Women To The Front: King Marie and Dana Lu

Last month in honor of Women’s History Month, audio software company Serato featured a series titled “Women to the Front” which was a series of short-form visualizers that celebrate the barrier-breaking stories of female DJs and producers. We interviewed King Marie and Dana Lu to discuss their starts in the industry and about being female powerhouses in the industry.

King Marie

How did you get your start in the music industry? 

King Marie: I started as an artist and released my first EP in 2009. I always sang and performed and that's really how I started building my network. I moved to New York from Chicago in 2012 and that's when I started DJ'ing. I held residencies in New York and traveled to all the big cities in the U.S. to gain experience. I would get recommended to DJ's in those cities and get to play in front of different crowds. This was also pre social media days, so making connections in real life, traveling to network, and making friendships was really a special part of it. I then moved to LA in 2016 and became Chuck Inglish's tour DJ. The rest is history. 

As it's Women's History Month, what does this month mean to you and how have you found the inspiration and motivation to be such a frontrunner in the industry? 

King Marie: To me, every month is Women's History Month. It's a newer concept to have one month of the year be dedicated to highlighting a certain grouping of people. Although I'm grateful for it, I think it just needs to be celebrated all the time. I'm inspired and motivated by other women who feel the same way and have made new lanes for themselves. The ones who didn't wait for opportunities to happen, but made opportunities for themselves and other women. I'm grateful to be a part of the change.

What has been your favorite music project you've worked on thus far? 

King Marie: I think all of them are my favorite until I work on the next one and then the next one, etc. I make all my DJ mixes live so I've used Serato DJ for all of them. I'm working on some edits and live vocal takes on Serato Studio that aren't released, but more so for my own sets and enjoyment. My next project is due to release in May 2024 and will definitely be my favorite to date.

What piece of advice would you give to other women coming up in the business today? 

King Marie: My best piece of advice is to keep being curious, keep wanting to learn, ask a lot of questions, find your community, invest in yourself, love yourself on every part of the journey, don't rush the journey, and be a good person.

Dana Lu

How did you get your start in the music industry? 

Dana Lu: I made my entry into the music industry by working with an old friend who used to be a promoter. In that period of time, he hired me to DJ local clubs and warehouse parties in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Over the years, I stepped into music production and began releasing my own remixes and original productions.

As it's Women's History Month, what does this month mean to you and how have you found the inspiration and motivation to be such a frontrunner in the industry? 

Dana Lu: For me, Women's History Month signifies empowerment and inspiration. Throughout my career, I have been inspired and motivated both by my peers as well as by studying other artists and DJs around the world. One of the most beautiful aspects of this journey is the opportunity to listen to and observe the experiences of others.

What has been your favorite music project you've worked on thus far? 

Dana Lu: One of my favorite music projects to date is my most recent EP, Worldwide Link-Up. The reason I consider this project to be my favorite is because I incorporated a variety of global genres into the project and took my time with it. I used Serato samples for certain parts of the track.

What piece of advice would you give to other women coming up in the business today?

Dana Lu: In this industry, I would advise other women not to be ashamed to be authentically themselves and to find their tribe. Believing in yourself is key, as well as asking for help when you need it.