In honor of Black History Month, Atwood Magazine has invited artists to participate in a series of essays reflecting on identity, music, culture, inclusion, and more.

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Hot off her release with Rules Don’t Apply last month, DJ Minx, a pioneering force in Detroit’s electronic music scene and founder of Women on Wax, reflects on her journey as a Black woman in dance music, the evolution of the city’s club culture, and the power of community. She also shares her guide to Black, queer, and femme brands shaping the industry today, for Atwood Magazine’s Black History Month series!

A staple in Detroit’s electronic music scene since the early ’90s alongside her colleagues Carl Craig and Kevin Saunderson, Minx has paved the way for generations of artists—founding the female record label and collective Women on Wax, curating the iconic Movement Festival’s House Your Life stage, and named as one of the “20 Women Who Shaped The History of Dance Music” by Mixmag.

After coming out as lesbian in 2021, she also has posed as a strong role model as an African American queer icon in Detroit and dance music culture- recognized by her mural on Detroit’s Ruth Ellis Center Minx dedicated to the city’s queer community.

DJ Minx recently released the single “Blocked” on February 14th via Walker & Royce’s Rules Don’t Apply Records, and it is a bold and unapologetic house track that flips the script on Valentine’s Day. The no-nonsense single features her signature blend of deep, funky house and Detroit grit- paired with rolling bass lines and sharp vocal cuts that leave no room for toxicity.

Read her essay for Black History Month below, and listen to “Blocked” wherever you stream music!

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MY BLACK JOURNEY TO QUEENDOM

by DJ Minx

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I started spinning records in 1989, after being influenced by Detroit’s Music Institute.

Some of Detroit’s legends help me to hone my sound. I will be forever grateful to K-HAND, Detroit’s “First Lady,” who paved the way for myself and the younger generations as a Black woman who was unabashedly herself. For those who don’t know, she was a regular on Detroit’s dance music show, The Scene, and was something of a legend in the city. She forged her own path, and her sound was uniquely Detroit. She paved the way for a lot of us, and we miss her every day.

I started getting airtime on “Deep Space Radio,” an electronic music show on Detroit’s WGPR radio station, and I hosted “Steamy Windows” through the University of Canada on CJAM 91.5 FM. Around that time I became a resident of Club Motor in Hamtramck, where Laura Gavoor, who managed all the Detroit heavy-hitters, handled bookings. She was a force, and helped Motor into the dance music history books.

In December 1996, I felt like we (ladies) needed our own platform to showcase our talent, so I founded Women on Wax, a collective of female DJs from the Metro Detroit area. I used W.O.W. to work with promoters and artists from all over to create opportunities for female DJs and vocalists. With the support of Moodymann, I created Women On Wax Recordings. WOW is my record label, where I am able to craft my own sound and vision, as well as lift up artists I admire–especially Black, queer, and female-identifying people. Through the label, I can stay true to my roots.

In 2000, I played the first version of Movement (DEMF) in Detroit. Back then, it was a free event that brought together people from across the city. People from all walks of the D were front and center, living, moving, and BEING free – dancing until the sunset. It was absolutely beautiful to see. Paxahau, who would later take over producing the internationally-known festival, has always had my back. They believed in me and supported me from the beginning. Today, I am proud to have my own stage, House Your Life, where I showcase Black, queer, female talent, and other beautiful, colorful beings from across the globe. I plan on taking the event outside of Detroit for the first time this year, so stay tuned for updates on that.

Here’s a guide to my favorite brands owned by Black, queer, femmes, etc.:

• Favorite Vegan Snack – Partake Chocolate Chip Cookies.
  • I keep a box of these around for snack breaks during my studio sessions, and I like to toss a pack in my bag before a long flight.
• Favorite tea – PLENTEA
  • After a long night of playing out, I need a sip of tea to calm me before resting. I just found out about this Black-owned place when I was in Montreal. I love green tea with a lil’ mint, and lemon. After DJing, I gotta get that Vitamin C replenished. Boom!
  • Favorite clothing brand – Detroit Hustles Harder
  • Their logo is recognized worldwide, and their pieces are niiice.
• Favorite beauty product – The Lip Bar .
  • The Vexxed lip color is badass. I’m sure you’ve seen it on me a lot! I love a red lip and they do it right!
• Favorite track on rotation – Do It All Night – DJ Minx (Honey Dijon Remix)
  • Yes, I produced this, but Honey put that Black Girl Magic in the mix and it was on and poppin’…period. – DJ Minx

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