Honeybone: Behind The EP - Spits And Curses

Once again, the Melbourne music scene is showing everyone why they are up there with some of the best musical cities from around the world. DOPECAUSEWESAID has an EP that you absolutely need to check out, and we promise you won’t regret it. 

Originating in New Zealand, Drew Handcock (guitar and vocals), Peter Jermakov (bass and backing vocals) and Rachel Trainor (drums and vocals) make up the three-piece garage rock band Honeybone. The band originally formed in 2009 in Dunedin. 

From 2014- 2015, Honeybone was secretly writing songs for the May 27 release of Spits and Curses produced by Lee Jones, the former frontman of the Solicitors, turned producer. The 2016 album was recorded over one long weekend with the trio returning a few weeks later to lay down the final vocals.  

Tumultuous relationships and lost love are common themes transformed into the hard rock aura of Spits and Curses. The five-song EP features a dynamic and diverse selection of equally impressive tracks, and we can definitely see ourselves cruising down the desert highways of Las Vegas with some Ray Bands on to this EP. The first song titled “Lonesome” immediately dragged us in with the crazy vocal diversity of the singers and the musical composition from the lead guitarist. The best thing about this EP is how diverse the band proves to be, showing the multiple skills of each musician. A good example would be the fourth track titled “Shotgun”, where drummer Rachel Trainor takes over lead vocals and shows everyone exactly why she is the woman for the job. The dynamic between the powerful male vocals and ambient female vocals almost broke our ears (in the best way possible).

Fun Fact: Honeybone plays a fictional band in a yet to be released film called Marital Problems, and Rachel even gets to punch one of the main actors in the face. The track “Lonesome” will also be featured in the film, so keep your eyes out for it! DOPECAUSEWESAID does not condone violence, but I think we can all agree it makes for some interesting (and hilarious) content.

You can find the Spits and Curses EP and follow the band to see about upcoming projects on their social media accounts below.

Connect with Honeybone: Website   Facebook   Soundcloud   Instagram   Bandcamp

Nancie Schipper’s Debut Album: "Haunted House" Review

Nancie Schipper may only be sixteen years old, but the South West Victorian musician is showing the world why age is just a number with the release of her fourteen track debut album titled Haunted House. Nancie’s stunning talents have caught the attention of Australian music legends such as Shane Howard and Bill Chambers, prompting them to appear on the 2015 project, which is a diverse and exceptional piece of art.

Nancie began writing more serious music around twelve years old, but stuck to playing covers at fundraisers and council foyers. Eventually, the confidence she gained on stage began to pour into her music, and she was bewildered to find the audience loved her originals. At fourteen, Nancie decided she had the right amount of material and confidence to capture her songs permanently in the form of sound recordings, thus beginning the journey to Haunted House.

"I thought the project would take a matter of months.” stated Nancie. “Little did I know just how much work and commitment it would take to produce 14 songs, and the entire project took a full year! In November of 2015, we officially launched the album with a full band in front of an audience of 250 people. It was the most mind blowing experience of my life“.

The fourteen tracks on Nancie’s album are not ones you would ever imagine to have been written by someone her age, touching on real world topics with underlying tones of poise and maturity. The album even stands true to it's name by giving the listener a Civil Wars type feel through the use of minor chords and vocal inflictions, creating a somewhat haunting and shadowy feel. Her voice is flawless and folky, blending well with the overall small-town singer vibe of the project. If you're looking for an organic and easy-listening album, we definitely recommend you check this one out. 

So when you listen to her album Haunted House and fall in love, don’t worry. Even though Nancy is a bit reluctant to release too much information, she is planning the release of her second album in the near future, which will be recorded in Sydney by Australian producer Matt Fell in an intense ten-day session. Nancie is also in the process of planning an Australian tour as well as several appearances at major Australian music festivals. If Nancie has gotten this far and accomplished so much at just sixteen, one can only imagine where she will be in a matter of a few years.

Connect with Nancie Schipper: Website   Facebook   Instagram
 

Stream/Download "Haunted House" by Nancie Schipper

Bateau aka Melina Twyman is a Melbourne, Australia based Trip-Hop/RnB/Hip-Hop artist as well as a DOPE writer and friend of DCWS. You can follow her on Instagram at #bateauofficial or at bateauofficial.wordpress.com

King Pig’s Self-Titled EP: Why You Need To Keep This Band on Your Radar

King Pig is an Australian band made up of Cairns natives, Dal and Tim, who released a killer self-titled debut EP in November of 2014. The boys started out playing in a reggae band, eventually relocating to Melbourne where they redefined their sound and started up a brand new project. Taking the band’s name from the end level boss in the popular game Angry Birds, King Pig is showing the world why the Melbourne music scene is a force to be reckoned with.

