DJ Paulette’s book, Welcome to the Club: The Life and Lessons of a Black Woman DJ, is out now
The autobiography sheds light on DJ Paulette’s career as a queer Black woman in the dance music industry
DJ Paulette has released her first book, Welcome To the Club: The Life and Lessons of a Black Woman DJ, via Manchester University Press.
The autobiography offers a candid insight into the 30-year career of DJ Paulette, confronting the exclusion, misogyny, racism and classism she has had to battle along the way as a Black woman in the dance music industry.
“I tell my story with authenticity and humour, gathering together a stellar array of the electronic music industry’s icons, gatekeepers and fierce future forces who have joined me in this fantastic voyage to put the wider, underlying issues into perspective,” shared Paulette, who won DJ Mag’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.
Welcome To the Club will also include contributions from other influential names including Sonique, Smokin Jo, Norman Jay MBE, Gilles Peterson MBE, Dave Haslam, Jaguar and Jamz Supernova, as well as an intro written by Annie Mac.
DJ Paulette, who was one of Haçienda’s pioneering DJs, will launch her debut book at two events later this week. On 25th January, the house icon will be in conversation with Jamz Supernova at HOME in Manchester. The following night – 26th January – she will launch the book at Soho House in London, in conversation with Jacqueline Springer, followed by a DJ set alongside Marcia Carr.
In an interview with DJ Mag in 2020 the award-winning DJ explained how racism is still deep-rooted in the music industry. She said: “When I was making my 2020 plans, I knew I had to seek out the Black parties because, otherwise, I might be erased.” She hopes her book will inspire a new generation of Black DJs to help secure a more diverse future for dance music.
Welcome To the Club is available to purchase now via all good bookstores and stockists. Signed copies are available for pre-order through Rough Trade and Heavenly Records Bandcamp.
DJ Paulette features in the forthcoming DJ Mag Originals documentary celebrating 30 years of Top 100 DJs, alongside the likes of Carl Cox, David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Charlotte de Witte, and many more. Watch the official trailer here.
Revisit DJ Mag’s list of the 11 essential books about electronic music for more good reads.
