In honour of International Women’s Day (IWD), which takes place on Sunday, 8 March, we’re taking a look at five trailblazing women in the music industry who are forging their own paths, challenging the status quo and making an impact with their distinct sounds and artistry.
Established in 1911, this will be the 115th year that IWD is observed. Despite the emphasis on this day, the reality is that most women across the world are still experiencing varying degrees of sexism, misogyny and prejudice. As the music industry is an echo of broader society, it mirrors all of the issues women face in their daily lives while it’s also male dominated.
So, today we’re spotlighting the incredible work and impact of women in the industry; from the high-energy soundscape of Leena Punks to the tender vocals of MØØNE, the heartfelt storytelling of singer-songwriter – turned producer and DJ ALLKNIGHT, to the ocean-inspired melodic sounds of mölly, as well as the dynamism of Koven. We’ve also asked them three key questions related to IWD, while highlighting the incredible releases they dropped this week!
mölly:
mölly is a California-based melodic house producer, DJ and yoga teacher. Her music is crafted with the utmost care and intention, while it oozes with depth, emotion, along with heartfelt chords and melodies. With over 10 million Spotify streams, mölly has shared the stage with the likes of PRAANA, Eelke Kleijn and Estiva to name just a few. Today, she has released a brand new single titled ‘find you’ featuring MØØNE, which has been released on acclaimed melodic and progressive label Colorize.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you personally and professionally?
International Women’s Day, to me, is about authorship. It’s about women writing their own narratives rather than being written into someone else’s. It’s about stepping into the space we occupy fully, without editing ourselves to fit expectations or make others comfortable. It’s also about reimagining what artistry is, and recognizing that excellence in art isn’t defined by gender. When women are fully supported and encouraged, the industry becomes more imaginative, emotionally intelligent, and sustainable. By embracing a broader range of perspectives, we open entirely new possibilities for what art can become. This day isn’t about replacing one voice with another. It’s about expanding the spectrum of what’s possible, so the next generation can stop wondering if they belong and start imagining what they want to create.
With the music industry still being male dominated, do you think the electronic music landscape is changing for women? In your opinion, where is progress happening and where is it lagging?
I believe the landscape is changing, and it’s exciting! More women are producing, DJing, running labels, and building communities than ever before and that visibility really matters. Seeing women in those roles makes it feel possible for others to do the same. At the same time, the industry still has barriers: opportunities aren’t always handed out equally and women frequently have to validate their expertise. But what gives me hope is the resilience and creativity I see everywhere. Women aren’t waiting for permission, they’re creating their own paths, building supportive communities, and shaping the culture from the ground up. True change doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s happening and when it’s built with intention and courage, it’s unstoppable.
Who are the pivotal women in your journey that inspired or supported you?
There have been so many women who have supported and inspired me along the way. Within the industry, artists like BLOND:ISH, LP Giobbi, and Nora En Pure. Outside of music, Eileen Gu and Brianna Wiest. Closer to home, my yoga teacher Janet Stone has supported and guided me for the last decade, helping me develop discipline, trust, and the courage to step into my own power. Together, these women have taught me that authenticity, intention, and love are qualities that ripple far beyond the individual, influencing the greater world around us.
Stream ‘Find You’ ft MØØNE below:
Leena Punks:
Known for her euphoric take on techno and breaks, Leena Punks has made quite an impression since her emergence in 2020. Based in London, she’s built a global fan base, and has received support from the likes of Armin Van Buuren, Korolova and Meduza. She has performed at some of the biggest festivals in the world, such as Creamfields, Tomorrowland and Dreamstate. Today, Leena Punks dropped her latest single ‘In the Night’ featuring Braev via Enhanced Music. The track is atmospheric and driving, showcasing Leena’s forward-thinking approach.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you personally and professionally?
International Women’s Day is a reset for me. It is a moment to honour the women who have carried me, challenged me, and shown me what is possible, and to check in with my own standards, confidence, and boundaries.
Professionally, it is a reminder that representation in electronic music is not just a nice to have. It shapes who feels welcome to create, who feels they can take up space on a lineup, and who feels safe walking into a studio session or a green room. International Women’s Day is also an opportunity to be honest about what still needs work in our scene, especially around safety, respect, and accountability in nightlife. With the hard dance and hard techno world in particular, there have been a lot of difficult conversations recently, and I have really respected seeing women use their platforms to push that forward. Artists like Amelie Lens and SPFDJ, along with so many others, speaking up and setting standards matters because it helps shift the culture from this is just how it is to this is what we expect. For me, that is what progress looks like, celebrating women’s artistry while also making the scene safer and more sustainable for everyone.
