Elena Persaud AKA The Yard Woman is a Greek-born, Bristol-based DJ and producer at the forefront of UK dance music. A fast-emerging prospect, her achievements speak for themselves. DJ sets at Motion and Lakota; festival performances at Tokyo World and Boomtown; press coverage in BBC News and Mixmag; plus airwave support from the mighty BBC Radio 1 for her original productions Jupiter, Lunatic and High Priestess. Considering Elena is still in the early stages of her career, such feats can be considered all the more impressive. But it’s not just music where The Yard Woman excels. As an activist, she is a former member of Lady of the House, the movement responsible for writing Stories of Women in Dance Music. The book features interviews with Nina Kraviz, Charlotte De Witte, Ellen Allien and Jaguar to name just a few of the artists that feature, championing the work they’ve done to further equality within the industry. Onto her releases. From DRK Records to COOD, to Esset, Saffron and more, The Yard Woman’s sound is eclectic. It draws influence from inherent dancefloor moments, the likes of which we can all relate to. As Elena states herself, one question guides her whilst in the studio: “Would I dance to my track right now?” Such a foundation leads to music that’s purposefully-built for the club. Take her forthcoming EP on Ronnie Spiteri’s Kenja Records, a melodically-charged offering that showcases the full-breadth of her production capabilities. Perhaps that sonic diversity is what Saffron Records picked up on, when they selected Elena for their artist development project. It’s specifically focused on black women and non-binary music creators, a testament to her skill and tenacity. Supporting slots are the bedrock of any rising DJ: and she takes them in her stride as a result. Be it warming up for Kevin de Vries, Victor Ruiz, Shy One or Arielle Free - these milestone performances are part of Elena’s DNA. So in summary - it’s worth familiarising yourself with The Yard Woman. Her trajectory is attributable to her talent, which makes her growth through the industry inevitable.