Having both worked on the Cairns franchise of balcony TV, these guys are no strangers to the music world. Tim busked his way across the east of Australia, playing in almost every small town and allowing the landscape to influence his music, while Dal works at the Victorian Arts Centre as a successful audio engineer.

In the words of lead singer Tim, the King Pig EP is a collection of six songs ranging in style from straight old time folk to dark pop and blues. The ending of Tim’s long-term relationship, family, and the uncertainty of change were the major driving factors behind the creation. With influences like Radiohead, Earl Scruggs, and Sun House, you can bet this band is only putting out top quality work.

Between the peaceful vocals and exceptional musical composition of each track, the overall feel of the EP is a very collected and easy listening one. The band’s strongest track on the EP is titled Right Sun, and immediately draws the listener in with an amiable and uplifting vibe. Each of the six songs is unique and gives off an individual feel, proving the overall project to be diverse and refreshing.

For Dal and Tim, standing still is not an option, and you can expect more great work from King Pig in the near future. They are currently in the process of creating a full-length album, and will hopefully be releasing a single very soon. If their upcoming album is anything like their first project, you should definitely be keeping your eye out for the release.

Below, you will find King Pig’s social media accounts and links to listen to their self-titled EP, as well as keep up with future projects.

Connect with King Pig: Facebook   Instagram   YouTube   Twitter

Bateau is a Melbourne, Australia based Trip-Hop/RnB/Hip-Hop artist as well as a DOPE writer and friend of DCWS. You can follow her on Instagram at #bateauofficial or at bateauofficial.wordpress.com

Peter Bee Q&A: Short Advice for the Emerging Artist

Last week, I sat down with Peter Bee, an Australian musician and audio engineer who made quite a splash in the music scene worldwide.

Throughout his five-year career with former band Clairy Browne and the Banging Raquettes, Peter says he was able to see and experience things he never thought possible had it not been for the music. His band went on multiple tours, playing shows in America, Australia, Europe, and even as far as Tokyo. Their music videos racked up millions of views, and the attention attracted Vanguard Records and the Creative Artist’s Agency.  ABC Radio National named his band’s album, Baby Caught the Bus, as the 2011 album of the year.  Shortly after during the 2012 Olympics, Heineken released a commercial featuring one of their songs.

But before all of his success, who was Peter Bee?

Born in Canberra, the Capitol of Australia, Peter developed a love for music at a very early age. His mother only owned two albums, and no one in his family showed any interest in music. His father was in the Navy for the majority of his childhood, forcing Peter to move around Australia at least seven times before settling in New South Wales at the age of 12. Once 21, Peter went on to University and studied law for five years before moving to Sydney.

As a self taught audio engineer, Peter was soon recruited to the small South Australian town of Adelaide to produce an album for a local band. What started as a short-term project turned into a four-year stay, prompting him to seek change and relocate to Melbourne upon the album’s completion.

Working in a small café in the city, Peter crossed paths with a friend of a singer called Clairy Browne, who introduced the pair in 2009. He and Clairy began jamming over mulled wine in Peter’s apartment, writing songs and connecting through similar music tastes. The duo began performing in a soul garage every week, eventually putting together a band. The band’s first gig attracted the attention of a manager- and the rest is history. Even after the band’s wild success, the members decided to go on permanent hiatus in 2011 in order for Clairy to pursue a solo career.

Luckily, I was able to pick Peter’s brain and provide the interview below. If you are interested in the glamorous touring life, or want to make music your profession, I suggest you read on!
 
Q & A

What is the best aspect of touring?

Well, without touring I never would have been able to travel. I met so many amazing people and saw so many amazing places. I never felt homesick because I always had such an incredible time.

I Imagine touring can get a bit strenuous, what would you say is the most difficult part about it?

Money was a bit tight after a while, and that was a big issue. We also were too busy working to sometimes enjoy the places we played at. We would perform and spend about thirty minutes of downtime, only to immediately pack up our gear and drive two hours to the hotel. Space was tight and it could sometimes add tension between the band members. All of that aside, the whole experience was amazing.

Once the band began to take off, how did all the attention feel?

It was actually pretty crazy. We received fan mail, signed autographs, and were treated really well. One occasion we even partied with The Roots. It never became overwhelming though. There is no point getting into this business if you don’t want to please the fans.

What advice do you have for emerging artists who want to make music their career?