With the music industry still being male dominated, do you think the electronic music landscape is changing for women? In your opinion, where is progress happening and where is it lagging?
Yes, it is still very male dominated. I have played festivals where I am the only woman on the lineup, and that says a lot about how far we still have to go.I do think the landscape is changing. I see more women breaking through, more women led bills, stronger communities, and more open conversations about standards in nightlife, including safety and accountability. That progress matters. Where it is lagging is in access and power. It is not just about being booked, it is about being booked in the prime slots, being trusted in sessions, and having equal respect behind the scenes. And even though I love seeing more women rise, I still notice that many are closely linked to male gatekeepers in the industry, whether that is through teams, networks, or co signs. I am not sure we have the same power yet as individuals compared to our male counterparts, especially at the highest levels. The next step is equal opportunity and equal authority, not just visibility.
Who are the pivotal women in your journey that inspired or supported you?
There have been a few pivotal women in my journey who have inspired me and supported me in different ways, especially because when I first started in Greece I honestly did not have many real role models around me. When I told friends I wanted to learn production, a lot of people did not understand why. Even when I moved to London and did my course there, back in 2013 it still felt like people expected me to just DJ, and not necessarily take the production side seriously too. That is part of why seeing women do it at the highest level mattered so much to me.
In terms of inspiration, Nicole Moudaber has always stood out. I love how she leads with strength and confidence, how she does not take nonsense, and how she has built her own world as both an artist and a promoter. We also share the same birthday date, which I find really special. Nina Kraviz was one of the first female DJs I saw where it clicked for me that women can absolutely do this at the highest level. And more recently, artists like Amelie Lens and Hannah Laing have been inspiring to watch, not just for the success, but for the way they carry themselves and set standards.
In terms of direct support, Jaguar from BBC Introducing has been one of my earliest major champions and she still supports me heavily on radio. I really admire how much she does for women and for new talent in general. Charlie Hedges has also been a huge supporter, she gave me my two BBC Radio 1 Hottest Records, which was a massive moment for me. And I have to mention my manager Kelly, her knowledge is incredible and she genuinely supports women, not just with words but with action and consistency. I feel lucky to have women like that in my corner.
Stream ‘In the Night’ below:
ALLKNIGHT:
ALLKNIGHT does it all! She started out as a singer-songwriter, and has now set her sights on producing and DJing. Her breakout moment came in 2023 when she collaborated with Marsh on two tracks on his album Endless which dropped on Anjunadeep. Now, as a fully fledged producer and DJ, ALLKNIGHT has captivated audiences with her iconic melodic house textures, authentic storytelling and sound design. She recently wrapped up a tour with Marsh where she performed at iconic venues including Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Webster Hall and The Fonda Theatre. Her discography includes releases on influential labels like Colorize, Monstercat, Anjunadeep and This Never Happened. On Wednesday, 4 March she released her most assured and profound offering to date on Colorize, How Did We Make It Here / Afterthought EP.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you personally and professionally?
It’s so great to have a day to celebrate the women around me who I love and look up to! I’m very lucky to have lots of close girlfriends and so on a day like IWD I feel nothing but pride for all of them in their own ways. Professionally I think it’s so important to have that spotlight because the industry is still very underrepresented, and give credit to those who are pushing boundaries and making a path for future women and girls.
With the music industry still being male dominated, do you think the electronic music landscape is changing for women? In your opinion, where is progress happening and where is it lagging?
This is a subject that is very close to my heart – I actually did my university dissertation on why there are so few women in music production. Even in the 5 years since I left uni there is already lots of progress – yes there is a long way to go but I think it’s so important to celebrate the wins. I personally have seen more women stepping into the producers role, and lots more behind the decks which is amazing! There are definitely more women on line ups now, however I do still think we need to have more and not just on the opening slot. This is a time where women are stepping into these typically ‘male dominated’ fields and realising that we are just as capable of doing it! I think that this pocket of the electronic industry is a kind space to be in, personally I find it feels welcoming as a female producer / DJ and for that I am so thankful.
Who are the pivotal women in your journey that inspired or supported you?
My mum! I feel so lucky to have such an incredible mum and also a very close relationship with her. She has always been so hard working and determined, and I think thats played a huge part in influencing me into the person I am today. Not only that, she has been there for me a supported my every single step of the way. It must be so hard being a parent and your child tells you they want to go into an industry like music that can be so brutal, and so uncertain. At no point in any stage of my career so far has she doubted me or held me back, in fact it’s been the opposite! Love ya mum <3
Stream How Did We Make It Here / Afterthought below:
MØØNE:
Although MØØNE is relatively new to the music industry, she’s made quite a powerful impact with her stunning vocals and remarkable songwriting ability. She debuted on Monstercat in 2024 with her track ‘Wildfire’ in collaboration with Banaati and Dokho. With over 20 million Spotify streams to date, MØØNE has also worked with the likes of Yotto, Zac Samuel and Le Youth, while she’s released music on Armada Music, Enhanced Music and AVA Recordings. Her track with mölly was released today via Colorize, and highlights her ability to pour unwavering depth into her music.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you personally and professionally?
