Turn the Tables – Charlotte & the Female DJ

Turn the Tables
Charlotte & the Female DJ
Ellen Gurley

When I started DJing in the late ‘90’s, there were only about a handful of female DJs in Charlotte at that time. At the risk of sounding cliché, we had to forge our own way in a male dominated industry. Lucky for us, we were usually taken seriously, though we did encounter gatekeepers and folks who viewed us as a novelty. That didn’t stop us. These days, I am mostly retired, but I play about twice a year for Smitty at Vinyl (Jan. 13^th & May 12^th in 2027 as LNMental). I no longer have the time or the desire to be relevant, I just like to get it out of my system occasionally. Spider, who I played alongside beginning around 2002, is very much so still quite active and it is a beautiful thing to see. We’ve come a long way from lugging our turntables and multiple crates of records uphill both ways in the snow. Now people play vinyl or laptops depending upon the venue and there are dozens of ladies playing around Charlotte. And that number is growing. I figure – the more the merrier. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of other female DJs in town, but haven’t been introduced to them all. DJs DK, Dil3mma, She’s A Plus, and, of course, Spider are a few of my favourites. None of these ladies wants to get married to one genre as they play many different clubs and for various audiences. I caught up with them recently, although they are all quite busy, and requested a list of their top five “bangers”. Albeit a cringe ask, they submitted. They are sports. Treat yourself to checking them out sometime and thank you for supporting the local DJ scene.

DJ SPIDER
Suzann Knudsen
Instagram: @thatdjspider

1. I Wanna Dance with Somebody- Whitney Houston
2. Yeah – Usher
3. Crank – Slayter
4. Welcome to the Black Parade – My Chemical Romance
5. Personal Jesus – Depeche Mode

• Fri., Dec. 18^th @ Tommy’s Pub: DJ Spider’s Silly Christmas
• Sat., Dec. 12^th @ Tommy’s Pub: Requiem Goth Dance Party w. DJs Dil3mma & Sanity Ana + guest Spider
• Saturdays Nov. 28^th & Dec. 19^th “Digital Noir” at the Milestone w. DJ Spider & guest

DJ DK
Danielle Kharman
Instagram: @daniellekharman

1. Rise – Herb Alpert
2. Made you Look – Nas
3. Kiss of Life – Sade
4. Another Star – Stevie Wonder
5. Love is the Message – MSFB
(honorable mention: Running – Information Society)

• 2^nd Wednesdays @ VINYL w. Smitty 8pm-1am “Wednesdays on Wax” : Nov. 11^th & Dec. 9^th
• Saturdays @ the Story of Mi Carino : 1st & 3rd Saturdays w. DJ DK (Danielle Kharman)
• other residencies: rotating weekender at Soul Gastrolounge & most “Off the Wall’ events

DJ DIL3MMA
Emma Hoefle
Instagram: @dj.dil3mma

1. Never Let me Down Again – Depeche Mode
2. Health’s cover of Blue Monday w. Leather Strip’s You Spin Me Round
3. Headhunter – Front 242
4. Siouxsie and the Banshee’s – Cities in Dust
5. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics

• Saturdays Nov. 14^th (guest: Blondzai) & Dec. 12^th (guest: Spider) @ Tommy’s Pub: Requiem Goth Dance Party w. DJs Dil3mma & Sanity Ana
• other residency: Shadow Play at Crown Station w. DJs Kraftward & Christian Hoefle

DJ SHE’S A PLUS
April Harley
Instagram: shes_a_plus

1. What we Do – Freeway, Beanie Sigel, Jay-Z
2. Back That A## up – Juvenile
3. We Gonna Make it – Jadakiss, Styles P
4. Whistle While You Twerk – Ying Yang Twins
5. Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop – Young Gunz
(bonus: Let’s Go – Key Glock)

• 2^nd Fridays @ Salud Cerveceria: DJ She’s a Plus – Nov. 13^th & Dec. 11^th
• Catch She’s A Plus a few times a year with DJ Maal under the name Twin Flame DJs.

– illustration by John Burgin