The term “music business” is exactly what it sounds like- half music and half business. If you’re serious about it, you have to get the business side taken care of first. Work out why you’re getting into the business. Always think about contracts and the relationships you have with other artists and management, etc. Be extremely professional and knock out the necessities early. On top of that, make sure you get everything in writing. If you’re in a band, make sure you talk about expectations and get on the exact same page from day one. But most importantly, don’t do it to prove anything to anyone. Don’t alter your life for anyone but yourself. You have to love your work. Being an artist can open up your vulnerabilities and leave you constantly searching for validation. Happiness comes from within, and being happy with who you are. The only acceptance you need is from yourself.

These days, you can find Peter in the heart of Melbourne working at his studio, Studio Bee. He has a comfortable life playing gigs and acting as an important member in the Melbourne music community.

Thank you immensely to Peter for sharing his knowledge and connecting with Dopecausewesaid.

Bateau aka Melina Twyman is a Melbourne, Australia based Trip-Hop/RnB/Hip-Hop artist and writer, as well as DCWS Editor-in-Chief. You can follow her on Instagram at #bateauofficial or at bateauofficial.wordpress.com

BLOG: Generation Walking Dead

Here's a new piece by Melina Twyman aka Bateau, the Houston based Trip-Hop/RnB/Hip-Hop singer-songwriter who always has some jewels to drop for the masses whether it be over an instrumental or on a computer screen via a blog post. This blog post in particular is entitled "Generation Walking Dead" and to an extent, the title is pretty self-explanatory, but it's deeper than that. Here, Melina examines this generation's obsession with the internet, immediate gratification, the need for social media acceptance and much more. Millennials, humble yourself and read on...

“Never before has a generation so diligently recorded themselves accomplishing so little”
-Unknown

This is 2016, the year where we sit behind a computer screen typing furiously about politics and social justice issues on Facebook and Twitter until our faces turn blue, replacing real action and progress with likes and shares. The media driven generation that refuses to fact check and do their research, spewing out nonsense and misinformation into the already growing monster that is the internet.

 The generation of Snap Chat and other social platforms that invite infidelity and secrecy.  The generation who would rather “Netflix and Chill” over getting to know someone organically and slowly. The generation that will send a flower emoji instead of showing up at a doorstep with lilies. The generation who is no longer interested in the chase, but has become desensitized with a culture of immediate gratification. We prefer to lurk Facebook or Twitter to see what our peers are up to, rather than talk over dinner.

We are a generation that no longer appreciates true art and music, expecting the artist to produce for free. We refuse to pay for anything without recognition of the hard work, time, and money that goes into the product we have incorporated into our every day lives.

This is the generation that glorifies lip injections over natural beauty. We would rather make our money selling Detox Tea on Instagram to millions of strangers instead of getting an education and making notable contributions for a more functional society. The generation that values fame and notoriety over worldly knowledge and intelligence.

We have made unhealthy living habits justifiable by shouting lifestyle acceptance, claiming to have been shamed by those who challenge us.

We live in a generation that follows tragedies blindly without recognizing the underlying seriousness and exigency of them. We see these tragedies as the popular things to care about in the moment, failing to recognize many of these things have happened in the past, are still happening, and will continue to happen. We live in a generation that would rather change our profile picture to a French flag temporarily, rather then spend our time, effort, and money helping victims.

We are the generation that refuses to look up from our phones. We crash our cars refreshing Instagram, miss important moments that only come around once, and have become so engulfed in social media we do not realize our lives are passing us by.

This is a generation that has demolished the First Amendment. We are no longer allowed to speak our minds without being called a bigot, receiving backlash, deaths threats, and being run out of our houses; Unless of course, we agree with the majority.

This is the “now” generation. The generation that wants everything, and wants it fast. The generation who lives for the moment, making choices without any consideration for their future. This is the generation who expects apathy instead of working hard with the cards they were dealt, justifying laziness with an increasing sense of entitlement. The generation that no longer celebrates hard work.

“Those are the people I like to call the Walking Dead. They’re living asleep, so they accomplish nothing. That is the difference between successful and unsuccessful people. Successful people aren’t afraid to take the risk and live the experience whether it be good or bad.”
-The Arkitect

We are too sensitive, and we expect too much. I am scared to live in a world where our potential leaders are turned off by hard work due to the fact that hard work is no longer recognized. I am scared to live in a world where our standards are lowered to coincide with a culture that believes everyone running the race deserves a trophy. If we get the prize no matter the outcome, we will have no motivation to win.

I am scared to be in this generation.

But mostly, I am scared to be in a generation that doesn’t recognize there is a problem.

- Melina

Bateau's Guide to Songwriting 101

Bateau is a Houston based (for now, until she moves to Melbourne, Australia) Trip-Hop/RnB/Hip-Hop artist who recently released a very DOPE album entitled "Dispatch". On top of being an awesome artist, Bateau is also amazing songwriter and official friend of the DOPECAUSEWESAID brand, so we reached out to ask if she would write a piece about her songwriting process and tips she may have for other aspiring singers and songwriters. 

