Sana on the Politics of Presence in Dance Music: What the Boys Still Don’t Get
PART I — What the Boys Still Don’t Get
Unmixed: “Girls don’t matter.” That’s what it can feel like when presence is only defined by volume, branding, or bravado.
what do you think the boys still don’t get about presence behind the decks?
Sana: Presence behind the decks isn’t just about how loud you are or how much space you take up, it’s about the intention behind what you’re doing. I think what some boys still don’t get is that presence doesn’t always look like ego. It can be subtle, emotional, generous. As a woman, and especially as a South Asian woman, I wasn’t raised to believe that being the loudest voice in the room meant I was the most powerful. Behind the decks, I’m not trying to dominate people, I’m trying to move them.
Unmixed: What’s the difference between commanding a crowd and curating an experience?
Sana: As a DJ, I always think of DJing as a conversation. When you're mixing, it's about how the tracks speak to each other, transitions should make sense and feel intentional. But it’s also a conversation between you and the room, even if there are only two people there. It’s an exchange of energy.
Sometimes, you might need to adjust your language a bit so the message actually lands, not in a way that compromises who you are, but in how you’re delivering it. It’s never about abandoning your identity to make everyone happy, it’s about being in dialogue with the space, while still holding onto the core of what you’re trying to express. That’s what keeps it real.
PART II — The Cool Girl Trap
Unmixed: There’s pressure to be chill, effortless, and easy to market — how do you push back against that?
Sana: The “cool girl” archetype is so seductive, especially in music. You're expected to be hot but not too loud, edgy but still digestible, and never difficult. But that’s not real. I push back by being honest, in how I show up, in what I say yes to, the people I choose to work with, and in the music I play. I’m not going to pretend that every part of this journey is effortless, because it’s not. I think people resonate with me because I’m relatable and human, not because I’m giving off a “digestible” aesthetic.
Unmixed: How do you navigate an industry that rewards persona over presence?
Sana: What I’m more interested in is being real, not just “cool.” Real lasts longer. And I think audiences can feel when something is rooted in truth versus when it’s been manicured to fit a brand. Persona might get you a gig, but presence keeps people coming back.
PART III — Redefining Success
Unmixed:Your career path feels intentional — it’s strategic. What drives that approach?
What does success actually look like for you and how do you define it?
Sana: I’ve learned that no one’s going to hand you a roadmap, especially if you’re someone like me who doesn’t fit the mold. So yes, I’ve had to be intentional. I’ve had to think about what spaces I want to be in, who I want to build with, and what kind of legacy I want to leave.
Success for me isn’t just about big stages, it’s about cultural impact. It’s me telling my story, it’s me connecting my roots of being desi and connecting that to growing up in the US. It’s someone hearing a tabla or a sample from a Bollywood song on a club system and feeling seen, reminding myself of that little girl who was so disconnected from herself and her Indian roots. It’s young South Asian artists realizing they don’t have to erase parts of themselves to belong here.
Success is also personal. It’s creative freedom. It’s sustainability. It’s building a career that feels aligned with my values, not just what sells.
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