Philly’s women DJs are re-shaping the nightlife scene: here’s why it needs them

For far too long, nightlife has been shaped through a narrow lens – largely defined by men holding power on and off the DJ decks. This imbalance is not incidental: studies show women have historically been underrepresented in the EDM scene, with men accounting for 86% of those booked in the EDM industry. Despite progress, this male-dominated landscape remains largely unchanged, leading to an environment where the needs of diverse crowds — including women, BIPOC, and non-binary individuals — are often overlooked.

This prevailing culture, dominated by cisgender, heterosexual white men, not only fosters exclusion on the decks but contributes to broader issues of physical safety and respect in nightlife spaces. Local music venues like Dobbs on South have closed following serious safety concerns tied to sexual harassment, and international studies continue to document high rates of harm against women in nightlife settings. 

In Philly, however, a new wave of women are leading the charge to dismantle the traditional nightlife model. Drawing from their own experiences as DJs in a male-dominated scene, they’re committed to supporting diversity, as well as addressing broader issues around inclusion and safety. I spoke with several of the women shaping the scene in Philly to explore what inclusivity means in practice.

Riva & Bianca

Riva Inocencio and Bianca Santalla-Terán are the DJs behind Solar Sounds, a queer, BIPOC, femme-led collective created alongside co-founder Sara Golden. From intimate neighborhood venues to grand festival stages, the trio creates genre-fluid, vibrant events with inclusive lineups and community safety at the forefront. 

Riva, Bianca, and Sara have all navigated exclusion and tokenism in a male-dominated scene, whether being booked just to fulfill a quota, questioned at the door of their own show, or dealing with micro-aggressions that undermine their expertise. “There have been moments where I’ve felt extra judgment from men because I DJ,” Bianca shared. “I’ve walked up to the door to play a gig, and they’d say, ‘Doors open at 9:30.’ The immediate assumption that two girls showing up 30 minutes before the show couldn’t possibly be the DJs just doesn’t make sense.”

For Riva, Bianca, and Sara, inclusivity isn’t just about who gets booked to DJ – it’s about creating a platform for others to see themselves represented and to feel welcomed in the space. “We saw that there was space for us in Philly to throw our events, and we wanted to go about it in a way that not only brings community together in a safe space to enjoy good music, but bridges the intersectionality of identities and uplifts those who don’t typically get that chance,” says Riva. While they emphasize the importance of visibility and representation behind the decks, for them, the work isn’t just about breaking barriers for who they book to DJ. This means creating an environment where safety – both physical and emotional – is a top priority, especially given the growing evidence a significant portion of women do not feel safe in traditional nightlife settings. While the cishet men traditionally behind these events may not consider these risks as deeply, women like Riva, Bianca, and Sara are acutely aware of them. “We want people to feel like they can come as they are, be in a room with people of different identities, and feel safe doing so,” says Bianca.

This means ensuring that every aspect of the event is designed to make everyone feel welcome and secure. “It starts with the front of house and moves onto the floor,” says Sara. “Making sure people feel comfortable coming to us if they feel they aren’t being treated correctly.” If someone creates a harmful situation—whether through harassment or disrespecting others’ boundaries—the ladies of Solar Sounds are clear: one strike and you’re out. “Not in my space, not at my event,” Riva asserts. “In these four hours, we have an event, this is for the greater good to experience joy.”

Bae Jawn

Bae Jawn (aka Cheyenne) has been shaping Philly’s nightlife scene for years as an event coordinator and DJ. After starting her career at Girard Hall and launching Bae FM Radio, she is currently working to reimagine how gender dynamics play out in an industry where women are often underrepresented. Her bi-monthly event, Gurlz Room, flips the script by booking exclusively women and non-binary performers. “I always wanted to do a party that focused on women and non-binary DJs,” Cheyenne explains. Since its debut, Gurlz Room lineups have featured local talent like Bae herself, as well as JEWELSSEA, Magglezzz, and Ptyrx.  “When I walk into a room and it’s predominantly men, I’m probably not going to want to stay or not going to feel comfortable dancing,” Cheyenne says. “I wanted to create a safe, warm, welcoming environment where women and non-binary folks feel like the priority,” she said.

