working women and a Dj

Hey miss DJ!

Women have stormed another male bastion - deejaying. The city has its own breed of women DJ's - suave, proficient and here to stay, writes SYEDA FARIDA.

STANDING TALL: Popular DJ and MC Sharon.

NICOTINE, LIQUOR and the night. It's a men's zone out there and you see her. She's there to do her job and she is a smooth operator— mixing music with an élan. We are talking about femme power on the turntable in the twin cities.

A few years ago disc jockeying and the concept of a women DJ had few takers. But today with the town becoming a hot seat for gigs, there has been an influx of DJs from around the country and overseas including their women counterparts as well. DJ Pearl, DJ Kay and recently DJ Megha were the visiting disc jockeys that rocked the twin cities. The audience did not react with awe— reason, the city has its own breed of women DJs who believe in playing to win.

"About 20 years ago women pilots were a rarity and today they are accepted on par with their male counterparts. Likewise, the woman DJ is truly an achiever, who has broken the mould. You would traditionally expect a hip guy behind the console but here is a woman taking control that's striking," says Srikant Illuri, CEO, Allied Domecq, on choosing a woman DJ for the Teacher's Achievers' Night here recently.

MAKING MUSIC:

DJ Jeena on console at 10 Downing.And for the girls, the console does not beckon them for the glamour aspect, "Deejaying is a serious business that you take up as a profession. It all started because of my passion for music and I decided to take it up as my vocation," says DJ Jeena, who plays at 10 Downing Street combining her flair for music with the art of mixing and is known for her stack of club and house music. Yet another DJ and popular MC who rocks Saturdays nights in the city is Sharon. From rap, hip-hop and heavy metal for the head-banging, rock-loving audience to a mellow classic rock and lounge music for the pub ambience, her music line-up is varied. "When men see a woman on the console, the first thing they raise an eyebrow with `so she wants to play music'! They think that girls have no music sense. Though we know heavy metal and the other genres, we tend to play what the club or event demands. And you feel like keeping a board in front of me which reads `I also know other genres as well'," she says.

Ditto, says Sonal, who has been rocking several private dos in the twin cities. "I like house music and hip-hop . But for parties, I play commercial music because the purpose is to ensure people are having a great time on the floor," she says. Having trained under DJ Murthy, "learning never stops with new things coming up. You need to know what to play, when to play and how to mix," she says.

That girls are equally good music wise and on the console is a proven fact. "Women are equally capable as DJs. They keep the flow going very smoothly and in fact are equally responsible in making a club or pub happening around the country," says Sanjay, the DMC champion from the twin cities. Bangalore, Mumbai and other metros have a commendable number of disc jockeys rocking the groove zones such as Urban Edge, Fashion Bar at Bangalore and J 40 and Velocity at Mumbai, with more young girls taking to the console by the day.

Aren't there problems that the unusual ambience and working hours bring? "I don't think there is any profession where women are not criticised. Yes, in the clubs people do try to make passes. For instance, when we ask them if there are any numbers they would like to listen to, they would retort with `why don't you give your telephone number' instead. But, if a girl knows how to carry herself, she can manage the show," says Sharon.
But for now they intend to keep the music going and there is nothing that's gonna stop `em for sure.

Women Who Rock The Numark Turntables

For the first time ever, Women Who Rock magazine will provide female DJs the opportunity to showcase their talent at a competition in New York City at HMV (565 Fifth Avenue at W 46th Street) on Thursday, November 6, 2003 at 6 p.m.

At the DJ competition finals, hosted by celebrated DJ Jackie Christie, the crowd will witness a spectacular display of spontaneous turntable tactics and musical ingenuity, paired with fast-paced commentary and irreverent observations. Ten finalists will have 10 minutes to demonstrate their spinning/DJ skills, using only their own vinyl records and headphones, cartridges, and turntables provided by Numark. Each contestant's skills will be judged by a panel of noted female DJs based on the following criteria: originality, technique, style skills, showmanship, stage presence, and overall performance. After the night’s Grandmaster unveils the surprise theme record, the top two DJs will have 30 minutes to prepare and practice a mix incorporating said theme. They will then perform their mixes live for the judging panel and the crowd. The winner will be chosen based on technical skills, creativity, and the ability to incorporate the theme in the mix. Five runner-ups will receive two Carl Cox signature CS-1 cartridges, D200 headphones, and The Art of the DJ DVD. Two TTX turntables, a PPD01 mixer, and two Carl Cox signature CS-1 cartridges will be awarded to the reigning woman who rocks!

Onlookers will have plenty to do while enjoying the competition. The WKTU Party Crew will be on-site handing out prizes and hosting small contests before and after the spin-off and will also do a live call-in. A raffle will be held after the first round, with prizes including a CD player, CDs, DVDs, spa gift certificates, and more. The first 150 to arrive will receive a goody bag packed with promotional items from event sponsors Women Who Rock, Numark, WKTU, Sam Ash, and Tony&Tina cosmetics.
Women Who Rock is a bimonthly magazine that celebrates and promotes creative female musicians in all genres of music. Featuring interviews, reviews, fashion, and gear, and exploring issues surrounding women in the industry, Women Who Rock honors the powerful force of women in music.