SISTER SF Feature in KARMA Mag
Karma Magazine: October 2003 We Are Family By Starla Estrada Photographs by Mark Skorheim The Sister SF DJ collective is conquering the creative patriarchy with its brand of talent, style and community spirit. Be prepared: they’re coming to a city near you. While most crews come together over a particular style of music, San Francisco-based Sister SF was born under a different premise; the solidarity of sisterhood. But make no mistake–this is not your baby sister’s “girls only” club. This is a collective of kick-ass female DJs who are making waves in the dance-music industry. Sure they’ll let the boys play too, but even they have to dress in drag to spin at Sister SF parties and charity events.
In 1997, DJs XJS and Siren came up with the idea of creating a positive, motivating support system for themselves and other women in the industry. The goal: to broaden the scope of female DJs as performers and producers in the varying genres, which range from house to techno, drum-n-bass to breaks, trance to electroclash. “The main focus is our talent and not our gender,” said DJ Elz, a new member who spins funky house and breaks. Membership has it’s benefits-primarily, the competitive edge of safety in numbers. “Being part of the organization paves the way for gigs,” acknowledges DJ XJS, an expatriate from Ireland who mixes drum-n-bass. According to her, many promoters and club owners won’t take a chance with a DJ unless they are part of a crew or club. Fellow member DJ Samira agreed: “With the right balance of people, you can get a lot done with a crew. Collectively, you expand your resources and connections. You learn a lot from each other’s experiences.” The Sisters have also had to deal with problems unique to an industry that remains male dominated. The request to dress “sexy” for a gig is an occasional dilemma, and the Sisters much decide between their concerns about sexual objectification and the realities of getting booked. Still being a female has not cause many career setbacks. “I have never been passed over for a gig because I am a female, said DJ Elz. “I usually do feel like I have more to prove than a male DJ. In the past I have felt judges by my looks, but I just let my skills speak for themselves. I have gotten a good, supportive response from other male DJs.” In order to maintain a handle on their goals, the Sister crew keeps the group relatively small, averaging ten or so members at a time. Established Sisters nominate new members based on their skills and reputations as local DJs. Nominees must complete a six-month internship, allowing everyone time to work together and see if the collaboration works. “The internship is like an apprenticeship. It was developed as a way to keep the girls working,” said Amber, a techno and hard-house DJ. “To keep the flow and awareness that once you’re in it’s not just a smooth, marble path.” Jobs are voluntary and determined on the basis of ability and desire. While there are no titles or mandatory duties each lady is expected to ass to the crew in any way she can, whether working on the website, organizing events, promoting or spinning. If a Sister can’t devote time and energy to the collective, she maybe asked to step aside to “guest” status until she can further commit. Despite the “work,” the aim is always to have fun. After all, DJing might be a career, but these women do it for the love of music. In these tough economic times, especially, making ends meet can be challenging. Original member Polywog (she played the blissed-out, dreadlocked DJ in the film Groove) has been spinning for more than 12 years, mixing everything from Van Halen to Billie Holiday. Three years ago, during the dot-com boom, she earned up to $3,000 a gig. Today comparable gigs pay her around $1,000. Despite the down-turn, the Sisters are committed tot he evolution of their careers. Many have branched out with side careers. Some have found creative outlets: Amber is executive producer and host of a club-based TV show called :CODE, while Seraphim has recently launched Recordwhore.com, an on-line record store. In the past year, Sister factions have developed in the New York City, Seattle and Portland (Sister NYC, Sister SEA, and Sister PDX, respectively). These groups were established as natural extensions of the crew, usually when a former Sister relocated to a new city. The crew is also regularly approached by women in cities all over the country who want to create their own Sister division. Although the interest is flattering, the group is cautious about lending the Sister name. The collective abides by a mission to uphold women as equals to males, so new branches must show that they can be booked based on skills, not gender. Ultimately, the members want to be fairly involved before starting a new branch. DJ XJS suggested that interested women in other cities start their own group, with an “original title that Sister SF could possibly advise and guide through development.” In the future, expect the crew to pop up in more major cities in the U.S. and perhaps internationally. Long-term goals include a Sister record label and a booking agency. Despite the transient nature of clubbing and DJing, these self-described “proactive dreamers” have stuck around. “We’re the bugs rooted deep in the carpet,” Polywog said. “We’re here to stay.” To read more about Sisters and to find out about events go to www.sistersf.com Reproduced with permission from Karma Magazine
