FEATURE:
Spotlight
Girls Don’t Sync
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I am long overdue…
spotlighting the remarkable and empowering Girls Don’t Sync. In terms of who they are and why they are so incredible, they “are an all-female group of DJs, producers and curators who are bringing much needed inclusivity and energy to underrepresented dancefloors worldwide. Matty Chiabi, Sophia Violet, Hannah Lynch and G33 came together to form Girls Don’t Sync in summer 2021, and exploded onto the scene soon after with one of the most-watched Mixmag Lab’s of the year. Their fresh take on UKG, house and bass has made them a must-see act at the likes of Glastonbury, Boomtown, Parklife, Lost & Found and many more this year, winning fans around the world for their boundless energy and the unforgettable atmosphere they create with each performance. In an era of feminine resurgence, Girls Don’t Sync are inspiring a new generation of dance music fans and becoming leaders of their scene”. Their latest track, Come Get Dis, is so incredible. I have been listening to it a lot. If you want to go and see them, here is where you can find them. They play the Reading & Leeds Festival on 21st August. Girls Don’t Sync is a Liverpool-formed collective that expanded into London. The phenomneal Matty Chiabi, G33, Sophia Violet, and Hannah Lynch should be on your radar. I am going to start out with a DJ Mag interview with Girls Don’t Sync from last year:
“Girls Don’t Sync have evolved at warp-speed over the past two years, compelled by a grounding ambition to embody the change they want to see in the world of dance music. The roots of the collective were established in promoting and self-funding their own events across Liverpool, elevating DJs and artists who were otherwise underrepresented; now, Matty Chiabi, Gaia Ahuja, Sophia Violet and Hannah Lynch are world-builders. Theirs is a community where your troubles get lost in the mix, where mentorship, confidence, good times and even better tunes are top of the bill.
“Infectious” is the word that orbits their performances, which have been demanded not only by UK strongholds such as Glastonbury, Boomtown and The Warehouse Project, but on an international scale across Europe. These four best friends pour drinks for their audience, make a point of connecting with people beyond the decks, chatting and sharing a dance, and in the case of their DJ Mag HQ performance last year, literally fall to their knees with the thrill of hearing the tricks in each other’s mixes. Girls Don’t Sync give the impression that they aren’t looking for fans, but friends; they don’t put on shows, but parties.
We catch the collective in the afterglow of their headline performance at KOKO, the iconic venue in Camden that has welcomed era-defining artists from Amy Winehouse to Prince. Not only did it sell out, being the fastest-selling event Girls Don’t Sync (GDS) have thrown so far, but it was also one of the most in-demand performances at the venue throughout 2023. To celebrate, they shared some extra treats, including surprise sets from a host of friends like p-rallel and Saint Ludo, and unveiling their original material for the first time (set to be released later in 2024). It was a night that saw their ambitions align with reality”.
The four DJs play B2B sets, each one unleashing a distinct flavour that is unique to their musical DNA. “We never practise together,” notes Hannah. “We all have surprises for each other because we have no idea what each other is gonna play — but that’s where the power has always been with us as a group because we don’t rehearse it. It’s all about living in the moment and bouncing off each other’s energy.”
While Matty gravitates towards UK funky, hard drum tracks and Afrobeats, Gaia pays homage to her London roots and South Asian heritage with a collision of grime and Arabic instrumentals. You’ll catch Sophia tapping into hard house and a lineage of rave classics viewed through a European lens, and Hannah is something of a musical excavator, surprising the others with the deep-cut edits and remixes which have led to their biggest moments.
“We’ve all got our own superpower,” says Gaia. “Obviously we share music, we talk about music, but there’s a moment before a set where I’ll say to Matty, ‘I’ve got a song I want to show you’, and I’m not only showing it to her, but thousands of people in that very moment. Even off the back of our DJ Mag stream, those reactions we have to each other are completely real because I don’t know what anyone is going to play. It’s all an element of surprise and inspiring reaction, and that’s what makes us so special.”
Each of the GDS DJs give their time to mentorship and nurturing talent. After being gifted a DJing course for her birthday, Gaia reached out to Hannah — the only female DJ in Liverpool she knew of — asking if she could shadow her, and together they began hosting workshops at their local community centre. Now, GDS has their sights set on expanding the educational element of the collective into a scholarship or a developing free workshop on a larger scale with no barrier for entry”.
