On Thursday, March 20, I had the pleasure of attending a listening party co-hosted by Tone Shift Collective and Gender Amplified, held at Commune NYC. The night celebrated the release of Gender Amplified’s first-ever EP and brought together artists, producers, and supporters in a space built on collaboration, creativity, and care.
Gender Amplified, founded by award-winning producer and engineer Ebonie Smith, has spent nearly two decades uplifting women and gender-expansive producers. “We’re very much focused on equity,” Ebonie said during her speech. “Making sure our producers are not only making great music, but able to live off that music—with as few intermediaries in their pocket as possible.” Her presence and story—starting the organization as a college thesis project at Barnard—set the tone for the night.
Tone Shift Collective, founded by Lydia Froncek and Aviva La Viv, has been building on that same energy. Lydia spoke about how she moved to New York after attending Gender Amplified’s CTRL Room series, a collaborative production and songwriting camp. “I found the community I was looking for,” she said, “so I took a leap of faith.” That leap led to monthly listening parties like this one, designed to support and celebrate gender-diverse voices in music.
One of the most powerful aspects of the night was how intentional it was about actually listening. “So often, the music’s just playing in the background,” one of the organizers said. “But how often do we gather to really hear the songs?” It was a rare kind of space—warm, curious, and open-hearted.
“Trick Mirror” kicked things off with a hyperpop bounce—glitchy, shimmery, and full of emotional charge. It playfully explored self-perception and illusion with the hook: “Was it a trick mirror?”
“Future Number” followed with a reflective, R&B-leaning groove. Featuring vocals from Lyd Marie, virgogabrielle, and Olivia Reid, the track looked inward, celebrating growth and patience on the creative journey.
“Still Got Time” closed the set on a soft, affirming note—a gentle anthem of self-compassion that reminded everyone in the room to take a breath and trust their path.
These songs were born out of the Ctrl Room Series, where women and gender-expansive artists are invited to create in spaces built by and for each other. More than just music, the project is about mutual support and telling stories often pushed to the margins of the industry.
The evening also featured DJ sets from @nataliebikes, @_dj444_, and @bostonchery, who turned the room into a dance floor as the night went on. Everyone I met was generous, curious, and kind—it felt more like a gathering of friends than a networking event.
And yes—I left with a free t-shirt and a pressing of the EP! That level of thoughtfulness was just another reminder that this wasn’t just about music—it was about people, presence, and purpose.
Gender Amplified says it best: Women make up only 2% of the music production workforce—”but we’re here, we’re making the music, and we’re damn proud of it.”
The next Tone Shift event is on April 17 at Commune NYC. I’ll be there. You should be too.
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