Much love to CanarySing for joining us for the first ever Ladies Salon! The Seattle MC’s helped kick off an intimate and lively discussion about making music in a male-dominated scene, holding your own in a cipher, and the connections between planning a DJ set and rockin’ the mic. Thanks to all the talented women who came out, especially DJ Natty Boom who helped moderate the night. Check out CanarySing’s latest video below and be sure to cop the Beautiful Baby EP. And stay tuned for more info about the next Ladies Salon!

Miss last month’s Intro to DJing workshop? This time we’re doing it even BIGGER and BETTER as we kick off the Ladies Salon, a new discussion series and forum for women DJ’s, artists, and producers. What is the Ladies Salon? Think Inside the DJ’s Studio meets Pecha Kucha. We’ll be talking about our experiences behind the decks, sharing new ideas and projects, offering tools and info for beginners. We’ll also be joined by amazing hip-hop duo and educators/teaching artists CanarySing from Seattle.

Taking their name from Danzy Senna’s book Caucasia and repping 206 hip-hop, CanarySing have been described as “playfully political,” bringing the party and invested in building solidarity on a local and global level. They’re in town as part of an East Coast tour (check out their new album Beautiful Baby, it’s the business!). Together, we’ll be offering a hands-on demonstration and skills-building workshop for aspiring lady DJ’s and MC’s. We’ll also be leading a conversation about gender, identity and breaking barriers on and off the dancefloor.

Be a part of the dialogue as we discuss blurring binaries, creating community, and digging in the crates. Marginalized folks making and mixing music. How it’s bigger than hip-hop (and playing records!). My existential crisis about playing Lil Wayne. Whether or not DJ’s really like taking requests (short answer: not so much). It’s all going down at new U St hotspot Dodge City. Afterward, head over to see CanarySing perform live  Busboys & Poets.

Lifting Voices is an amazing organization that uses the power of words to change lives and transform communities. A few months back they approached me about co-hosting a benefit and really, how could I turn down an offer to support an organization that does such important work? I spent the past 5 years in the youth development trenches in DC so I know how incredibly valuable organizations like this can be, especially for young people and other marginalized folks.

Lifting Voices facilitates writing workshops in domestic violence shelters, schools, afterschool programs, and the juvenile justice system. They also have an oral history program that gathers life stories from fractured communities to share with decision makers, using these stories to inform policy and advocate social justice. They’re doing some exciting things in DC and I’m looking forward to teaming up with my boo Brian Senyo to help raise money and awareness for this organization. Come out and support!

www.liftingvoices.org