Mixing electronic dance music is an experience that transcends the ordinary. Behind the decks lives an area for reinvention, control, and release. It’s the ability to shape an incessant beat that compels people to move until they lose themselves as one. Layering melodies, pitching synths, and curating tracks chopped with electrifying drops— beneath the high volume, there’s a quiet mastery at play.
Dishing out the good of this head-rushing hook is BBG, a Brighton-based DJ collective. Through their curated club nights, workshops and monthly 1BTN radio show, BBG uplifts queer and gender minority creatives, providing a space for non-conforming identities to make noise removed from the norms of gendered expectation.
I first came across BBG at one of their open-decks nights at The Actors in Kemptown a couple of years back. These events give aspiring female and gender minority DJs a chance to mix whatever gets them excited on a professional sound system. Experimentation is encouraged and immediate feedback – whether it be technical advice, track ID requests, or just collective bass face – is all part of the formula. As BBG co-founder Ruth describes it, these nights provide an environment where “creativity flourishes” and a shared love for the rave scene sparks newfound connections.
With BBG championing the gender non conforming community, more Brighton venues are following suit, increasing opportunities for under-represented DJs around town. On March 8th, in celebration of International Women’s Day, Capsule Records in Hove will host a women-fronted open-decks lineup headed by local DJ Sophie Lloyd. Meanwhile, Embrace at The Gladstone on Lewes Road offers a regular drum and bass night in a cosy LGBTQIA+ space, yet promises anything but a chilled one, with hardcore bangers and good vibes all around.
When it comes to building community, just like the beats crafted for the dancefloor, the bigger the better. Groups like BBG are always on the lookout for more volunteers and creatives to pitch in. After all, electronic dance music is more than just sound: it’s an energy, an open invitation and a super power for anyone who wants it.
BBG will be playing at the 1BTN takeover of Fortune of War this International Women’s Day, featuring an amazing line up of the city’s best gender expansive and women DJs. Catch BBG from 7pm onwards. Stay in the loop by following @bbg_brighton on Instagram.
