International Women’s Day (IWD) serves as a celebration of, and reflection on, the progress and challenges women worldwide, including those in the music industry face. This year, the London-based progressive house label Colorize is marking IWD 2024 with a groundbreaking release and accompanying b3b DJ set that spotlights female talent in dance music. The label’s three-track EP, featuring remixes by the incredibly talented AmyElle, Lili Chan, and Just Her, commemorates this global celebration while amplifying women’s voices in a sphere where they’ve historically been underrepresented.
Through their unique sounds and stories, these artists contribute to the narrative of female empowerment and creativity, setting the stage for an in-depth exploration of how International Women’s Day impacts the music industry.
We sat down with these three artists to discuss the significance of this particular release and its broader implications for the industry. Each remix on the EP shows the artists’ unique styles, production chops, and the diverse perspectives they bring to the electronic music scene. From Lili Chan’s incorporation of traditional Japanese instruments to AmyElle’s club-oriented beats and Just Her’s dance floor breaks, the EP embodies the spirit of IWD by showcasing the innovation and ingenuity of female artists.
Can you describe the inspiration behind your remix for the Colorize EP?
AMYELLE: I decided to remix ‘Take Me Back’ by 28mm and Julian Gray because I was really drawn to its emotional depth and meaningful lyrics. At that time, I was experimenting with crafting more club-oriented beats in the studio, so the idea of taking the full vocal and elevating it to resonate with listeners on the dance floorwas really appealing to me. While I’ve kept the progressive feel of the original, I’ve added my own touch to make it more suitable for my DJ sets. This involved deepening the sound, incorporating some nice arps, and introducing big synth lines to give it that extra depth and energy.
JUST HER: Honestly the original parts and the vocals on this one were a total inspiration, so it was a complete dream to remix. I really wanted to keep the essence of the original and tried to use as many of the parts as possible while putting my own dance floor breaks inspired spin on it, with a big breakdown and drop for that ‘hands in the air’ moment, which I hope I’ve managed to achieve. It has been doing the damage in my sets recently which is a pretty good sign! The fact that it is part of a wider project celebrating International Women’s Day alongside some other boss female artists makes it even cooler.
LILI CHAIN: The original composition captivated me with its gentle harmonies and soulful singing. The raw openness and profound emotional layers of the music struck a chord with my passion for melodious tunes that have the power to transform into something deeply personal and extraordinary. To infuse my own cultural flair, I incorporated the enchanting sounds of traditional Japanese instruments like the Koto and taiko.
Follow Lili Chan: Spotify // Instagram // Soundcloud // Facebook
How do you navigate creative expression in an industry that has been criticized for its treatment of women?
LILI CHAIN: I navigate my creative expression by staying true to my vision and values: It’s important to maintain your integrity and stay true to your creative vision, without compromising your artistic expression or beliefs to fit into the industry’s expectations. It’s important to embrace your uniqueness and use your voice to challenge and change the status quo.
JUST HER: Creative expression is hard enough anyway but as a female in this industry we are subject to a higher level of scrutiny, criticism and trolling than our male counterparts. It can cause a lot of imposter syndrome and personally there have been many times when sexism in the scene has worn me down so much that I’ve come close to quitting because of it. Although it is easier said than done, the key is to make music you are completely passionate about and forget what anyone else says or thinks! In fact over the years I’ve taught myself to use criticism and negativity as fuel to push myself even harder and achieve even higher. I guess you just have to keep doing what you love.. and supporting others along the way is also a vibe!
AMYELLE: Staying true to myself is key, and trying not to care what others think. It’s important to have a strong network of friends so when I am uncertain, I can connect with people who care.
Follow AmyElle: Spotify // Instagram // Soundcloud // Facebook
Do you see the future of female artists in the dance music scene evolving?
JUST HER: I’ve been working in the scene for a couple of decades now and I’ve already seen the tides slowly shifting towards a more equal playing field and better opportunities for women in the industry compared to the old days. We still have a long way to go though, so I definitely see the future of female artists evolving even further, hopefully to a point where we are equally respected rather than being underestimated or patronised in the studio and on stage which still happens more often than you might believe. I’m looking forward to the day when we have completely erased the subconscious bias towards male artists that still bubbles underneath the whole scene, and we have equal representation on line ups without the need for female initiatives or diversity quotas. That’s the dream 🙂
LILI CHAIN: I think the future of female artists in the dance music scene is definitely evolving. The dance music scene is becoming more inclusive and diverse, and female artists are playing a crucial role in shaping its future. Their unique perspectives and creativity are bringing fresh energy and new sounds to the scene, and I’m excited to see how it will continue to evolve.
AMYELLE: Absolutely. I’m optimistic about the direction the scene is heading. While I’m still at the beginning of my journey in this industry, I’ve noticed a positive shift with more visibility and acknowledgment of female artists. It’s inspiring to see organisations like Lady Of House, Femme House, Girls I Rate, Shesaid.so, Women in Music, among others, actively supporting women in music. My hope is that we’ll reach a point where we see just as many females as males in all positions within the music industry. It’s important to keep pushing for this positive change and supporting one another along the way.
Looking forward, what is one goal you have that goes beyond music to impact the industry or society at large?
AMYELLE: I want to break down barriers and empower young women to explore their creativity and technical skills in the music industry. By providing mentorship, resources, and support, I aim to contribute to a more inclusive and diverse music community where all aspiring female producers feel confident and empowered to follow their dreams.
LILI CHAIN: One of my goals is to promote diversity and inclusivity in the music industry. I want to work towards breaking down barriers and creating a more equal and representative space for artists from all backgrounds. By doing so, I hope to inspire change and contribute to a more inclusive society.
JUST HER: I always try to be as vocal as possible about my mission to bring back kindness and compassion as a cornerstone of the industry and the society beyond it. I feel like social media has played a big role in the decline of the way we speak to each other and treat each other as human beings. There is enough room for us all to support each other. We can disagree and still be respectful. Let’s make kindness and compassion the new flex!
Follow Just Her: Spotify // Instagram // Soundcloud // Facebook
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
