GET TO KNOW MEXICO BASED ALL WOMEN COLLECTIVE “MUJERES VINILERAS” [@vinilerasmx]

Words by: Alejandra Cabrera

Mujeres Vinileras is more than just a community of women dedicated to vinyl, it’s a safe space for learning, exploration and engaging with the unfamiliar.

When it comes to Mujeres Vinileras, it all starts in 2018 in Mexico City when Jennifer Rosado (aka Jeni Janes) decided to write a Facebook post. In the post, she put it out there that she wanted women to join a collective dedicated to the world of vinyl.

“I wanted to make a collective that wasn’t just about getting women together to speak about music but where we could also learn, make connections and learn everything about all the equipment that playing with vinyl implies” Jennifer says. “It’s about learning to collect and select music and sharing it among us.”

The response to the post was unexpected with over 40 women expressing interest in being a part of Mujeres Vinileras (Women on Vinyl)  and 20 of them showing up to the first meeting. 

“My main goal is to give visibility to women in music,” Estrella Morales, aka Errante, one of the members of Mujeres Vinileras, says. “To show other women that they can do it, that there are opportunities and that we can be a part of music’s history without being erased or aggressed. To create a safe space for us.”

All of the women in the collective have a soft spot for the format of vinyl, with many agreeing that the most attractive aspect of vinyl is the nostalgic feeling surrounding them. “It is like playing music in its most loyal form. It implies special care, almost like a ritual where the journey starts in the search for the vinyl, finding it and being able to listen to it.” Estrella says. “For me even the sound of the needle approaching the vinyl is special, it’s something very personal.”

Mujeres Vinileras is an intergenerational collective, with women aged between 25 and 50 years old passionate about music. “I was really inspired to start this project because I was amazed at a 50 year old DJ I saw,” Jennifer says. “I thought to myself if she can do it, so can we!”

Another member, Andrea Calles aka Miss Andrew says she was inspired when she saw that it was a women only collective. “I was already part of a label that was mostly led by men, it can get difficult,” Andrea says. “When I saw the post I thought to myself that I simply had to be there. I’ve since made a lot of progress and forged great friendships with inspiring women.”

With many listening sessions and full of women with different music tastes, Mujeres Vinileras has shaped itself as a safe and inspiring space to learn and grow. “I loved music but I never thought that my music taste was good for mixing until I joined the collective,” Member Albeliz Córdoba says. “Since meeting with my colleagues I have changed my point of view and learnt to mix Jazz, Blues,… I’ve even gotten up on stage and learnt loads of different music thanks to Mujeres Vinileras.”

For  Blanca Avila, aka Catrina Ciriaca, the collective has meant much more than just a growth in music skills. “For me it has had a strong personal impact. I’m very shy but being a part of this has really helped me to grow personally and as a woman.”

This collective has meant a lot for its members, from feeling empowered in a safe space to learning different music styles and becoming more political. “Mujeres Vinileras has also taught me to choose the music I play and listen to more carefully,“ Albeliz says. “It made me realise the huge amount of music made by males I listened to and the little women that I followed.”

“Making a collective is a political stand,” Jennifer Rosado says. “In a world that tells you to be by yourself, being in a collective embraces and supports you so not only one can walk but we can all walk together, that’s what we hope to keep doing.”