EQ50: The Collective Rebalancing Drum & Bass

Origins & Mission

EQ50 was founded in 2018 by a collective including DJ Flight, Mantra, Sweetpea, MC Chickaboo, Jenna G and Alley Cat, among others.

Their core aim: create fairer representation in drum & bass. That means raising up womxn, non-binary and gender-diverse producers and DJs, offering platforms, mentorship, visibility and structural change.

What EQ50 Actually Does

Here are some of their key programmes and initiatives:

• Mentorship Programme – EQ50 runs a 12-month mentorship for womxn/non-binary producers, giving them access to label networks, production and DJ workshops, A&R advice, and club/industry support.

• Events & Stage Takeovers – They curate line-ups, stage takeovers (such as at the Outlook Festival), and club nights that highlight under-represented talent.

• Advocacy & Visibility – Through feature articles, podcasts, mixes, they highlight structural inequality in drum & bass and push for culture change.

Why It Matters

Drum & bass, like many music genres, has had issues with representation: gender imbalance, lack of visibility for LGBTQ+ artists, fewer opportunities beyond the male-dominated core. EQ50 is addressing real structural issues: access, mentoring, support and visibility.

By doing this, they’re not just adding marginalised voices—they’re shifting the sound, the culture and the future of D&B.

Key Success Stories

Thanks to EQ50’s programmes, several rising artists have emerged:

• Nia Archives – Previously a mentee via EQ50.

• Mandidextrous – Another success story from the mentorship.

• Spectral – Benefitted from the scheme and now signed to shows/labels.

These demonstrate the real impact—talent is being developed, given platform, then making waves.

The Sound & Style

While EQ50 is more about culture than a specific “sound”, their curatorial signature includes:

• Genres across the D&B spectrum—jungle, liquid, dancefloor rollers.

• Emphasis on fresh, emerging voices, often outside the mainstream circuit.

• Inclusive line-ups that broaden what listeners expect from D&B.

What’s Next for EQ50

According to their public info:

• The 2024 mentorship class has been announced, with partnerships across labels like Critical Music, The North Quarter and more.

• They’ve received funding (e.g., Orbit Fund) to create a documentary about Black womxn in jungle & D&B.

• Continued focus on not just short-term events, but building infrastructure so that under-represented talent thrives long-term.

EQ50 is both a symbol and a movement. They show that creating space for marginalised talent isn’t optional—it’s vital for the genre to evolve. If you’re a DJ, producer, or simply a fan of drum & bass, supporting platforms like EQ50 means supporting diversity, better culture, and better music.

Want to explore their work? Check out the EQ50 SoundCloud and mentorship pages. (soundcloud.com)