New Books Network Signal Award Re-Release: Lost Women of Disco
Oct 14, 2025
Join Lulu LeVay, a DJ, journalist, and academic focused on women in dance-music culture, as she uncovers the inspiring stories of trailblazing female DJs. She highlights the groundbreaking work of Régine Zylberberg in shaping the modern discotheque and Sharon White’s significant impact on New York's nightlife. Lulu discusses the systemic barriers these women faced, the intersections of race and gender in the DJ scene, and how current initiatives are fighting for greater representation in music, emphasizing resilience and connection over ego.
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Hidden Women Sustained Disco's Scene
- Jenny Costa's presence in a 1975 DJ press photo highlights how women were marginalized yet persistent in disco's early industry spaces.
- Her long career at 103.5 KTU shows overlooked women sustained influence despite being excluded from mainstream histories.
Documentary Sparked By Direct Invitation
- Lulu LeVay joined Dance Floor Queens after being approached by Sonia Phillips and Arthur Baker to make female DJs visible in history.
- She channels personal anger about gender imbalance into active projects like filmmaking and late-night DJing.
Stories, Not Just Sounds, Connect Cities
- The project traces transnational DJ histories through personal stories, linking Paris, London, and New York across decades.
- Lulu cautions that platform demands and production partners shape how those stories are ultimately told.
