While it’s no secret that the DJ industry is mostly male-dominated, the number of talented female artists in the world of electronic music and hip hop continues to grow and change the scene. Today we are pleased to introduce you to some top female DJs you should get to know.

Coming from diverse horizons, either geographically or musically, each woman in this article possesses undeniably impressive skills either on the decks or as a producer. Keep reading for more about their background and contributions to the music world.

Nina Kraviz

Nina Kraviz perhaps needs no introduction. Hailing from Siberia, Kraviz moved to Moscow to study dentistry and worked as a music journalist while holding her famous nights at Propaganda on the weekend. With a unique twist with regards to her music tastes, stemming from an early love for jazz to acid techno, Kraviz is a fascinating female figure in the DJ world.

Both as a record producer and vinyl digger, few female artists have accomplished such widespread attention in a such a short time. Kraviz’s breakthrough kicked off with DJ Jus-Ed when she sent him a demo for his label Underground Quality, then shortly followed up with a few collaborations with acclaimed artists such as Radio Slave. Kraviz’s label Trip Recordings launched in 2014, showing her true ability to run a label despite a huge touring schedule across the globe that she manages on her own.

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Annie Mac

Annie Mac is undisputedly one of the greatest female artists in electronic music. The Irish-born, London-resident DJ has been garnering attention both on the dance floor and on the radio for many years, hosting various weekly shows of her own on BBC Radio 1.

Coming from a musical family (her brothers are indie-folk musicians and her sister is an artist), Mac is a great performer in love with what a good crowd has to offer. Over the years, she has sharpened her instincts for sounds ranging from drum & bass to house and techno with a strong, consistent, and unique approach. In 2009, Mac won the award for “Best Female Presenter” by the UK’s Drum & Bass Awards. Later in 2015, she launched the Lost & Found Festival in Malta that brings a world-class dance lineup annually to the Mediterranean.

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Miss Kittin

Miss Kittin has had a strong influence on electronic music. The French producer, DJ, songwriter, and singer has been active since 1994 and is well-known for blending genres like new wave and techno. After completing a few solo projects, Kittin released her debut album in 2001 titled First Album with The Hacker. The album sold over 50,000 copies worldwide and included hit tracks such as “Frank Sinatra” and “1982.”

The same year, Sven Väth released a cover single with Miss Kittin “Je t’aime moi non plus” that attracted considerable attention. Having worked with eclectic musicians throughout her career, such as Felix Da Housecat, Golden Boy, and Chicks on Speed, Kittin is forever in our list of the greatest female DJs.

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Alison Wonderland 

Alison Wonderland is an intriguing, captivating figure in the world of dance music. The highest-billed female DJ in Coachella history, Australian-born Wonderland was trained as a classical musician in Sydney from a young age. Since 2014, she has been releasing music consistently such as her debut single “Run” and later on her EP Calm Down that includes “I Want You,” a single that ranked at the top of the Hype Machine charts.

It wasn’t long before Wonderland’s success began to flourish, and in 2018 was ranked 89 on DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJ list. The same year, she was also named “new artist of the year” at the Electronic Music Awards. The adventurous musical journey of Alison Wonderland gave birth to an exciting track in 2017 “Happy Place” that truly symbolizes her passion for vocals and trap-driven music.

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Charlotte de Witte

Charlotte de Witte followed a unique path that ultimately paid off, and paid off quickly. Born in Ghent, Belgium, the young artist initially began to DJ at the age of 17 under the name “Raving George.” In a male-driven community of electronic musicians, de Witte wanted to be recognized for her DJ skills and kept her gender secret until she began producing darker techno that she signed later under her real name.

2015 was a very prolific year for the Belgium DJ who released on Tiga’s iconic Turbo Label. The same year her track “You’re Mine” reached massive applause. Not just a sharp producer, de Witte is an awe-inspiring DJ with skills that have brought her to some of the world’s most in-demand festivals such as Tomorrowland. In 2019, de Witte launched her label KNTXT delivering upcoming and underground techno.

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Peggy Gou

Peggy Gou is another talented female artist with a fascinating background. A producer, DJ, and fashion designer, Gou was born in Korea but moved to London at the age of 14 to learn English. London was truly a place that allowed the young artist to rise to stardom and hone her musical skills. Influenced by the fantastic nightlife scene of the British capital, Gou played regularly at venues like The Book Club and Cirque du Soir.

After a very successful release of her first production titled “Hungboo” in 2014, Gou began putting out more music on Radio Slave’s label Rekids. Attracting more and more attention, Gou’s success would bring her around the world, playing at some of the world’s largest stages. From the Boiler Room in New York to Berghain in Berlin, Gou regularly performs alongside names like Moodyman or DJ Koze. Today, Gou is based in Berlin and is still one of the most-touring female DJs globally, spinning at festivals such as ADE, Glastonbury, and Coachella.

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Ellen Allien

Ellen Allien is perhaps the most exciting female artists of all time. Born and living in Berlin, there are very few artists with such a long musical journey, consistent releases, and a singular approach to music production. Active since 1992, Allien is the founder and owner of record label BPITCH Control and performs regularly across the globe.

Allien’s prowess in the studio and behind the decks have made her an iconic Berlin figure. She has an impressive discography that showcases her sound evolution from experimental techno to dark minimal sounds. Allien’s last album Alientronic released in 2019 revealed her affinity for hypnotic techno music and dark melodies, a sound that is unique in Germany and across borders.

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Did we miss anyone special on this list? Let us know who your favorite female DJ is in the comments below.

About Angel Lebailly

Angel is a French music producer and journalist. She began her music career 10 years ago in London, DJing and promoting music events. Inspired by various music scenes, she lived in Berlin, Bali, and Tokyo. Angel contributes to large music magazines and music platforms, such as DJ Tech Tools, Magnetic, Musicoin, and Imusify both as a journalist and content writer.