A major part of Gurlz Room‘s success lies in its intentional energy shift. “Girl DJs, especially queer DJs, they know how to make people dance,” she says. “We want people to wanna dance, not just bob their heads.” 

By prioritizing these performers and de-centering male expectations, the event fosters a space where women and non-binary folks feel the freedom to dance and enjoy themselves without fear of being overlooked or objectified. “At Gurlz Room, the focus isn’t on men, and that makes for a more ideal crowd,” she added.  

Abby Johnson

Abby Johnson is the resident DJ and co-founder of House of Chicks, a women-run collective out of the power of friendship and a shared love for music. Along with longtime friends Sophia Costello and Emily Barnes, House of Chicks set out to create what they felt was missing in male-dominated spaces – an environment where the focus isn’t just on the music, but on comfort, community, and genuine connection. The trio works to build a space where these values take precedence over the impersonal and often excessive culture of many male-dominated events.

“With House of Chicks, [we’re] trying to find ways to bring people on a level playing field so they can explore themselves and the people around them,” says Abby. This intentional approach shows up in small, yet meaningful touches – like providing disposable cameras and note-writing stations for attendees. “Half the time, it’s just comfortability and the little things like talking to people, encouraging people to interact with what we’re doing,” she explains. 

But the focus on connection goes beyond these small details. At House of Chicks, the goal is to foster an environment where women don’t feel pressured to perform or push themselves beyond their limits. “[It’s important] to have a place where you can step out, take a breather, have a conversation, and just feel like you don’t have to push yourself to your limits,” Abby adds.  Take their summer park party, for example. “There was watermelon, hammocks, and places for people to sit,” said Sophia. “There was a dance floor, but there was also was the opportunity to mingle and connect and meet people and go sit on the side when you need to relax and take a break.”  

An emphasis on creating opportunity not only for movement, but for connection reflects the heart of what House of Chicks is all about. “My girlfriends and I found this deep connection to music and with each other through that music, and in turn, grew individually and together,” says Sophia. “I want Chicks to showcase not only the music that we commonly have interest in, but create a space where people can meet their forever people in the same way we found each other.”

DJ NA$H

For DJ NA$H, inclusivity means creating sets where people of all cultural backgrounds feel represented and empowered through music. As the founder of Interna$hional Bounce, she’s weaving a powerful tapestry of global influences and reshaping the Philadelphia party scene by centering her events on the rhythms of the African Diaspora. Her sets are a celebration of cultural diversity, each track is carefully chosen to reflect the identities and experiences of her crowd.

“I want to create a space where people of all backgrounds feel like they belong,” she says. “When I play music that reflects people’s culture – whether afrobeats, dancehall, or reggaeton, it makes them feel comfortable, connected, and empowered.”

NA$H’s to empowerment is also about creating real opportunities for women to thrive in a male-dominated industry. Her party and networking platform, BEATS & BABES, is specifically designed to uplift women in the industry, offering support and opportunities that allow them to succeed on their own terms. “A lot of times, women in this industry have to fight just to be taken seriously,” she says. “I’ve had to rely on men being in the room just to get a conversation going—or even to get paid. The industry doesn’t always see women as equals, even when we’re doing the work.”

Beyond just throwing parties, BEATS & BABES events offer a supportive network where women can collaborate, exchange ideas, and access resources that help them navigate and succeed in the industry. “A lot of opportunities go to men, and I wanted to build a platform where women could support each other and find the resources they need to thrive,” NA$H added.

Each of these women and the communities they’ve built brings something unique to the table. Though their approaches may vary, they all share a commitment to inclusivity and a belief that nightlife should be a place where everyone feels seen, safe, and celebrated. By putting people first and actively reshaping the way parties function, they’re building a new foundation for nightlife, ensuring that it’s a place where everyone can truly belong.

Bae Jawn’s gurlentinezzz party comes to Silk City this Friday, February 7th; more information can be found here. See what all these DJs are up to by following their socials linked above.