Input Jack: Women Solo Musicians

The Plight of Sologirl originally published at Grey Area

by Anne Adams - June 6th, 2010:

My recent show at Folklife prompts me to also address some more general themes that have emerged not only there, but elsewhere in my performance experience--little psychic obstacles I keep tripping over, on many stages.

Let me just say, for musical performance purposes, I'd rather be any of the other things that I am, than a girl. I don't really feel female when I play. Maybe I dress that way (and maybe I have to stop?) but I consider myself to be more of a narrator, a voice; sometimes, a medium or conjurer, and, as my buddy Tim once said, the town crier. That's the style I've come to; that's my way and my soul. World, can you stop making me regret that my guts are contained in an hourglass rather than a jar? 'Cause when I'm up there, I'm spilling them anyway.

And also, can we please make a better habit of listening to the way a given person plays (even if it's a female person), and put that person with stylistically compatible acts? I may just go slumber in a cave and you can wake me when it's finally time.

Actually, the next generation of musicians seems to have gotten beyond this problem. Newer bands are coming out now, nonchalantly co-ed, like gender isn't even a big whoop. But solo girls hold the last stigma, and the booking powers that be are often from the prior generation, and frankly still a little old-school.

So please let me debunk some assumptions. Just because I'm a female solo musician does NOT necessarily mean:

I don't have very much gear
I don't know the best way to set up/plug in my gear
I ought to act shy or modest
I should have to act masculine to earn your respect
I will be accessible or appropriate entertainment for young children or elderly people
I should open every show
I will sing about love and heartbreak
I'm an "afternoon" act
I'm a "cabaret" act
I'll fit in with every other female musician
My music will be relaxing or mellow
My music will be melodramatic
My music will be emotional and not intellectual
I'm not a geek for structure and theory
I want my audience members to try to date me
I am trying to be seductive from stage
I need to be saved
I owe you love
Stop assuming any of the above, and we'll get along just fine.

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Linkage: Commencement of Ladypalooza

Hey all! I'd like to share a link.

The consistently fantastic Tiger Beatdown has initiated a series of posts about women's experiences in the world of music called Ladypalooza. While even editor Sady Doyle admits it has a stupid title, it's a great platform for woman musicians to voice their experiences. And I also think the awesomeness of the blog's name cancels it the silly series title.


Tiger Beatdown: Awesome Blog Name (& much better than Tiger Beat)

Today, contributer Silvana started off the series with her post I Went To Your Concert and There Was Nothing Going On, or, A Meditation on Dude Music. A lot of her story rings true for me, and my own early experiences attempting to play in bands, and enter music-related discourse with male friends -especially the "I just don't like women's voices" part.

It's a great example of a thoughtful and justified rant, and I'm excited to follow this series and read more blog entries from different perspectives.

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EP Review : Tribella "My Guest List"

I was pretty excited to receive a CD from Tribella. A three-piece, all woman band from Austin, trained in classical piano and jazz? Sounds pretty sweet. Unfortunately, the result is relatively unremarkable. They're talented, they have good instrumental skills, good voices, and good production. A little too good, a little too mainstream. I expect them to be singing "Soak up the sun". The title track, "My Guest List," and #4 "Saucer Eyes" are notable for their girl-power, I don't need some man to treat me wrong, I'm in a rock band attitude, but stylistically, I'd still rather have Bratmobile tell me that. Don't want to take my word for it? The whole EP is available for free to listen on their website.

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