Vanessa Freeman

IT is an industry still dominated by a sweaty man with headphones locked to his ears, grimacing as he stands behind a set of record decks and works the crowd with basslines and beeps: but the male world of dance music and sound systems is now being challenged, one festival at a time, by an all-women crew of DJs, producers and MCs.

The Eves’Drop Collective, founded five years ago, has become internationally renowned for its members’ blend of funky sounds with live, original work – and by the fact they are rewriting the rules when it comes to events.

While women DJs, performers and producers have made a massive impact on the evolution of dance music, all too often today festival line ups have a tiny percentage of female acts.

For singer, DJ and producer Vanessa Freeman, it was an obvious issue that had an obvious answer.

Vanessa, who lives in Tufnell Park, joined forces during the Covid lockdown with 13 other female DJs and MCs to create  the Eves’Drop Collective, which includes music producers, DJs, MCs and singers.

“The experience of not being able to get out there and play music at parties helped focus our minds on the reality that many dance music events were heavily populated by male performers,” she says.

“While we know and work with many great male DJs, it was a fact there was a need for female DJs and MCs to have a place where they could share what they were doing, and address a clear imbalance.”

Their success has led to international acclaim, with Eves’Drop booked at numerous European festivals. Made up of respected music industry names – Andrea Trout, Angel Mel, Bembe Segue, DJ Amazon, DJ Tunesmith, Duchy Peas, Laura Weaver, Lil’ Minx, Miss Soxee, NikNak, Ruby Swallow, Sarah Sweeney, Sweet P and Vanessa Freeman – the 14-strong team bring a wide range of talent.

Members of Eves’Drop Collective

Vanessa’s performances in Camden for the Dig It Sound System have become legendary. Her roster includes signing for jazz icon Herbie Hancock, working with the Japanese group the Kyoto Jazz Massive, MC’ing for DJ
Mr Scruff, and working with saxophonist Nathan Haines.

The members come from across the UK and a variety of genres to create a nationwide collective that performs together and in smaller groups.

They made their festival debut at We Out Here in 2021, curated by DJ Giles Peterson, and have made the festival – which is known for its discerning approach to booking acts – an annual festival for an eclectic mix of soulful rhythms and rhymes. Eves’Drop appear there this weekend.

Vanessa added: “Our mission is to encourage and support all women to be seen and heard behind the decks and on the mic. In the past there was sometimes a sense that women weren’t really part of the sound system, DJ, MC and dance music culture.

“That’s obviously nonsense, but many female DJs and MCs would find themselves as the only women in a line-up.

“I’d meet other women performers and we shared our experiences – it was clear that we could do something to change this.”

And as well as adding to the show with her voice on the microphone, Vanessa is an esteemed DJ herself.

“I love to play the tunes that influenced me as an artist,” she says.

“From an early age my parents gave me many musical gems to listen to which ignited my singing and playing passions.”

Her range is wide – she draws on  everything from Jazz to Gospel, Soul, Afro, Dance, Hip Hop and Drum’n’Bass.

“Music is my healing place,” she adds. “Sharing music with others, and watching the impact Eves’Drop has on a crowd, is really special.”­

• Eves’Drop perform at the We Out Here festival this weekend, in the grounds of Wimborne St Giles, Dorset
weoutherefestival.com/