From Berghain to Boomtown, Sexy Lady Massive have turned female-led raves into a full-scale movement — programming whole nights, giving 90s pioneers their flowers and building a judgement-free dance floor. Naz Hamdi meets Sopes, Betsy Mae and the crew rewriting rave culture’s rules.
It’s always admirable to see a collective come out of the gate with one clear mission and then actively work towards it. Sexy Lady Massive (SLM) have been doing just that, showing how you can make change with their line-up programming and female-led raves. Instead of doing one-off things, or just talking about it, they’re reminding people of rave culture’s true essence — celebrating community and sharing a deep love for music. It was earlier this year, at an International Women’s Day rave, an event they’d worked on in Leeds with Wingstop and Keep Hush, that I first met Sexy Lady Massive. And ever since, I’ve been enamoured by their energy and enthusiasm.
You know when you meet dedicated and exciting artists at the beginning of their journeys and instinctively feel like you want to stay strapped in for the ride ahead? Well, it’s no different in the case of Sexy Lady Massive; they make you want to root for them off the bat not only because of their motivations to contribute to the electronic scene but also because of how great they are at spinning. SLM started throwing parties to ensure they had a space where they and other women could feel safe, championed and free from judgement, whether that’s through what they play or how they dress — empowering each other and everyone around them. It’s deeper!
The next time we linked up was in South London, outside legendary grime photographer Simon Wheatley’s studio, where they were preparing for their RWD photoshoot. Even in the brief moments between takes, there was an undeniable sense of excitement around them — with a warm chemistry they sort of feel like a dance music girl group.
Making up Sexy Lady Massive are Sofia Millbank (also known as Sopes), Betsy Mae, SELECTACEE, Asian Brat, Hendy and Cola B. They’re nothing short of hardworking and consistent. I haven’t seen them lack once. Constantly booked, creating and making their dreams happen, they’ve already played legendary venues like Berghain, major festivals including Glastonbury and Boomtown, and worked in countries such as Spain and Croatia. Their rise has come from putting in the hours and building the SLM universe through music they love and the people who get it.
Their ethos is ultimately what has brought them to such heights and is what makes you want to root for them. In Betsy Mae’s words: “We are all such a diverse group of girls with our own individual quirks and paths that have led us here. I also don’t think our paths would have aligned if we didn’t share this intense love for music and that’s what makes it so special. Music is so powerful that it has led us to a beautiful sisterhood and a group of women that we may not have crossed paths with otherwise. We are genuine sisters and it’s so powerful to have a group of women that will support you through anything — a judgement-free zone full of love and genuine support.” That sense of sisterhood doesn’t stop within the collective either; it’s reflected in the opportunities they create for others.
Read the full feature in RWD Magazine Issue
133
Read the full feature in RWD Magazine Issue
133
