DJ Minx back in the mix

As Onelove’s first female resident DJ, Rachel Phillips — aka DJ Minx — was carving out a steady career in the dance music world. All that changed last September when she won the EMI Music She Can DJ competition.

Since then, life’s been a jetsetting blur as she’s soundtracked the parties of the rich and famous.

“I’d been playing for seven and a half years and working towards this, but winning the comp and then having a huge label like EMI on your side, you get the reach you can’t get on your own,” Phillips told the Star Observer.

“I’ve played afterparties at the Grammys and the Brits, and I’m going back to Ibiza in May to play some more parties — the boost it’s given me is priceless.”

Phillips embarks on an extensive national tour this week that will see her through to her upcoming Ibiza trip. She’s also just released her first compilation CD, She Can DJ Presents Minx — a tidy 78-minute mix of her current favourite dance tracks by the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Avicii and Calvin Harris.

“It’s all the style I normally play in clubs and festivals — a big room, progressive house sort of sound. I do love vocal house though. As long as there’s something there that people can sing along to, that’s what I’m digging for.”

While discussions about the marginalisation of female artists in the music industry may seem a little trite when ladies like Adele and Lady Gaga are kicking the arses of their male contemporaries, it seems DJing is that last bastion of male domination.

Phillips, though, insisted things had changed drastically during her time in the industry.

“It was very hard starting out and it was such a male-dominated industry, but I don’t think that’s the case any more. Having a competition like [She Can DJ] shows that there are a lot of talented female DJs out there, a lot more than the public may know about,” she said.

Male or female, image is an increasingly important factor in the popularity of DJs. We’re in an era where DJs like David Guetta or Diplo are bigger names than the pop stars they collaborate with.

“Now just being a DJ isn’t enough — it’s a full package. You’re producing, you’re selling yourself and selling out clubs and festivals,” Phillips acknowledged.

“It’s incredible how much DJs have risen in popularity in the past few years.”

INFO: She Can DJ compilation out now. DJ Minx touring now. www.shecandj.com