Lotus by NAM: the Manchester night championing local w0mxn in music

Music

9th June saw the launch of a new night at Manchester’s foremost audiophile space, NAM.

Taking place every Thursday, Lotus is dedicated to celebrating the contributions and successes of womxn DJs from across the city and further afield.

The inaugural evening, which was run in collaboration with size?, set the tone for what attendees can expect over the coming months. Alongside sets from some of Manchester’s most exciting selectors, Baz aka Plug One hosted a panel discussion with several local artists and the night provided a vital opportunity for people to connect on important subjects that impact womxn within the music industry.

The night kicked off with the panel, which saw Plug One speak to DJ, producer and vocalist Pops Roberts, who fronts Mancunian neo-soul band, Lovescene; alternative R&B singer and songwriter, Akemi Fox; and DJ Andrea Trout, a resident at NAM and co-founder of the 16 strong group of sister DJs and performers, Eves’ Drop Collective, who seek to challenge the barriers that female DJs from diverse backgrounds face.

Following the panel, NAM’s sound system was put into action. DJ and producer SCAPA kicked off proceedings with a blend of Miami Bass and Amapiano, followed by the soulful sounds of P-Ro Jones, who’s set you can listen back to in full below. Then Egg On Toast – part of the Not Bad For A Girl collective of female and non-binary DJ’s from Manchester – picked up the energy with a euphoric set of percussive and bass-driven cuts, before Jess Rose closed out the night with a dynamic mix of dance floor fillers.

The first edition has already proved to be a success, with attendees finding a space where they can share experiences, learn new things and connect with like-minded individuals in the industry. Music and Culture Journalist, Kamila Rymajdo, who attended the night said that, “Lotus was a great opportunity for women in Manchester’s music scene to find out about the things people seldom talk about within the industry or there’s not enough information about – things like pay, grant funding and navigating the uncomfortable situations women still often find themselves in when working with men.”

She continues, “it was also really thoughtfully organised, with a panel that not only included a breadth of roles women can pursue within music, but a range of ages, showing that women can be successful at any point in their lives and careers.”

Going forwards the Lotus series will help to platform local wxmen DJs and give a space for attendees to connect, learn, create and dance together.

Across the next few months, there will be sessions from Curl FM, who’ll be bringing plenty of soul and groove to the Ancoats basement; from founding member of the Eves’ Drop Collective, Lil Minx, who’ll treat attendees to a set full of broken beat and neo-soul; and NTS Radio resident Lupini who makes a return to NAM to dig deep into her repertoire of depths of new wave, synth-pop, post-punk and more.