We caught up with DJ/producer SAQIB for a short backstage conversation before his set in New York City. In just a few minutes, he captured the energy of the show — from the tracks he was most excited to drop, to the vibe he was expecting once the floor filled in.

“Girls don’t matter.”

That’s what it can feel like when presence is only defined by volume, branding, or bravado. here’s what Sana says:

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.