Empowering creativity: women and non-binary producers making waves in Brazil

Women and non-binary music producers in Brazil are reshaping the country’s music industry with their innovative approaches and diverse perspectives. They’re not only transforming the soundscape and revitalizing traditional Brazilian genres – they’re inspiring a new generation of DJs and producers to pursue their passion and challenge industry norms.

Lady of the House, a platform committed to uplifting women and non-binary talent in the electronic music scene, is recognizing these talented individuals in the Lady of the House competition – the first ever Brazilian edition.

The competition launched by DJ and producer CAMZ aims to spotlight emerging producers and foster greater gender diversity in music.

A panel of A&R Godmothers: techno artist ANNA, producer Joyce Muniz, and Aninha, the iconic resident DJ of Brazil’s famed D-EDGE club, will select the winners, advocating for Brazilian talent on a global stage.

We sat down with CAMZ and Joyce Muniz to chat about the competition, women in music, and the exciting things happening in the Brazilian scene right now.

Interested in submitting your music? Head to Label Radar to enter the competition.

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What is the background of the Lady of the House competition and how did the Brazilian edition come about?

‘Lady of the House’ is a community that celebrates, champions and honours women through a multifunctional platform. By educating and empowering we diversify the music industry.’  We ran a very successful competition in the UK, and brought on board Godmothers like Becky Hill, Jaguar and Sam Devine, and wanted to expand globally, starting with South America, where we feel the gender disparity is even bigger.

What advice do you have for women and non-binary working on their first demos? 

CAMZ: Stay authentic to who you are and don’t stress about fitting into a specific box or genre. We’re looking for creativity and potential, not perfection or trends.

Joyce Muniz: One piece of advice I’d offer is not to get too attached to a single idea. If you feel like it’s going nowhere, it’s often better to try something fresh rather than stay stuck. Music is all about mood and energy, and sometimes a particular idea just doesn’t hit the right vibe. Play your work for other producers you trust to get some feedback and perspective.

What are you both working on right now? 

CAMZ: I’m focusing on expanding Lady of the House in Brazil, my home country, while collaborating with some amazing producers who are also close friends—it’s rare that we get to have one-on-one sessions, so it’s been great. I’m also really excited to see our Godmothers perform here in Brazil.

Joyce Muniz: I’m currently on tour in Brazil and working from here. I just wrapped up a collaboration with French producer Captain Mustache, and I’ve also kicked off a new project with São Paulo-based producer Julio Torres. It’s been a while since I worked on music in my hometown, so I’m really excited to see the results and explore the influences I’ll bring into the mix.

What excites you most about the Brazilian music scene at the moment?

CAMZ: I’m so happy to see Brazilians finally getting the international recognition they deserve, not only dominating the charts but also playing shows across Europe and the USA. It’s amazing to see Brazilian rhythms becoming such an integral part of the global electronic music scene.

Joyce Muniz: In the past few years, I’ve seen a lot of Brazilian producers making waves in electronic music, dominating charts in genres like Techno, Indie Dance, House, and even Afro. Every year, I discover more fresh talent coming out of Brazil, and it’s been amazing to watch.

And what specific challenges do women and non-binary producers and DJs face in Brazil? 

CAMZ: I feel that female and non-binary artists are still not taken seriously enough in the industry. While we’ve seen more female DJs entering mainstream events, they’re often still booked for warm-up sets rather than headlining.

Joyce Muniz: I believe one of the biggest challenges is the lack of support for local female and non-binary artists from labels. This can be particularly tough for emerging talent. Many of the well-known Brazilian artists gained recognition after being signed to international labels.

What can we in a, still male-dominated, music industry do to work towards redressing the balance? 

CAMZ:  It’s going to take time to balance the scales, but some promoters are starting to adopt inclusivity clauses for their events. It’s crazy to think that even today, many festival lineups feature 90% male DJs. If promoters commit to promoting inclusivity, the audience will eventually embrace this new approach – and once that happens, there’s no turning back.

Joyce Muniz: Any kind of change should be made with intention. Labels and institutions need to approach their releases with an open-minded selection of artists, including women, non-binary individuals, queer people, and people of color. There’s a wealth of talent out there, and today, it’s absolutely possible to have a diverse roster of artists.

What music events or releases are you looking forward to most in 2025?  

CAMZ: I’m looking forward to taking Lady Of The House to big conferences like Miami Music Week and IMS Ibiza.

Joyce Muniz: I’m really excited to be back with a new EP on Exploited Recordings, set to drop in April 2025. My remix for one of my favorite artists, Dina Summer, should be out soon as well. There are also a few exciting collaborations coming this year. But for now, I’m thrilled to be spending some time in Brazil.

Breaking barriers with music in Brazil

The Lady of the House demo competition marks an exciting milestone in championing diversity within Brazil’s vibrant electronic music scene. Spearheaded by Brazilian ambassador CAMZ, this initiative is more than just a competition – it’s a powerful platform for amplifying the voices of women and non-binary talent in music production.

The competition is open now and closes 29 January 2025. Winners will be selected shortly after. Enter your demo here.

Enter competition