Women to the front
Natasha Diggs
Lifting vibrations &
championing women
Known as the 45 Queen, Brooklyn-based DJ, Natasha Diggs, has carved out a niche for herself as a “frequency shifter”—a curator of vibes who transcends the conventional role of a DJ to become a conduit for healing and unity through music.
But Diggs’ influence extends beyond her skills on the decks, more than a celebrated DJ; she’s a musical alchemist, transforming spaces and moods with her selections and intuitive understanding of sound’s power. Her journey, marked by serendipitous encounters and a passion for vinyl, has seen her ascend from the intimate corners of personal exploration to global stages where she commands audiences with her eclectic range and deep musical knowledge.
As a woman in a field that’s been male-skewed for far too long, she represents a shift in the industry’s frequencies, challenging norms and opening doors for a new generation of women in music. Through her iconic party night, Soul in the Horn, she’s championing diversity and inclusion, making music a universal celebration that’s open to all. She’s not just in the mix; she’s leading the charge for the next wave of women in music. In this interview, she gets candid with Serato, talking about her journey in music and her vision for women in the future of the DJ world.
Q: How did you start your journey in music and DJing?
A: When I was younger, I was super shy and kind of secluded in my world of music. I was a bedroom DJ and that was my whole world. It wasn’t ever like, “Oh, I’m going to be a DJ one day and I’m going to make it big.” I didn’t even know if that was a possibility for a real career. I just was like, this is something I love, I’m passionate about, and I wanted to do it. I met my first DJ partner in a Goodwill thrift store. We started going to parties and then we ended up getting little gigs, and it just kind of grew organically from there. Now, my whole record collection has come to life. The people and the artists who I was playing in my teenage bedroom, I ended up working with or haven’t worked with, but will soon.
Q: Where does your inspiration come from?
A: I understand the importance of healing and how important it has been in my life to dance, so when I play my mission is to create a space that feels safe and welcoming, and people feel free to express themselves in their bodies. I get my inspiration from so many places, the album covers and the divas of the seventies, Diana Ross and Donna Summers, and just the style and the fashion – that all kind of corresponds with the way I dress and the mood I want to create. It’s not just about the sound, it’s the visuals, it’s the dance – it’s a whole experience. That was something that was a prevalent thing in that era of Studio 54 or disco and I want to bring that back.
Q: You’ve described yourself as a ‘frequency shifter’. Could you explain what that means?
A: As a DJ you have a very special position in the room. You get to see where everyone is, where their energy is at, and you get to take them somewhere. You can take them on a journey. I think sometimes we take for granted how powerful music is on a cellular level to how our body feels and our frame of mind. Music has the power to heal us or vice versa, destroy us in some ways, depending on the frequencies of it and the messages it gives. So if they’re saying something uplifting, that’s a very different energy than if they’re saying some negative stuff about themselves or their community or whatever. It’s a great responsibility for me as a DJ to hone that kind of energy, I don’t take the things I play lightly.
Q: Can you explain the concept behind Soul in the Horn and how it came to be?
A: Soul in the Horn was born from a collaboration between me and D Prosper. The party’s essence is all about celebrating the power of musical horns, an element that has an age-old connection across various music genres worldwide—from Afrobeats to Jazz. The idea sparked from a playlist D Prosper had, filled with his favorite tracks that featured horns in a big way, and I was instantly drawn to it.
At that time, I was on the lookout for a residency, where I could cultivate my sound and offer something New York hadn’t seen. The concept of Soul in the Horn came about as a way to link all these different sounds I loved under one roof, challenging our guests to think outside the box when putting together our sets.
More than anything, I wanted to create a space where people could come to dance and experience music that wasn’t necessarily mainstream or blasting from the top 40 charts—an alternative scene that celebrated diversity in sound and brought people together.
Q: How do you feel about the evolution and current state of women DJs in the industry?
A: It’s definitely evolved a lot and in a great way. I see so many women DJs killing it, and it’s amazing to see women DJs being booked for a lot more events and just being considered more in the thread of things. I mean, there’s still more work to be done in terms of what women are getting paid and many different factors, but it has been great just seeing a growth in that.
Q: Do you think being a woman has ever been a disadvantage in your career?
A: For me, being a woman has never been a disadvantage. In fact, I believe it gives me a unique sensitivity to music and an understanding of what it takes to make a dance floor come alive. It’s a different vibe and feminine energy that’s necessary in spaces. While there are challenges, I prefer to focus on the benefits and the unique perspective women bring to DJing.
“A lot of my career has been being the only girl in a boys’ club, but that’s why I created situations and spaces where I can have more women involved. From the beginning, creating opportunities for women has been a priority for me, especially through my work with Soul in the Horn.”
A lot of my career has been being the only girl in a boys’ club, but that’s why I created situations and spaces where I can have more women involved. From the beginning, creating opportunities for women has been a priority for me, especially through my work with Soul in the Horn. While we’ve often featured legendary guest DJs who are men, I’ve always made it a point to spotlight women who are up-and-coming. It’s about creating the change I want to see, rather than just talking about the issues. I think we all have a responsibility to create the shift that we want to see, and we have the power.
Q: What’s your take on the difference between male and female DJs?
A: It’s not about one being better than the other; it’s about acknowledging the different energies and sensitivities each brings to the table. As a woman, I have a different kind of sensitivity to music and a different kind of understanding of what it takes to make a woman dance, to make a dance floor pop. A man can attempt that, but it’s just a different vibe. I have the utmost respect for my male counterparts, but who can do it like a woman? with style, with grace, with beauty, with fashion.
“I think it’s powerful for little girls and even boys to see that women can do these types of typically or historically male-dominated roles just as well.”
Q: Why do you think female representation in DJing and music overall is important, especially for aspiring artists?
A: It’s important to know what’s possible. Like I said, when I was coming up, I didn’t really see DJing as a possibility. I was just following my heart and doing what I loved, and it became something that actually became a career. It’s powerful for little girls and even boys to see that women can these types of typically or historically male-dominated roles just as well. So of course, representation is always powerful, and I’m grateful that the girls coming up now will have a lot more examples of that, and hopefully in the future even more.
Natasha Diggs stands at the forefront of a movement that sees music as a tool for change, a medium for empowerment, and a path to a more inclusive and resonant future. Her legacy as a frequency shifter is not only about the tracks she plays but also the spaces she transforms and the lives she touches with her gift.
Want to hear more stories from Women to the Front? Check out the feature article here.