For most musicians, songwriting is the most fulfilling experience of the whole music making process. It is where we spill our emotions, fears, thoughts, and secrets into the form of melodies. Songwriting is where all the emotions that are bottled up inside our chests are released into the world through our art, allowing us to breathe again.

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But for all these reasons, songwriting can also be the most difficult and vulnerable part.
For me, songwriting always comes last. I like to take care of the instrumental first, so I have nothing left to do but focus on the words and messages I am trying to convey through any particular song. This allows me to have total relaxation, focus, and time to gather my thoughts.

Developing lyrics is the part of the music making process where you have to completely let go. This is where a listener can tell if you’re being genuine or not. When you hold nothing back, the emotions and words you are speaking pour into the heart of the listener. This is what makes music such a unique thing. Music is such a powerful medium of art that it is able to connect strangers with one another, the artist to their audience. The words you speak as an artist make you relatable, give you a face, and humanize you to the world. The biggest mistake you can make in songwriting is fabricating or diluting your feelings. As artists, we love, hate, cry, and fall ten times harder than the average person. I find that the best time to write a song is when I am at the peak of my emotions. This is when songwriting is effortless, genuine, and the words spill out of my mouth eloquently. Songwriting comes from the best and most difficult experiences, and I believe most artists will tell you that.

If you look back on to some of the greatest artist of all time, their best works have come from heartbreak or unfathomable situations. Take Freddy Mercury’s Queen, who wrote 'These Are The Days of Our Lives' upon succumbing to AIDS.  David Bowie wrote 'Lazarus' upon succumbing to cancer. Jhene Aiko wrote 'Promises' after she lost her older brother to cancer. And for you millennials, Beyonce wrote 'Lemonade' upon the betrayal of her husband.

These are the things people want to listen to. Relatable things that bring out emotions and make the listener feel. While singing about popping bottles and hitting the club can be great for a mindless night out, it isn’t what music is truly about.

Music is powerful, and words are lethal. Music with meaningful messages can change lives and create emotions that cannot be induced by any other form of art.  If you are fortunate enough to have the gift of music inside of you, I encourage you to share it in the purest and most genuine form. Be yourself, write what you feel, and hold nothing back.

Connect with Bateau: Website   Instagram   Facebook   YouTube   

Blog: I Love You, But I Love Music More

Dating when you’re a musician is hard. Actually, dating is just hard in general. But when you’re a musician you can go ahead and add in time away for touring and practices, the opposite sex coming up to you after shows to introduce themselves or tell you how well you did (to your partner's dismay), and struggling to share your heart between your passion and another person.

As I say in all my other blogs, this is just what I have gathered from my own personal experiences. I can’t speak for everyone, these are just the struggles I have encountered.

I was in a relationship with someone for about a year. We lived together for a little while, and everything should have been great. This person was respectful, kind, caring, and really good to me. The only problem is that he did not understand why I had to collaborate with male artists. He didn’t understand why I couldn’t spend time with him because I had to go jam with a band of all males. He couldn’t understand why after I played a show I had to talk to people, some of which were men, to network and thank them for coming out. He didn’t understand why I would rather lock myself in the room for hours at a time to play guitar and write, rather than spend time with him. I could sit here and list all the things he did not understand about my relationship with music, but I won’t. The fact of the matter is that at the end of the day, he just didn’t understand.

How could he, though? I was his everything, and music was mine. It wasn’t that I didn’t love him, I was just never going to love anything the way I loved music. I think musicians and artists are extremely unique people. We are different. Our craft is like air to us, and we can not live without doing it every single day.

Towards the end of our relationship, I found myself playing guitar and writing less so I could spend time with him. I started performing less in order to avoid a fight with him if a guy came up to ask for my number, simply for the purpose of playing music or collaborating. I stopped singing as much and began to feel my voice becoming weaker from lack of practice. I stopped traveling to play gigs in other cities in order to reduce the time I spent away from him to again, avoid fighting. Instead, I started spending more time watching movies with him, cooking with him, and just hanging out with him. These things were painfully unproductive to me, and I felt I was wasting time that I could be using to progress as an artist. We became one of those “boring” couples who didn’t really do much of anything. He could see I wasn’t happy and tried to convince me that he wanted me to go out and play more, but I knew he really didn’t. He didn’t because he associated music with the thing that was taking away his time with me, even if I just wanted to play for five minutes. I became so unhappy that I started to resent him from taking me away from my art. I tried to find a balance between music and my relationship, but I just could not find it. I couldn’t do what I wanted without upsetting him, and I couldn’t be the girlfriend he needed without being unhappy.

