The 15 Most Important Women in EDM

Image via Complex Original

Why?: Anything Annie Mac Presents is on the money.

Since 2004, Annie Mac has been a fixture at BBC Radio 1; be it her own Friday or Sunday night shows, or as a fill-in for the likes of Zane Lowe. Her popular Annie Mac Presents compilation series has helped showcase dance music artists that went on to have huge impacts on the scene. She's been a champion for drum & bass scene, and ended up winning the Best Female award at the 2009 Drum & Bass Awards for her contributions to dnb. She's been with her boyfriend, Toddla T, for years, and recently announced that they're expecting their first child together.

She's so important, she's literally nurturing the next wave of bass music youth.

Why?: They write the songs...

This Australian duo got their start as models, but their love of music lead them from the Opera Australia Academy to the world of EDM, where their knack for penning huge hits won them a Grammy for David Guetta and Kelly Rowland's "When Love Takes Over." They've scored #1 hits in the UK with Afrojack and Steve Aoki ("We're All No One"), and have toured with Guetta and Pete Tong. Their credits include tracks with everyone from Britney Spears to Nicole Scherzinger, and in November of 2012 they were signed by CoverGirl. With the latest phase of EDM taking over the mainstream American music scene, you need someone to pen those huge pop hooks; welcome to NERVO's world.

Why?: The Digital Soundgirl

The cute Canadian living in he UK has risen through the ranks over the years. She caught the eye of Digital Soundboy's Shy FX in 2006, and was soon a part of the DSB crew. She stayed low profile for the next five years, but in 2012 she made her move. Her debut single, "Fever," was released, and she was added to BBC Radio 1's "In New DJs We Trust" rotation. That stint didn't last long as she was given her own show on Radio 1, where she continues to highlight a number of emerging talents within the bass music scene.

Why?: The high priestess of the techno scene.

Nicole has been called the "Queen of Techno," and is the protege of Carl Cox. She's held it down for the prestigious Essential Mix serires on BBC Radio 1, and has dropped tracks on Drumcode. Recently, she launched MOOD Records, which will help put her stamp on the techno scene. Moudaber is shaping up to be the most important female in the techno scene, bar none.

Why?: A true champion for experimental music.

You could argue where dubstep would be without Mary Anne Hobbs. No, she wasn't in Croydon creating tracks with Skream, but her "Dubstep Warz" program on BBC Radio 1 was, for many, the defining moment within the scene's rise. She has long had an ear for the emerging sounds within the electronic music scene, and has used her many platforms (including shows on BBC Radio 1 and XFM, as well as her compilation albums) to showcase many of the stars of today.

Why?: A long-time American dance music DJ, and one of the heads behind PlayMe.

For the American dance music scene, Reid Speed has been a name you've surely seen on a flier at some point in your life. She's been instrumental in pushing electronic music since 1996, and was at the time a figure within New York's Direct Drive collective. She signed with Breakbeat Science in 2001, and released two quality mix CDs with them (Resonance and Life After Dark). As the 2000s went on, she started digging into more sounds outside of drum & bass, and has taken her love for many forms of EDM to new heights, crafting mixes that have won the praise of BBC Radio 1's Annie Nightingale, among others established outlets. Her imprint PlayMe has helped push the drum & bass/dubstep/fidget sounds, with everyone from Bro Safari and Dillon Francis to Figure and RUN DMT dropping tracks on PlayMe.

Why?: Legendary figure within radio, and champion for the breaks scene.

She's the first female Radio 1 DJ, and currently the station's longest-serving presenter. We won't reveal her age, but she's been providing music to the masses for a while. The "Queen of Breaks" has been an important figure within the breakbeat scene, helping give voice to a genre that many might have neglected. She won the John Peel Award in 2008 (the first female to be bestowed this honor), and will be taking over towers, clubs, and whatever countries will have her, giving you the best of the breaks.

