10 tips for women & non-binary artists wanting to get started in music production
Saffron has turned 10! With a decade under their belt in supporting aspiring women, trans and non-binary producers and DJs to get their start in music, the non-profit Bristol-based collective has a pretty encyclopaedic knowledge of how to get your journey in the industry off the ground.
Started in 2015 with the mission of making music production and DJing more accessible, Saffron has mentored and championed thousands of women, trans and non-binary people through its range of courses, mentorship schemes and its trademark “mix nights”, which encourage budding DJs to try their hand without needing to shell out for pricey equipment.
Despite their tireless work, the Saffron team reiterates the need to keep pushing, sharing that women, non-binary and trans people still make up less than 5% of the professional music tech industry; less than 1% identify as Black, Asian or ethnically diverse.
“Mentoring with Saffron has been game-changing for shaping my creative direction and being able to reframe every challenge I encounter as opportunities to learn, grow, and pivot,” says Mix Nights graduate and mentee, Vanessa.
Read this next: Saffron founder Laura Lewis-Paul: “We’re looking at white, male spaces and making them more diverse”
Angelica, who has been part of Saffron’s Artist Development Programme, says: “It has meant a lot to me to be around fellow Black and brown folks that are trying to change the world through their artistry. We don’t get that representation enough and to see it in motion is incredible.”
To mark the collective’s 10-year milestone, we asked Saffron community members and mentors Yushh, Lara Jones, Medis, minMel, and Jo-Elle to give us 10 tips for women and non-binary artists wanting to get started in music production below.
If you want even more tutoring from the team, Saffron will kick off their run of short courses in music production, DJing and sound engineering from November 24, with tutoring available in London, Bristol and online. You can find more information on Saffron’s courses here.