So I finally made the tough decision to end it.

Once we broke up, I found my voice again. I had so much time to write and create that I began changing my sound and developing my craft in a way I never realized I could. I got to go out and play again without feeling guilty knowing there was someone at home waiting for me. I started playing with men and women again, learning from everyone and everything. I was myself without limitation. Since then, I have released two albums and have been traveling every single week to different cities and meeting incredible people who have pushed my career to a place it has never been before. These are all things I could never have done were I still with him.

I am not saying it is impossible to split your time between music and a relationship, I am just saying it is really, really hard. Maybe he could have been more understanding, and maybe I could have tried harder to balance the two. I don’t know.

Anyway.

I have also been the victim of the “jealous” girlfriend when it came to working with other artists. I have had men decline to work with me because their girlfriends didn’t want me around them. I have seen really talented people let their significant others dictate and guide their careers out of jealousy and insecurity. I have seen artists pass up amazing opportunities in order to not piss off their girlfriend/ boyfriend. I broke up with my ex because I refuse to let someone dictate my career and personal growth. In my opinion, if you let your partner get in the way of your dreams, you don’t deserve to be pursuing them. It is an extremely delicate balance and takes massive efforts from both sides to make it work.

But aside from all the negative talk, it is not completely impossible.

All I know is in order to be with a musician, you have to be understanding. Everyone says they want an independent and strong-willed person, until they actually have one. It is tough, because it means you have to be independent and strong-willed as well. You have to give them time to do what they love, and you have to understand they can do it for hours upon hours at a time. You have to realize that when they jam or collaborate with someone of the opposite sex, it is simply about the music and nothing more. You have to trust them. It takes a strong person to be with someone who is pursuing their dreams, and you’re going to have to put up with a lot of shit. The most important thing you can do is never limit them and just be there for them, just as they should be there for you and support your dreams. Understand that you are sharing your partners heart with their passion, and don’t let it shake you. It takes a strong person to be with a strong person, and that means putting you insecurities to the side, (or completely throw them away).

While dating a musician can be tough, it is also such a beautiful thing. They love harder, cry harder, and you may even get a song written about you. Help build them to the point they want to be, and let them build you. Grow with them, silently be there for them, and let them do the same.

It will be a roller coaster filled with lots of twists and turns, but it will be the best ride of your life. - Bateau

BLOG: Race In Music

I am sick of hearing “White people ruined Hip-Hop.”

Yes, it offends me.

Firstly, I am not fully white. My mother was born in Mexico, which makes my brother and I first generation Americans. My father has an Irish-English background, making me a mixed baby.

It is easy for people to generalize a genre of music and say “Hip-Hop is for African Americans, Latin-influenced music is only for Latinos, Rock music is only for White people.” But by saying this, you are displaying how absolutely close minded and judgmental you are. There are no rules in music, and as an artist I can vouch for the fact that we do what we speaks to us, regardless of stereotype and agenda.

I grew up in Houston with many different musical influences, most of which being Hip-Hop. I grew up on artists such as Biggie, Common, JoJo, Asia Cruz, and many other influential, multi- racial artists. When I went on to college, I became heavily influenced by artists such as Kid Cudi, The Weeknd, and Jhene Aiko. Never once have I thought I should not be listening to this because of my background or skin color. It does not make me a “poser” or a “wanna-be.”

Upon moving to Austin in the pursuit of music, I played stereotypical singer songwriter “girl with her  guitar” type music. I played shows, received positive feedback, and went on to release two albums on Spotify, Amazon, Pandora, and many more distribution outlets.

This was all fine and dandy, but the only problem was I had a horrible sinking feeling I was not being myself. I was playing shows from a molded perspective of what I thought people wanted to hear. I was sticking to the “Taylor Swift” genre out of fear people would judge me and throw negativity towards the art I truly wanted to create. I played this music for four years, never truly feeling happy, fulfilled, or proud of the art I was producing.

It wasn’t until my second album release that I got fed up. I retired my stage name, put all my music in a memory box, and vowed to myself that I would stop pretending. I took on a Hip-Hop project with a few talented individuals who believed in me, and I have never been more inspired or proud of my art. This is where I need to be, and this is what  I need to be doing.

I will get judged, I will get told what I am doing is stupid, and I will get laughed at. But to this, I say bring it on, because I am bulletproof against negative people. I am happy, and therefore have no reason to put anyone down. When someone is in the spotlight, it allows for commentary and negativity from people sitting behind a computer, too scared to be bold themselves.

“My mind is unshakable. Words of hatred and anger shall not pass my lips. I will surround my enemy with thoughts of sympathy and pity that flow out from a mind filled with compassion for all sentient life.”