Why?: Mad Decent's leading lady

Kito's an Australian-born Londoner who's racked up a number of important accolades in the last few years. Her track "LFO" (which was released on Skream's Disfigured Dubz label) caught the ear of Diplo, who pulled her into the Mad Decent fold, helping her grow her sound and exposure within the bass music scene. She's also dropped tracks on Ed Banger, and her work with Reija Lee is some of the most captivating vocal EDM tracks to come within recent years.

One of Kito's biggest resume points is remixing "Who Run The World (Girls)" by Beyonce, which might be the anthem for any female on this list.

Why?: Proven track record as a producer and DJ.

Gina Turner has earned the appreciation of whomever has heard her spin live, as she's known to mix in a nice blend of upfront tracks with a virtual history lesson of classic tunes. Her original tracks have been featured on a number of established labels, including Mixmash, Ministry of Sound, Sound Pellegrino, Black Hole, and Defected, and she even has her own imprint, Turn It Records, to help her push out her new product as quickly as possible. Gina is also a host on SiriusXM's BPM channel, where she not only pumps the freshest beats, but also provides guest interviews, mixes, and other special treats in her own, energetic way.

Why?: Credible producer, even more sought-after DJ.

Maya Jane Coles' name has been spoken everywhere as one of the emerging talents within the EDM scene, from Rolling Stone to Mixmag. Under her name, she's known for producing house music, with her dubstep output falling under her Nocturnal Sunshine alias. She's also part of She Is Danger, who's already remixed the likes of Massive Attack and Gorillaz. Her 2011 Essential Mix was in the running for Essential Mix of the Year, Maya Jane has annually been in the running for "DJ of the Year" accolades from a cavalcade of reputable outlets. She lives up to the hype, and is destined to really make her mark.

Why?: Rising star with pop on the brain.

Audrey is a relative newcomer - her name hadn't entered any dance music discussions prior to 2010, but she made up for lost time by causing quite a stir with her output. Her single "Poison" caught fire, helping push her "underground pop" sound to the masses. She maintains residencies at both Avalon and Music Box in LA, and has performed alongside the likes of Deadmau5, Eric Prydz, Steve Aoki, and Avicii, just to name a few. She also has a keen fashion sense, starting a line with a designer in the UK that's caught the eyes of Vogue and other notable fashion organizations. It feels like she's a few steps away from world dominance.

Why?: She puts on for her city.

While not known as a DJ or producer, Nicole founded Sub.Mission in Denver. What started out as Nicole looking for teaching jobs in Colorado (after she earned a few degrees in education) turned into Nicole living in Colorado and bringing her appreciation for dubstep with her. Her production company was established in 2007, and has since expanded to include an artist agency and radio station, and her hard work and dedication to providing quality bass-fueled nights in the Denver area has not only made the city a main tour stop for top-tier "bass music" artists, but one of the main markets in the United States for EDM.

Why?: She's the first lady of Metalheadz.

Alongside Kemistry, DJ Storm was one of the leading females during the '90s drum & bass explosion. As a part of the pioneering label Metalheadz, Kemistry and Storm showed how females could thrive within a genre full of men, including mixing one of the best DJ Kicks compilations in 1999. After Kemistry's untimely death the same year, Storm continued to spin drum & bass, and remains a figure within the scene, hosting the Metalheadz show on Ministry of Sound Radio.

Why?: That voice.

While not primarily known as a producer or DJ, Zoe Johnston is an important figure within the dance music scene. She's a part of the group Faithless, and lent her vocals and pen to Group Therapy, Above & Beyond's 2011 album that holds an important place within the current trance spectrum, with a lot of that prestige being lent to her vocals. The emotion she brings to a track is almost as important as a track itself, just as any trance diehard.

Why?: Hardstyle's diva.

Faith is known as the #1 Diva of American hardstyle and hard dance, and has spent the last five years carving out her space within the hard dance scene, headlining shows alongside Headhunterz, Dash Berlin, Wildstylez, and Angerfist. Her presence is just as important as her original production and DJ skills, and with the hard movement getting some considerable muscle behind it, they will need a face, and Lady Faith should have a spot in that space.