! I discovered three amazing female DJs who had contributed so much to the dance music scene in the UK - DJ Paulette, Smoking Joe, and Chemistry, who sadly passed away many years ago. Seeing what they had contributed to the scene and the fact that it's not common knowledge unless you go out and look for it was really beautiful. Their stories really encouraged me to be unapologetic as a black female DJ in whatever space I'm in. Dance music isn't only suited to one specific demographic, it's for everyone.
The most annoying assumption people make about female DJs?
We can't mix.
Best song to open a set with?
Omoto Sexy by Blonde.
Best song to end a set with?
Any Caitriona Ardern song to be honest.
What's been your favorite all-female lineup you've been a part of?
Anything Foundation.FM have done, especially the All Points East lineups, which I've been a part of a couple of times.
Club or festival?
Festival.
Best venue you've ever played?
Warehouse Project.
One word to describe the feeling of being behind the decks?
Euphoric.
One female artist everyone should be listening to right now?
Lauren Duffus.
Do you have a preset ritual or superstition?
My preset ritual, not really a ritual, but I always try to catch the last 15 minutes of the last DJ.
If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Trust your instinct and keep practicing, it'll be worth it.
Meet Angelica A.K.A @secretluvvr
What was your first big break as a DJ? Do you feel like being a woman made it any harder, easier, or just different?
Winning an opportunity to get a set live streamed with a platform called Kipaj. I sent in a mix and they chose me amongst five others. That increased my visibility and I ended up getting a lot of gigs as a result of that. I feel like as a woman, you always have something to prove and you need to impress people as there’s an assumption that you're not as technically skilled. If you go on Boiler Rooms, there's more hate towards women if they make a mistake, when anyone could make that same mistake. It makes you feel like you don't deserve this platform or you shouldn't be in that position. It's definitely based on misogyny.
The music industry is still male-dominated in many ways. What’s one change you would like to see improve the space for females in music?
I definitely agree that the music industry is so male-dominated, but my entryway into it has been very women and non-binary centred. I got a lot of DJ lessons from this platform called Saffron, and their whole mission is to decrease the gender imbalance in the music industry. Plus I have a residency on foundation.fm and most of the events I play at are run by women and non-binary people as well as queer people. What I'd like to see is more support and resources towards the people who are actually doing that work to address it because the knowledge and skills are there. It's not this complicated thing. It's just about making sure people who are doing the work are supported.
Have you found support from other women in the industry? Are there any specific female mentors or collectives that have helped you along the way?
There's an incredible DJ named Martha. She has a show on NTS and put me in touch with foundation.fm and gave me a guest mix slot on her show, which increased my visibility a lot. She's always helping women because she really cares. She really cares about helping others and sharing her platform. There's also Samantha, who runs a DJ and production school called Hub 16 in Dalston (@hub16_). Shout out to Sam, another woman who wants to support people and does it really selflessly.
Do you think club and festival line-ups are evolving in terms of gender balance, or is there still a long way to go? Are there any promoters or events getting it right we should know about?
Things are evolving to an extent, based on just my personal observation, I still regularly see all-male lineups. Regularly. Loads of collectives and parties have inclusivity at the heart of what they're doing. It's not like they're trying to be diverse because the team are. There’s a collective called Bumper, a night called DEUXFEUX run by an incredible DJ called MISFYA, an event series called Club A.R.E, Girls Don’t Sync and Pxssy Palace.
Advice you would give to young women looking to start DJing or producing?
Keep going. Don't be put off by the discomfort at first. One day you'll wake up and you'll be in the place that you never thought you'd be at.
If you could curate a one-night all-female lineup at your favourite venue, who are three artists/DJs you’d have alongside you?
Okay, this is a crazy question. l'd put me, secret luvvr. My other two women - I'm in a collective called Echoes (@echoes.intl) and we play black, diasporic electronic music, that's our specialty. I'd programme dr. Mazza (@maysback), KUNTEAA (@kun_teaa), Liao and DJ. Karista. l'd programme like 20 people and it would be insane.
What's one goal you've set yourself in 2025 that you're excited about to go for this year?
Promote myself unashamedly and be more authentic, especially online. To not get in my head about things because if you're just being yourself, you don't have to worry.
What's the most annoying assumption people make about female DJs?
