Dance DJ and journalist Jaguar Bingham will launch a new podcast documentary examining the experiences of female, trans and non-binary people within the UK dance scene.
The two-part series is titled ‘Under The Lights: Being a Woman, Trans or Non-Binary Person in UK Dance Music’, and will be released on the feed of Bingham’s podcast UTOPIA Talks on 8 March, coinciding with International Women’s Day.
Under The Lights will include contributions from dance music figures including Annie Macmanus, DJ Priya and Blessed Madonna, among others, sharing their experiences of working in the UK dance industry.
The podcast is produced in collaboration with Stak, the production company behind shows such as Football Ramble and Abroad In Japan, and has featured guests including SHERELLE, Mary-Anne Hobbs, and Sama’.
"I’m incredibly proud to be bringing out these podcast episodes with Stak this International Women’s Day,” Bingham said. “Since 2020 I’ve been on a journey where I’ve found my purpose: to champion minorities and give opportunities to those who really need it. I want to use my platform to help people and explore how we can create positive changes to reach a utopian world. Equality and representation is so important to me. It’s part of my identity, as a mixed race and queer woman navigating the world.
“I’d love for people to listen with an open mind and hear these uncomfortable conversations. I want to challenge canonical thinking around gender norms and empower any women, trans, and non-binary people who have ever felt that the world isn’t for them. My producer Katie and I have worked tirelessly on this project, and I hope it makes a difference."
The show follows a 2022 report commissioned by Bingham’s non-profit The Jaguar Foundation into gender representation of artists within the UK dance music scene, supported by the Sony Music UK Social Justice Fund.