The decks in the dark, crowded, bass-filled rooms of a nightclub aren’t a traditionally female domain.

However, a collective of drum and bass DJs from Bournemouth are making their mark in what is still a man’s world. GoodVibe And Da Girls – that’s DJ’s GoodVibe (aka Lisa), Lady G, Nicky Nice and Pixie J – are regulars on the underground circuit, playing to packed out crowds at Vibez and Twisted nights, and now have their own Thursday night radio show on Voice FM in Southampton.

What’s more, later this month GoodVibe will take part in a showcase for female DJs in London, on a mission to challenge gender stereotypes across UK dancefloors.

The collective was born in 2009 when Lisa Pinnell (the ‘GoodVibe’ of da girls) started inviting friends to take part in her vinyl-centric radio shows.

“I always wanted to inspire females into the areas of music, DJing and music technology and I have been lucky to push these ideas with my work at various youth projects and FE college courses,” Lisa says. “Now, the GoodVibe and Da Girls radio show has evolved to reflect this passion.”

Although DJing from 1990, she got her first big break in radio with Mike Artwell on DJ Lounge in 2009: “He is one of the most sincere men I have met in this business, and always hugely supportive of the show and our club nights.”

She also works with the Coda Music Trust, and had a regular show on local dance station Afro’disiac before moving over to Voice FM earlier this year. The show, every Thursday night at 11pm, is already attracting a cult following.

“I see Voice FM as our big chance to reach a wider audience, to inspire more females who are interested in dance music to move into music production,” she says. “We are authentic – no gimmicks, no airbrushing. “Females of all shapes, sizes and ages can be DJs. After all, the (male) superstar DJs aren’t all model types! If people aren’t academic, but they love music, there is a real chance for them to turn their passion into a career.”

GoodVibe and Da Girls are also taking part in the Big Chill Bar Female DJs showcase in London until tomorrow – seven nights, 51 DJs and a chance to get the capital music bigwigs to find out what female DJs from all over the UK can do. They will also be gracing the decks at various freshers events in Southampton.

Producer of the Voice FM show, Jen O’Leary, is also a driving force behind the programme, while Lisa and her girls rotate 20-minute sets to ensure a wide spectrum of underground styles, mixed in with competitions, curve ball tracks, interviews, listings and gossip from clubland. “It’s been amazing working with these ladies – long may it continue,” says Lisa.

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