FeniFina talks about assembling Welupt Collective’s all-girls line-up show, female representation in the independent music scene, the evolution of inclusivity in hip-hop and more.
A congregation of bass music and hip-hop’s finest and fatal female virtuosos is imminent at Welupt Collective’s Pre Women’s Day Party in Mumbai on March 7, 2025. Knocking the cobwebs off the rare all-girls line-up events, this forthcoming gig will be a commingling of cutting-edge basslines, brutalist bars, and deep rumblings of beatboxing.
Invigorating acts such as Smokey, Rouge, Rayska, Inspectah G, Nu.Sense and more occupy the rattling roster; the diverse artist card is all thanks to rapper/MC FeniFina. “I strive to bring more female creatives to the front stage, so this felt like the perfect opportunity to do that,” she said in our exchange. With a knack for bridging cultures and reconnecting with your roots via compelling lyricism and wrecking-ball rhymes, FeniFina is one of Mumbai/Toronto’s top purveyors of hip-hop.
FeniFina aka Josefina Dsouza is not new to working in cahoots with Welupt Collective. She praises the Collective’s events as a destination of experimentation for artists and audiences alike. “I think it’s important to have well curated events where the audience gets a bit of commercial and underground vibe so it’s a balance of the sonics you hear,” said Feni, as the rapstress now takes over the reins to curate and host the Pre Women’s Day Party.
Since waltzing into the scene in 2020, Feni became a part of the female hip-hop/rap artists coterie—one that was scarce but teemed with boisterous skills. As hip-hop in India sees an upward trajectory, with it comes the ever-evolving and vibrant set of women who stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their male counterparts. And still, female artists are largely overshadowed in the scene. FeniFina believes that shows headlined by female artists, all-girls line-ups, or line-ups that feature female artists equally are of utmost importance.
“Bringing rappers on the line-up (for the Pre Women’s Day Party) not only adds diversity but also showcases the emerging female talent in the city,” Feni chimed in. “We want to create a safe space for women to rave and enjoy music. Bringing so much talent into one line-up speaks for itself about the power we have together.”
Feni’s artistry, vigor and talent stamp her as a major force for female artists’ recognition within the independent music scene, from being a part of 59Assembly’s only female crew at Spotify India’s Rap91 line-up to now creating exclusive spaces at bass music gigs as the MC. As one of the earliest instigators of women in Indian hip-hop, Feni has seen the rise of the genre firsthand. “The scene has definitely evolved over the years,” she recalls.
“It was difficult in the beginning since there weren’t that many female artists in the scene, especially those making music independently. As more of us started coming out to events and meeting each other, the community started building. So Welupt Collective doing events like this just solidifies the need for such organizations that actively work with local female creatives in the scene.”
While Feni’s beginning emerged within hip-hop, you can also see her thunder by in a myriad of electronic music projects. “Hip-hop is the way of life for me. Hustle and ambition being the main elements out of everything,” she said about her affinity for both genres. “Electronic music just found me, I would say. From MCing bass events to creating a house banger with Kratex, it all aligned with my journey in music.”
Having such a wide range of influences, Feni approaches her music in the studio with one project at a time. Disclosing her process, the artist shared, “I feel it highly depends on the people I’m working with. I feel there always has to be a balance and respect for the creative decisions being taken. Ultimately creating a product that reflects highly on both artists or all involved.”
Now captaining the Pre Women’s Day Party in tandem with Welupt Collective, FeniFina dons her hat as the curator to bring in a bedlam of bass, breaks and beatboxing. Expect a night of rip-roaring mixes from Smokey, Rouge, Rayska, Nu.Sense and Takeshi, with D.Raashii, Sadhana, Makwana Krishna and Inspectah G firing out bars as part of the hip-hop + beatbox cypher. “You really gotta just come through to the party and feel the vibes!” teased Feni, hyping up the show.
RSVP to Welupt Collective & Raasta Bombay present PRE WOMEN’S DAY PARTY at Raasta
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