Cue the revolution

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This article was published 20/02/2024 (610 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In a music scene traditionally dominated by men, a local workshop is empowering underrepresented genders to redefine the traditional DJ scene.

Mariana Cañadas — known as M.C. LUV — has always been drawn to music. From playing instruments by ear in her youth to singing alongside musicians, her journey eventually led her to DJing, a passion close to her heart.

“When I would go to DJ parties growing up, I always had fun picking out the songs. I could anticipate the next song the moment the DJ dropped it,” she says.

A Winnipeg-based hairstylist and salon owner who goes by she/her and they/them pronouns, Cañadas has dedicated nearly a decade to DJing. Despite event lineups often featuring multiple DJs, she says female representation remains scarce.

“Too often, when women and non-binary individuals are booked to play, it’s in earlier time slots, which minimizes their visibility in an already underrepresented community,” she says. “I’ve seen a recent shift but it’s few and far between.”

Cañadas is a graduate of a homegrown initiative pioneered by local DJ and music educator Sarah Michaelson a.k.a. Mama Cutsworth.

Established in 2012, Mama Cutsworth’s DJ Academy (rebranded Mama Cutsworth’s DJ Academy for Underrepresented Genders), offers a hands-on workshop for adults whose genders are traditionally overlooked in the DJ realm, including cis or trans women, two-spirit and non-binary individuals.

The academy, which aims to bring more diversity into the world of DJing, teaches students the skills it takes to become a professional DJ, including the basics of scratching, beat-matching songs, stage presence and the history of DJing.

While Michaelson’s academy may be unique in Winnipeg, the conversations around gender and DJing are not.

“There are a lot of talented women, trans, non-binary, immigrant, queer and all identifying people who have a lot to share and express,” says Cañadas, who immigrated to Canada from El Salvador in 1988. “Given the opportunity, it’s not only empowering for those onstage, but also for those who see themselves represented in the performers.”

Whether it’s on festival stages or in club lineups, women and underrepresented genders are in the minority. A survey by female:pressure, an international network of female, transgender and non-binary artists in the fields of electronic music and digital arts, found women made up about one-quarter of the acts booked for electronic music festivals worldwide in 2020 and 2021, while men accounted for just over 59 per cent, non-binary for 1.3 per cent and mixed for 9.1 per cent. These numbers have grown slowly since 2012, but they still show a significant imbalance.

Since graduating from the Academy, Cañadas says she’s proud to bring the music she loves to different audiences.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to play the music I love. And now, Afro Latin house music has been introduced all across the city.”

Gearing up for its ninth season in April, the DJ Academy has seen more than 120 students graduate, with many alumni going on to contribute to Canada’s DJ and music scene.

Michaelson has seen changes in two decades of performing in venues across the city and country.

“Twenty years ago, it was a really different climate,” she says. “There were DJs who were willing to talk about music, but they didn’t understand what it felt like to live as a woman in that environment.”

Then 21, she dealt with everything from harassment to people assuming she didn’t know how to use her equipment.

“It was lonely,” she says. “There was no one I could connect or share experiences with, whether it was about being sexually harassed by a sound tech, or people assuming you’re not the DJ and that you’re the DJs girlfriend, despite walking in with turntables.”

Michaelson took matters into her own hands. Today her DJ Academy is paving the way for a new generation of talent to thrive.

“(The Academy) is trying to carve out a space of solidarity and community because a lot of people walk out their door unsure of where they’ll feel safe,” Michaelson says. “I want people to feel empowered to take the space they need to fully express themselves in a supportive learning environment.”

Michaelson says that even before COVID-19, the program had a wait list. The upcoming sold-out workshop marks the academy’s first since a pandemic pause.

A new addition this year is the collaboration with the Manitoba Conservatory of Music & Arts (MCMA), which approached her last winter.

“It’s very collaborative and the school has been so supportive. It feels very cool to see the DJ Academy take this next step in a space that teaches all kinds of music,” Michaelson says.

The DJ Academy is part of the MCMA’s Music Equals program, which collaborates with a number of community groups and reaches about 2,000 partitipants a year who face economic or social barriers with accessibility to music education.

“We try to create access for marginalized and vulnerable communities and anybody who doesn’t necessarily have access due to various socioeconomic or cultural barriers,” says Domanie Billinghurst-Schadek, program and outreach manager at MCMA. “We cater to the needs of the community while trying to inspire social change through the arts.”

Music Equals previously operated a DJ after-school program, which was put on hold during COVID-19 and is now no longer active. But they were looking to reimagine it and assess the community demand.

“We knew that Sarah had previously delivered this DJ program for underrepresented genders and we wanted to provide an opportunity for that same group of people,” Billinghurst-Schadek says. “Anybody can go and get a set of turntables, maybe. But it’s about finding the least represented among us and creating environments that are nurturing and sensitive to their pasts or challenges that they face.”

The two upcoming DJ workshops, featuring six participants in each, sold out in just 12 hours, prompting MCMA to start a wait list.

“We’re encouraged when people are so excited to participate, because it means that we’ve found something that’s important to the community,” Billinghurst-Schadek says. “Not only will the workshops provide all those non-musical outcomes that we’re looking for, but in this particular situation, it gives graduates opportunities to work. That’s part of our intention.”

The academy concludes with a recital, where the DJ graduates showcase their skills in front of an audience. Michaelson is aiming for an outdoor concert in early summer for this year’s event.

“The recital is one of the most joyous things I’ve ever witnessed in my career,” Michaelson says. “You watch people transform on stage from someone who’s nervous to someone who’s suddenly empowered. It’s this hit of joy and adrenaline.”

Since graduating from the academy, DJing has become Cañadas’ main artistic focus, alongside her entrepreneurship. It serves as a means of self-expression and a channel for sharing the music she loves.

“As an immigrant to Canada, playing music from my ancestry and traditional roots has given me connection and the opportunity to explore the many sounds of the diaspora electronically,” she says.

Cañadas thanks Michaelson for creating a pathway to change and for inviting other underrepresented voices to be part of that journey.

“The DJ workshop introduced me to an entirely new community. I’ve made so many new connections and friendships that I might not have encountered otherwise,” she says. “I want to say for the people in the back, ‘Book more women DJs!’”

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