I am inspired by other artist’s ability to break outside of stereotypes and do what makes them happy. I am inspired by their ability to forget and disregard what people think they “should” be doing. I have never categorized an artist by race, and never intend to.

There is no good or bad, right or wrong, or race in music. It is all perception and individuality. Art is art because it is unique and boundless. - Bateau

BLOG: Industry Girl

Being a female in a male dominated industry is no cake-walk, and any woman will tell you that. I have taken the time to interview five different women from four different states to gain perspective on the different struggles and challenges they have had to face. I was a little surprised to find that each woman had their own unique perspective and experiences regarding the issue. I decided to leave names out and make it anonymous in order for the women to be one hundred percent honest and open about the questions I asked them, so I gave them pseudo names.

Jane, Natalie, Megan, Hanna, and Kim.

The purpose of this experiment is not to bash men. There are plenty of genuine men in the industry who respect women as their equals, and I know and love a lot of them. Those men are not included in this article. This article simply serves to bring awareness to the dark side of being a woman as well as an artist. I am not generalizing all men, but simply touching on experiences that have occurred. I am fully aware that men face their own struggles as well, but being a woman myself, I can not touch on those because I have no experience with them.

Anyway, I began by asking these five women a little bit about themselves, and found most of them had degrees as well as multiple talents and interests. Many of them moved states and sacrificed a lot to pursue their dreams, which is incredibly impressive to me. Let’s start off slow and ease into the heavy stuff later. I’m not going to say too much, because I want these women’s answers to speak for themselves.

What are some of your interests/ hobbies?

JANE

 I am 25 years old, and I am a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and self-published author. I would say my biggest strength is writing. Although I love writing songs, I also love creating stories. Aside from music and writing, I also dabble in visual arts. I used to paint quite a lot, and I still paint and draw on occasion. For a while I had some of my paintings displayed in a gallery studio that my family rented. Although I am perceptibly artistic, I also really enjoy science, particularly natural science, and spirituality. I love being out in nature, hiking trails, driving cross-country, climbing trees, exploring, reading, learning, meditating, dancing, celebrating holidays, and expressing love for the world.

NATALIE

 I am 24, a creator, singer, writer, artist. I love cooking, reading, being outside, being with children, talking with others, drawing, painting, and smiling!

MEGAN

 I am 20, and I am a singer- songwriter. I can cook. Brunch is my specialty. I also sew all my own clothes.

HANNA

 I am 26 and I am a singer-songwriter. I’m also an actress, improvisor, and model. I also like to cook and eat.

KIM

I am 25, a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. I love painting, photography, and videography as well. I’m also an amateur engineer and mixed/ mastered my first album.

<3

A lot of these women grew up with talented parents or siblings, and have been exposed to music and art since a very early age. Most of these women never even took lessons, but are in fact self-taught.

How did you get started in your craft?

JANE 

 I have been around music my entire life, as my father has been in a band my entire life and several of my other family members are also musically inclined. When I was six years old I took piano lessons, but I couldn’t get the hang of reading the music so I would just watch my teacher’s hands and memorize where they went on the keyboard and then copy her.

NATALIE

 I have been singing for as long as I can remember, in school choir and also forcing my family to watch me sing the entire soundtrack to Annie. I began working on music and giving it my creative attention in 2014.

MEGAN

I have played piano since age seven, started writing when I was thirteen, and then found a guitar in my attic and taught myself at fourteen or so.

HANNA

I’ve been singing and writing my whole life, but I didn’t start writing songs until I was eighteen. A friend signed me up for an open mic without my permission. After that I started playing coffee houses, which lead me to playing shows. That lead to making records. Records lead to writing for licensing and sync… and now, here I am.

KIM

I have been playing piano and singing since before I can really remember. I am a self taught guitarist and the music gene runs in my grandpa, brother, and father. I have been around it for a long time, and have always taken great interest in it.

<3

Now I am going to transition into the heavy stuff. Since the music industry is undoubtedly a male dominated one, women have to work twice as hard to gain respect and be taken seriously. It is also scary for women who are often times sexualized and expected to portray a certain appearance or persona. I personally go into meeting someone assuming they do not have good intentions until they prove me otherwise. This is not because I am a bitch, this is not because I am conceited, and this is not because I am rude or stand- offish. This is because I have been taken advantage of, had my dreams of becoming a professional musician used against me, been overlooked and underestimated, and have had opportunities snatched away from me because I would not humor a man in a position of power. Upon talking with my fellow female musicians, this is not an uncommon occurrence. Some were a little more open than others, so I took out a few of their answers and only left the informative ones. Let’s see what the girls had to say in this string of personal questions…

What would you say is the most challenging thing about being a woman in this industry?

