Since 2021, The FemDem has been a monthly radio show and a staple of the programming at Open Source Radio, airing live on the third Saturday of every month. What began as a commitment to elevating underrepresented voices in music has grown into a platform dedicated to visibility, experimentation, and community.

In this Spotlight, Vanity Roxane shares the story behind The FemDem, reflects on its growth over the past years, and speaks about the importance of creating space for Fem+ and non-binary artists within the electronic music landscape.

With a broad and genre-transcending musical palette but rooted in electronic sound, The FemDem brings forward Fem+ and non-binary DJs and producers, artists who are not automatically represented on line-ups. While the music sector has increasingly begun to focus on inclusion and balanced programming in recent years, this was far from the norm when the show first launched. Through the space provided by Open Source Radio, the program functions as an intermediate step in the development of artists, where experimentation, visibility, and experience are central.

Over the years, the show has actively contributed to talent development within the music sector by offering a stage for artists to gain experience, confidence, and connection to the wider cultural field. Between 2021 and 2025, The FemDem has already presented around 250 shows, establishing itself as a meaningful and sustainable program within Open Source Radio’s community.

Since 2026, the resident team shaping and curating the monthly show consists of Liv Kuipers, Sistah Glittah, and Vanity Roxane, three dedicated curators and selectors who collectively bring The FemDem to life.

What sets The FemDem apart is its conscious focus on representation at a time when inclusive and balanced programming was far from the norm. The show builds space for voices that expand the perspectives listeners hear, and supports emerging artists in their professional growth.