Girls Don’t Sync have always been more than a D.J. collective. They are a movement. Going beyond the music, they are brining people together with their inclusive music. They talked about Fourmation Records and championing communities through their records when interviewed by Beatportal last year:
“Surprising the Dancefloor
At its heart, "Come Thru" is designed for the dancefloor—a track that keeps ravers on their toes and invites everyone to share in its energy. Matty highlights the intentionality behind its structure: “The breakdown followed by the 90s pianos creates this euphoric moment. It slows down, pulls people in, and then surprises them by bringing everything back with even more intensity. Those moments of togetherness on the dancefloor are what we live for.”
The track’s infectious vibe comes from its universal appeal. “It’s a song about connection and joy,” adds Matty. “No matter your musical background, we want everyone to feel that invitation to ‘Come Thru,’ to let go and enjoy the moment together.”
A Label, a Tour, and a Mission
The release of "Come Thru" marks a pivotal moment for Girls Don’t Sync. Not only does it debut their original sound, but it also launches their label, Fourmation Records, and kicks off their highly anticipated UK tour. For Sophia, the timing couldn’t be more special. “Launching the label and hitting the road at the same time felt like the perfect way to connect with fans. We’re excited to bring ‘Come Thru’ to life on stage and to share what we’ve been working on with new and familiar faces.”
Touring also gives GDS a chance to spotlight the wider DJ and producer community. “Curating our lineups has been a highlight,” shares Hannah. “We’ve been able to book DJs who inspire us and give a platform to emerging talent who are integral to the scene. It’s a full-circle moment to see those we admire sharing a stage with us.”
Championing Community Through Music
For GDS, community isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the foundation of everything they do. “Our music is about bringing people together,” Gaia explains. “Whether it’s through shared passions, experiences, or values, we want our sets to feel like safe spaces where everyone can let go and have fun.”
The group also recognizes their role in challenging barriers and supporting marginalized voices within the music industry. “We’ve faced challenges, and we know many others in our community have too,” Gaia continues. “But those shared struggles are what unite us and inspire us to keep pushing for representation and inclusivity.”
This sense of togetherness extends beyond their fanbase to their peers in the DJ and producer world. “We’ve built such strong relationships with like-minded artists over the years,” says Gaia. “There’s a real collective sense of respect and celebration within the scene, and that energy fuels what we do”.
We can’t ignore the bigger issue: our government must urgently recognise and protect a vital part of our culture, not just overlooked, but actively being dismantled. Funding cuts have devastated the arts sector, galleries, museums, and beyond and to us, grassroots clubs are just as crucial. We believe they should also be acknowledged as fundamental and essential cultural landmarks where passions ignite, identities form, spanning generations and communities, and careers are launched across the UK. It’s the ravers, the staff, the artists, and the relentless energy, DIY ethos and commitment that keep this culture alive. It is a given that clubs are undeniable cornerstones of culture and community but they also fuel our economy, a £36 billion industry as well as supporting over 425,000 jobs every year. Yet, in the last decade, more than half of the UK’s grassroots clubs have shut down… and the future of British music and culture is under serious threat.
In acknowledging the void that has been left in the nightlife industry, the question we have to ask ourselves is, “what is the solution?” We’ve seen people unite, raising their voices and galvanising their efforts both online and offline to defend these spaces. Take the facts and figures presented by NTIAs Night Time Economy Report or the introduction of London’s first ever Nightlife Taskforce; these new and very practical steps certainly provide us with a huge glimmer of hope for the future.
As artists, we believe we have a responsibility to protect nightlife in whatever ways we can. It’s more than a job, it’s our livelihood, our escape, our connection to community. That’s why we feel so strongly about supporting the spaces that shaped us. We have the power to create demand, to direct audiences, and to uplift grassroots venues and collectives from the ground up. And while these shows might not bring the same money as a big festival, what they offer in culture, energy and connection is unmatched”.
An incredible collective who continue to grow and are bringing so much togetherness and joy through their music, ethos and record label, I wonder if an E.P. or album will be coming this year or next perhaps, as there will be demand. I absolutely love everything about them and feel they are such an important and powerful voice(s) for good. Make sure you follow them and show support! Go catch them play if you are nearby. These four incredible women are a phenomenal D.J. collective but there is much more to them than that. It is clear they are going to be releasing incredible music and making changes in the world for…
MANY years more.
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