JANE

I don’t know if this is a challenge specific to women, but something I have found very challenging as a musician is marketing myself. I think perhaps women have an even harder time with this because in this industry there is a large emphasis on “image”, and a woman’s image is often subtly, and sometimes not so subtly, placed in the forefront. Something I have confronted often among spectators and especially other musicians is the notion that the sound of my voice and the aesthetic of my face and body are more important than my lyrics or musical compositions.

NATALIE

For me, showing my vulnerability. It is hard to do and at the same time is the most rewarding feeling. And honestly, it is just hard to be myself. The challenge is the fun part though. It gives this journey worth!

MEGAN

The fact that you are commonly overlooked or belittled. Often times people, men and women alike, assume that females are less hardworking and do not possess as much talent as their male counterparts.

HANNA

 Being judged by what you look like, rather than who you are as a person/artist.  Also, navigating through a business filled with creeps.

KIM

Definitely has to be the fact that I constantly feel overlooked. I feel I’m not taken as seriously and I have to work harder just to be on the same level as the guy players. I also don’t like all the men who try to take advantage of me or hit on me when I just want to be viewed as a professional like everyone else.

Do you have a personal experience you would like to share?

JANE

A few years ago I met up with a guitarist I had found on Craigslist. He and I had many similar inspirations, similar goals, and seemed to click both musically and personally. He mentioned that as we accrue more members, it was important to keep things strictly business, not to let physical attraction or emotions get in the way of the music. I agreed and we began working together. We tried finding other musicians to join us, but this was very difficult, as the genre we wanted to pursue (industrial synth metal) was an uncommon direction for musicians in that area, who generally preferred thrash metal, which does not lend well to female vocals. So, he and I continued working together as a duo, writing and recording songs. A few months went by and he mentioned that he had developed both attraction and possible feelings for me which he was trying to suppress for the sake of the music. A few weeks later he came onto me. At the time I was still pretty naive and insecure in this regard and was afraid that if I refused him, he would get angry and want to stop working with me, and therefore all the songs we had worked on — songs I had invested a lot of time and emotion into — would be destroyed, or worse, taken from me to be recorded or performed with another singer. This fear led me to comply with his affections, which seemed to be mostly physical in nature, with little emotion attached. I was not sure anymore which part of me he really wanted — the musician or the girl. And the fact that these had to remain separate in order for me to keep control of my own emotional and physical well being was very disturbing to me.

MEGAN

Not specifically, but, I have experienced (time and time again) a very surprised reaction to my music. When I go on stage with my guitar and say that I am about to play a song I wrote, you can almost feel the entire room lose interest and prepare for an early Taylor Swift rendition. When it becomes apparent that I have more to offer than a cheesy lovesick ballad, people show noticeable surprise. It’s the equivalent of someone saying, “Wow, I didn’t expect you to have talent, because you are a girl.”

HANNA

I try not to let these things negatively affect me. I’ve had a couple scary instances where I’ve been followed to my car, or harassed on social media, which have not been pleasant.

KIM

I actually have quite a bit, but I’ll just give one experience. I was working on a song with a semi- well known artist. It was going well and I though he was genuinely interested in a  collaboration. Turns out, he was trying to “get with me.” Halfway through the songs completion, it became obvious to him I wasn’t interested in giving him what he wanted. So what he did was completely throw the song away and withdrew all support from my music, which he obviously never cared about to begin with. But even worse all his friends and the people I met through the process withdrew their support too. I think because I was the woman and he was the “powerful” man. Even though everyone knew he was in the wrong, they were afraid of upsetting him and just left me to the dogs. I’m just proud to say I didn’t let the fear of losing his support, our collaboration, and all the “friends” I made through him force me into being romantic with him when I didn’t want to be.

How do you feel men view women in the industry?

 JANE

I think that in my experience, musicians in general are overlooked and underestimated. I have also met several female musicians who are greatly admired and praised. But I feel that women in general are overlooked and underestimated, particularly in areas such as intellect and skill as opposed to aesthetic, and I feel that female musicians are critiqued and picked apart more often than male musicians, regardless of image or style.

MEGAN

 I will not generalize and say that every single man in the music industry looks down upon women, because that is not true in the slightest. However, a good portion do not take our presence seriously or believe that our creative expressions are contributing to the cultural conversation in a beneficial or significant way.

HANNA

I can’t speak for all men. There are a lot of good men in the industry as well as bad men. I’ve dealt with both. Like anything in life, nothing is just one way. I’d say in a general sense, men view themselves as the majority in this industry, and women as the minority. Which is sadly… true.