I don't pay attention to that, so I wouldn't know.
What's been your favourite all-female lineup you've been a part of?
It was a female and non-binary lineup at a party called DEUXFEUX which was thrown by MISFYA (@_misfya).
Best song to end a set with?
A good throwback.
Best venue you’ve ever played?
Has to be Flippers in London. I'm so grateful I got to play before it closed down.
One word to describe the feeling of being behind the decks?
Magic.
One female artist everyone should be listening to right now?
Chy Cartier (@chycartier).
Do you have a preset ritual or superstition?
Just breathe and make sure I'm in a calm energy.
If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?
Start DJing today.
What was your first big break as a DJ? Do you feel like being a woman made it any harder, easier, or just different?
Winning an opportunity to get a set live streamed with a platform called Kipaj. I sent in a mix and they chose me amongst five others. That increased my visibility and I ended up getting a lot of gigs as a result of that. I feel like as a woman, you always have something to prove and you need to impress people as there’s an assumption that you're not as technically skilled. If you go on Boiler Rooms, there's more hate towards women if they make a mistake, when anyone could make that same mistake. It makes you feel like you don't deserve this platform or you shouldn't be in that position. It's definitely based on misogyny.
The music industry is still male-dominated in many ways. What’s one change you would like to see improve the space for females in music?
I definitely agree that the music industry is so male-dominated, but my entryway into it has been very women and non-binary centred. I got a lot of DJ lessons from this platform called Saffron, and their whole mission is to decrease the gender imbalance in the music industry. Plus I have a residency on foundation.fm and most of the events I play at are run by women and non-binary people as well as queer people. What I'd like to see is more support and resources towards the people who are actually doing that work to address it because the knowledge and skills are there. It's not this complicated thing. It's just about making sure people who are doing the work are supported.
Have you found support from other women in the industry? Are there any specific female mentors or collectives that have helped you along the way?
There's an incredible DJ named Martha. She has a show on NTS and put me in touch with foundation.fm and gave me a guest mix slot on her show, which increased my visibility a lot. She's always helping women because she really cares. She really cares about helping others and sharing her platform. There's also Samantha, who runs a DJ and production school called Hub 16 in Dalston (@hub16_). Shout out to Sam, another woman who wants to support people and does it really selflessly.
Do you think club and festival line-ups are evolving in terms of gender balance, or is there still a long way to go? Are there any promoters or events getting it right we should know about?
Things are evolving to an extent, based on just my personal observation, I still regularly see all-male lineups. Regularly. Loads of collectives and parties have inclusivity at the heart of what they're doing. It's not like they're trying to be diverse because the team are. There’s a collective called Bumper, a night called DEUXFEUX run by an incredible DJ called MISFYA, an event series called Club A.R.E, Girls Don’t Sync and Pxssy Palace.
Advice you would give to young women looking to start DJing or producing?
Keep going. Don't be put off by the discomfort at first. One day you'll wake up and you'll be in the place that you never thought you'd be at.
If you could curate a one-night all-female lineup at your favourite venue, who are three artists/DJs you’d have alongside you?
Okay, this is a crazy question. l'd put me, secret luvvr. My other two women - I'm in a collective called Echoes (@echoes.intl) and we play black, diasporic electronic music, that's our specialty. I'd programme dr. Mazza (@maysback), KUNTEAA (@kun_teaa), Liao and DJ. Karista. l'd programme like 20 people and it would be insane.
What's one goal you've set yourself in 2025 that you're excited about to go for this year?
Promote myself unashamedly and be more authentic, especially online. To not get in my head about things because if you're just being yourself, you don't have to worry.
What's the most annoying assumption people make about female DJs?
I don't pay attention to that, so I wouldn't know.
What's been your favourite all-female lineup you've been a part of?
It was a female and non-binary lineup at a party called DEUXFEUX which was thrown by MISFYA (@_misfya).
Best song to end a set with?
A good throwback.
Best venue you’ve ever played?
Has to be Flippers in London. I'm so grateful I got to play before it closed down.
One word to describe the feeling of being behind the decks?
Magic.
One female artist everyone should be listening to right now?
Chy Cartier (@chycartier).
Do you have a preset ritual or superstition?
Just breathe and make sure I'm in a calm energy.
If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?
Start DJing today.