4 Pioneering Female Music Producers Who Deserve Their Flowers

The history of electronic music is, on the surface, dominated by men who took the industry by storm. However, so many female music producers have left their mark on the very broad genre, and some of them have changed the way electronic music is produced today. Let’s look at just a few pioneering and trailblazing female music producers who deserve their flowers!

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1. Björk

Björk is a shoo-in for this list. Icelandic music legend Björk has been releasing music in the electronic genre for decades, both on her own as a producer and with the help of a few collaborators. A few standout hits that she produced herself include “Army Of Me” and “Hyperballad”, among others. 

Björk’s influence is still felt today, but her ability to blend together emotional vocal performances with electronica (as well as jazz and pop) has yet to be properly imitated.

2. SOPHIE

This wouldn’t be a list of trailblazing female music producers without mentioning the late great SOPHIE. She was just 34 years old when she passed in 2021. In those short few years, she managed to produce some of the most groundbreaking music in the electronic genre. 

Considered a pioneering figure in hyperpop, SOPHIE’s productions for her own albums, as well as her work with big names like Charli XCX and Madonna, are wholly and incredibly original. Oil Of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides is essential listening.

3. Linda Perry

Some might know Linda Perry as a member of the one-hit wonder outfit 4 Non Blondes. However, Perry’s work has gone far beyond that short-lived band. Her name is not really plastered on her work.

Perry has spent decades working as a producer for pop stars like Pink, Courtney Love, Gwen Stefani, and more. She’s an expert producer and engineer, and she knows how to turn up-and-coming singers into certified pop stars.

4. Mandy Parnell

Unless you’re an audiophile, you might not know about Mandy Parnell. You should, though. Parnell is one of the most prolific female music producers in the electronic genre, and she has ruled that label for several decades. 

The founder of Black Saloon Studios in England, this expert mastering engineer has worked with everyone from Aphex Twin to Brian Eno to Sigur Rós to Björk. Parnell has won awards for her work, and she definitely deserves more credit for helping to bring more experimental music works to life.

Photo by Santiago Felipe / One Little Independent Records

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