Working in an industry that has typically been more male-led, IWD feels like an opportunity to shine a light on all the women who are breaking through the ceiling. It’s a reminder that there is space for women in music — and that space continues to grow. It almost feels like a checkpoint each year to reflect and truly recognize how much room women are allowing themselves (rightfully) to take up. Personally, I’m so inspired by all the women in my life. My idols — both creatively and personally — have always been women. Female strength and emotional intuition are things I remain in awe of every day anyway, but having a dedicated day for everyone to truly celebrate that is so important.
With the music industry still being male dominated, do you think the electronic music landscape is changing for women? In your opinion, where is progress happening and where is it lagging?
I do think the landscape is changing. When I think back to when I started, I rarely (if ever) saw female producers or DJs – it felt like women’s roles in the scene were predominantly in toplining. It’s very much a domino effect, and the pioneers in the space are constant reminders that it’s possible to be a woman in music who is not only taken seriously, but can truly thrive. It’s so important to focus on these continued improvements and on every female success. However, I think there are still many assumptions that have yet to shift. There’s often still the assumption that the woman on a track must be the vocalist rather than the producer, and I think there’s work to do in allowing female electronic artists more space in performance settings. On the DJ side, that means more female headliners. For vocalists, I think it’s about greater recognition of their contribution overall. There’s still an element of the vocalist’s role being overshadowed by that of the producer or DJ — particularly when that artist is male.
Who are the pivotal women in your journey that inspired or supported you?
As a whole, my friends and family have been nothing short of inspiring and supportive – but particularly my sister and my mum. My sister also works in a creative industry that is very male-led, so we’ve always been each other’s cheerleaders through the more challenging aspects. She’s the most ambitious, driven, authentic, and honest person I know – all qualities that have inspired me to be the same and, ultimately, to allow myself to enjoy my own creative journey as it’s evolved and to become more comfortable putting myself out there. My mum has always been my number one fan and supporter in absolutely everything I do. She’s the reason I love cooking, the reason I love running, and also the reason I fell in love with music. She never fails to listen to every single release, and she always lets me know how proud she is.
Stream ‘Find You’ below:
Koven:
UK-based duo Koven, which is comprised of singer-songwriter Katie Boyle and producer Max Rowat, have been making waves since they burst onto the scene nearly a decade ago. Known for their high energy productions, the duo have released music on labels like Liquicity and Circus Records. They’re also not shy of slowing down the tempo, and have released numerous tracks on melodic and progressive labels like Enhanced Music and Anjunadeep. Today, Koven dropped a heavyweight drum and bass remix of Audien’s hit ‘In Every Life’ via Enhanced Music. The track is primed as a peak-time dancefloor weapon as Koven triumphantly reimagines the progressive original into a high-octane extravaganza.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you personally and professionally?
Personally, it’s about the continued need to speak up about violence against women, injustices against women and the fact we still have a very long way to go in making sure women and girls feel safe. Protecting woman rights, especially against their bodily autonomy. Professionally, it’s about making women feel safe in a space that we can be very vulnerable. Late nights, dark rooms, drunk men, it’s very important that all women feel safe working in these environments, not just the female DJs but the female promoters, tour managers. sound techs, artists liaisons etc. We need the good men to step up and keep an eye on the women around them when they are in this environment.
With the music industry still being male dominated, do you think the electronic music landscape is changing for women? In your opinion, where is progress happening and where is it lagging?
I do think it’s changing, I have seen a drastic change in lineups I’ve been apart of across the last 10 years. Women are being represented better, and not just as quota fillers but because there are so many talented women smashing it! There is still a way to go but the improvement I’ve personally seen has been great.
Who are the pivotal women in your journey that inspired or supported you?
I’ve been so lucky to have to be on this journey with some incredible women, who I can now call my friends. Charlie Tee, Charlotte Haining, Alittle Sound, honestly the list could go on for ages, because in drum and bass women do really support women. I feel inspired everyday by so many of my fellow DJs and vocalists. When I was starting out my inspirations where Ayah Marah, Jenna G, MC Tali, Belle Humble – if I hadn’t seen these women on the stage I wouldn’t have thought it would be possible, especially going back 10+ years when the scene was ridiculously male dominated.
Stream Audien – ‘In Every Life’ (Koven remix) below:
