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.”

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