Juliet Fox’s DJ Sets Are More “Powerful” Than Ever—Thanks to Her Pregnancy

by Michael Ryan · Published December 3, 2024

Creating life while creating music, Juliet Fox is proving that motherhood isn't a limitation for DJs—it's an amplifier.

The Australian techno producer and label boss is dismantling music industry myths about pregnant women, proving that maternal power and musical prowess aren't just compatible, but combustible. From the radiant shores of Ibiza to the towering skylines of New York City to the misty canals of Amsterdam, she's blowing up and DJing all over the world.

And she's coming into her own. Fox's hormonal changes are making her "more driven and determined," she tells EDM.com, and helping her deliver the best DJ sets of her career.

Touring while pregnant, however, comes with challenges. The loud acoustics of nightclubs and the circuitous logistics of music festivals can be taxing, so Fox has learned to treat wellness and self-care as integral parts of her routine.

For her, balancing physical demands with the grind of a global touring schedule is a calculated strategy. It's also a clear message to the music industry: motherhood isn't a barrier to success, but an opportunity to grow.

We caught up with Fox to discuss the pressures, changes and triumphs that come with touring as a pregnant DJ.

EDM.com: Many artists feel pressured to keep pregnancy private in the entertainment industry. What influenced your choice to be open about your journey, and how has the electronic music community responded?

Juliet Fox: I've always believed in being authentic and showing the true version of myself, plus this journey is a huge part of who I am right now, something really special in which I want to be able to share with everyone. I wanted to be open, not just for myself but for others, especially women in the industry who might feel the pressure to keep such a personal experience hidden.

The response from the music scene has been great, and its also been so nice to connect with people I hadn’t before to share their own stories—which for me shows others want to be more open to conversations about being a woman in this space, especially during pregnancy.

EDM.com: Many pregnant women in demanding careers struggle with societal pressure to "slow down." How do you balance listening to your body's needs while maintaining your professional momentum?

Juliet Fox: I have always been very in tune with my body, so I use this as my driving force while keeping a strong mind focus. It's all about balancing, and since being pregnant I have not only listened to my body more, but also respected it to another level. In the past I definitely pushed through exhaustion and used to challenge myself to run on hardly any sleep, but now I’m much more aware of what my body is telling me.

I’m not afraid to slow down when I need to, and I’ve surrounded myself with people and a team that understand my needs and respect my boundaries. It’s not about slowing down as such, instead about having a smarter and more strategic approach, which in turn allows me to show up with the energy and focus needed for my performances.

EDM.com: From late nights to loud acoustics, the club environment presents unique challenges for pregnant women, who have to DJ and stand for extended periods. How have you adapted your performances and approach to protect both yourself and your baby? Could you walk us through the physical modifications you've made to your DJing routine?

Juliet Fox: As mentioned before, I had to not only listen to my body but I had to now respect the growing little human inside of me. So even though I had no trouble playing a few extended sets while pregnant, I would ask to limit the time to 2-3 hours as the maternal instinct would set knowing I should rest and not push myself. I took less gigs over the summer especially to make sure I had time to rest between shows, and was very careful to take earlier flights sometimes even coming in the night before so I had time to rest, or stay on the next day.

Then of course most importantly was the booth monitor levels, with frequency and bass, which was adjusted to ensure there was no high vibration. And I had full control of the sound level, which I kept off through most of my sets and mixed as much as I could in my headphones. After the gigs I would make sure I had extra food already in the hotel, or if time was an issue the promoters were always great at organizing healthy options for me.

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EDM.com: Tech riders and hospitality requirements are standard in our industry. What specific pregnancy-related requirements have you added to yours?

Juliet Fox: Well this got switched straight to a sober rider, and funny enough no one even questioned this at all, even before I announced I was pregnant. I made sure to include extra hydration options, like coconut water, fruit and healthy snacks. We requested more comfortable seating in the green room or backstage area for when I need a break, and more flexible timeframes for sound checks or rehearsals, as I might need additional rest in between.

It's not just about physical comfort, but mental comfort too and making sure I had a quiet, relaxing space to recharge when I'm not performing.

EDM.com: What infrastructural changes would you like to see venues and festivals implement to better support pregnant artists?

Juliet Fox: Honestly I found all promoters really accommodating, and as soon as everyone knew they made sure I had a place to rest and helped where needed. There were some venues that didn’t have a huge back area or green room, or where people were smoking, but if so they would ask those to stop and give me the space needed to ensure the health and safety of me and my little one.

Pregnant artists aren't something that is happening so often, but I hope that with people like myself and other females that were recently pregnant—and have spoken out about it—will help shape the way for more to come.

EDM.com: Jet lag and irregular sleep patterns are challenging enough for any touring artist. What wellness strategies have you developed to maintain healthy sleep cycles and energy levels while pregnant?

Juliet Fox: I have always been pretty good with random sleep patterns, and rarely got jet lag. I’m great at napping, so this came in very handy over the last six months. I’ve had to become even more disciplined with my sleep, especially during long tours. I prioritize rest as much as possible, making sure to take naps when I can and adjusting my sleep schedule gradually to sync with the timezone I’m in. I also make sure I do some form of exercise between gigs, and would often get to the hotel gym or go for a walk outside—fresh air and nature work wonders.

For flying I use compression socks, and would sit on the aisle to make sure I could get up and move about often, plus making sure I always have a bag of healthy snacks with me at all times—although if anyone knows me I always have snacks on me so nothing new here! I am also very fortunate to have my partner travel with me, as really I think this would be impossible without him to help with lifting bags and making sure no one bumps into me. Not to mention the support he gives just being there and handling any extra requests I need. He's been amazing throughout all of this!

EDM.com: Pregnancy comes with hormonal changes and the altering of those energy levels. Has it affected your music selection and the energy you bring to your DJ sets?

Juliet Fox: I think if anything it has made me want to listen to harder, more energetic music. My sets have been even more powerful this year and I feel they have flowed so well being totally present and sober, a new type of connection. The hormone changes have been there, but they make me more driven and determined to do all I can for this life inside of me. It's such an incredible feeling actually, as you are not just doing this for yourself anymore—you have someone else to think of and is my driving force.

What's really amazing is when I prepare my sets, listen to music or make music at home, I get little kicks from him. I know he loves techno already! While I am playing it puts him to sleep, and it’s only after I stop and sit down he starts to kick and move about again.

EDM.com: What message would you share with other women in electronic music who might be hesitant to pursue pregnancy while maintaining their careers?

Juliet Fox: I want other women out there to know that it's all possible. You don’t have to choose between your career and motherhood. You can do both, but it takes patience, flexibility, a willingness to prioritize your well-being and most importantly someone who can be your rock—your main support in this—and who understands every part of you and the music industry.

The electronic music scene is evolving and more women are speaking out about their experiences, which is creating space for others to follow. You deserve to have both, and by being open about your journey, you might even inspire the next generation of women in music to pursue their dreams without fear of judgment or sacrifice. I know I have been inspired by other women myself, and I am sure this will be a ripple effect to help strengthen that bond of motherhood even more.