The Women Producers of Afropunk Brooklyn

Honey Dijon

Image Source: Defected

Honey Dijon – producer, electronic musician, and fashion icon – graced the stage in impeccable style at Afropunk in Brooklyn. Her bumping beats are as sweet and tasteful as her name; known for mastering of a diverse array of genres, Honey Dijon is continually celebrated for curating sets that cut across genres, infusing the spirit of her hometown (Chicago) into every aspect of her musical creations, and stunning audiences with her electrifying live performances. As a multi-disciplinary creative, it is no surprise that Honey finds herself often at the intersection and fashion, music, and culture. For example, she has compiled and curated music sets for Louis Vuitton’s men’s fashion shows,  and she also has been featured in the New York Times style section.

Josey Rebelle 

Image Source: Djane Mag

London-native Josey Rebelle has held her Sunday show on Rinse FM for the past six years, and she has rightfully gained a large following as a result. As one of London’s most booked, effective, and dynamic DJS/producers, it might come as a surprise that Josey Rebelle shies away from the limelight — in any interaction with Rebelle, one can immediately sense her soft-spoken personality and gentle disposition. But behind the turntable, Josey Rebelle is powerful, commanding, and overly talented.

Anaïs B 

International producer and DJ Anaïs B performed at the Afropunk Festival in both Paris, France and Brooklyn, New York. As a self-proclaimed “citizen of the world,” DJ Anaïs B has learned how to be creative in the most restricting of places. Airports, airplanes, trains, and other modes of transportation are DJ Anaïs B’s spaces for musical creation and innovation. You can find a small snippet of her Afropunk Paris performance here. Her talents extend beyond DJing — as a versatile creative, DJ Anaïs B is also a television host for BET France and a fashion influencer.

DJ Lindsey

Image Source: Zimbio

DJ Lindsey, legally known as Lindsey Caldwell, was an original resident  at Top of the Standard inside the Standard Hotel in New York, New York. Now, DJ Lindsey plays at New York’s most famous underground hubs of house and electronic music. According to her site, “her long running Negroclash night at APT in the early ‘00s—at which she shared the decks with the likes of Afrika Baambaata, Mantronix and Larry Heard, along with her partners Duane and DJ Language—was the foundation for this logical mix alongside early residencies of Metro Area and James Murphy, the night was a celebration of the African-American contribution to electronic music.”

TYGAPAW 

Image Source: The Fader

TYGAPAW, formally known as Dion McKenzie, is a woman of many talents. This Jamaican immigrant is a producer, DJ, party promoter, and designer! Living in New York City, TYGAPAW hosts a monthly party called Fake Accent in which she draws upon her experience as a queer woman of color in the city to create and curate a night full of music by queer and trans artists of color. In 2002 when McKenzie arrived in New York City, she took on two separate projects:  a band named My M.O., and a rap duo called Kowabunga Tyga. Her partner in the rap duo, Enki, encouraged McKenzie to learn Ableton — it was then that TYGAPAW fell in love with music production and being in creative control of her musical endeavors.

Coco & Breezy

Image Source: Talking with Tami

These identical twin sisters are taking over the music and fashion worlds, and it is no surprise to see why. Firstly, their sunglass and fashion broad, Coco and Breezy, has been rocked by icons such as Prince, Beyonce, Rihanna, Quavo, and Demi Lovato. Secondly, the twins know how to throw a good party; just last week, the duo threw a baby shower for Fenty muse and celebrated model Slick Woods. And lastly, Coco & Breezy have a skill behind the DJ booth — the two even DJ’ed at Lil Uzi Vert’s birthday party! Coco and Breezy constantly surprise us with the unexpected.

Mistervacation

Image Source: Wavy Lady

If you cannot catch Mistervacation at the club, check the lab. This 24-year old New York based medical student by day and DJ/producer by night gained traction after she was seen DJing at Solange’s MET Gala after party. Studying in hopes to become a psychiatrist, Mistervacation proves to girls across the world that you can become a doctor AND a music producer at the same time (you might just not get any sleep!).

Bearcat

Image Source: Discwoman

Kerrie Ann Murphy, artistically known at Bearcat, is a producer, DJ, and composer whose music reflects her political beliefs. She infuses her musical creations with political gestures of disobedience, defiance, and empowerment. This Philadelphia-based artist is part of the women collective Discwoman, and has worked not only as a DJ and producer, but also an audio engineer and professional make-up artist since 2005. She has performed sets for artists including 21 Savage, CupcakKe, and more. Her willingness and bravery to dig deep into her emotional side in her musical work is what truly makes Bearcat unique and one-of-a-kind.

BBZ

Image Source: Afropunk

According to the Afropunk site, BBZ (Bold Brazen Zamis) or babes “is an art party and collective run by six queer black womxn artists all the way from south east London. Their work prioritizes the experience of Queer, trans and non binary people of colour, celebrating the beauty and resilience within their community. Providing a platform that explores a plethora of mediums within Visual Arts and music trying to address accessibility issues within arts institutions and clubbing culture.”

Gabsoul 

Image Source: Vimeo

Gabsoul grew up surrounded by music; her father was a DJ, and you can feel Gabsoul’s appreciation of her father’s genre’s music in her own mixes. Blending hip-hop, house, and R&B, Gabsoul also strategically weaves in Caribbean flare into her DJ sets. A first-generation Trinidadian/Guyanese-American, Gabsoul has torn up the New York City creative community with her positive energy and radiant personality while performing.