KIM

This obviously doesn’t go for every man, but I think they don’t see us as being capable of being as talented or creative as them. When I’m hanging around a bunch of my guy musician friends, people assume I am with them because I am one of the guy’s girlfriends or that I am a groupie. They never think that I could possibly be a musician too. And when they find out, they are incredibly surprised.

What are some hurtful things you have been told as an artist due to your gender?

JANE 

 That I was a horrible singer, a wannabe. Which I know isn’t true and it shouldn’t have bothered me except for the context: This was after we had been just beginning to get to know one another and I showed him one of the songs I had recorded. Soon after, he came onto me and I rejected him and he sent me a very long email totally bashing me and my song. Some of the most hurtful things anyone has said to me were in that email, which I have since deleted. And I have to remind myself that he was never really interested in me, the real me, and he never cared one bit about my song. But I still feel ashamed for sharing something so close to my heart to someone who spat it back out at me like that.

HANNA

“Good thing you’re pretty, because that’s the most important thing for a woman to be in music” or something along those lines.

KIM

“You better suck it up and do what you have to do, because no woman has ever made it to the top without help from a man.”

<3

In my opinion, the scariest part about being a woman are the advances that men with not-so-great intentions tend to make. Women can sometimes be viewed as vulnerable and naïve, which is absolutely not the case. I am also aware that men can receive unwanted advances as well, and it is not okay in either scenario.

Have you ever had a man use your craft and ambitions against you to make romantic advances?

 JANE

 I think most of the people who have made such requests did legitimately want to talk and pursue music in a professional manner. I think that if there is any ulterior motive, it is secondary and usually doesn’t come to surface until a personal relationship has been established, fortunately. Still, as the stories above indicate, this can even then be a detriment to musical pursuits and emotional well being.

NATALIE

Yes, I have. I was partially to blame though, and it has made me stronger.

MEGAN

Yeah, I have had guys ask me to hang out and “jam”, but when I get there I see a bottle of wine and there isn’t much jamming going on. Like, I came here to play some music, why are you asking if I want to watch a movie? Not cool.

HANNA

Yes, this has happened a lot, but I don’t think this is exclusive to the music industry. I feel like this happens to women all the time, no matter the industry. You just have to have a good gut instinct to navigate through those waters.

KIM

A lot of guys will ask me to jam or work on a song with them just so they can get close to me or hit on me. At least when a man appraoches another man about a collaboration, he knows it is genuinely because the other guy likes his music.

<3

Now for the fun part! Aside from all the tough stuff, there are tons of amazing perspectives and ideas women can bring into the industry; on a creative level as well as a professional one. I love being a woman, and I would not change it for the world. Much like everything else, good comes with the bad.

What is your favorite part about being a woman in this industry?

JANE

Firstly, the feeling I get when I have just written a new song and it tells some sort of story or illustrates a scene that is beautiful. Secondly, that moment when I am singing in front of an audience and it doesn’t feel like my voice is even trying, it just sings itself with astonishing effortlessness, and I feel so strong and free. Ultimately, my favorite part is being so inspired and determined to express myself that all the walls just disappear and I don’t even need wings to be able to fly.

NATALIE

Expressing who I am truly. It is the greatest feeling of fulfillment for me.

MEGAN

How it allows me to express myself, and sort through everything that happens in my life.

HANNA

Connecting with people as well as the bliss I get from writing.

KIM

The people I meet and having an outlet to express myself. It makes me feel powerful.

What do you feel women can bring to the table?

 JANE

 I think anything innovative that anyone can bring to the industry should be welcome. I just don’t want anyone, specifically women, to hold back. I don’t want them to be afraid that the way they want to sing or play, the songs they want to perform, the goals they want to accomplish, the collaborations they want to pursue, the projects they want to produce, are somehow impossible or unsuitable for them because they are female. That should not be a factor. Despite the big labels, the money-making schemes, the marketing, the subliminal messages and all that bullshit, this is at its core an industry that is fueled by creative expression. I don’t want complacency and fear to combat that creativity or that expression.

NATALIE

Strength and softness! There cannot be one without the other and we embody both, men and women, masculine and feminine. There must be balance.

MEGAN

Women represent half of the world’s population, thus, half of the world’s potential. To ignore that and renounce it is not in anyone’s best interest or to anyone’s advantage. Our rallying cry should be to recognize, support and cultivate all of that untapped potential.

HANNA

All the things men can bring to the table!

KIM

I think women can bring everything a man can bring to the table, but maybe with a softer side and perspective.

What would you like to see change for women in the industry?

JANE 

I want to see female musicians who don’t hold back from fear that they will be regarded as unattractive or unappealing. I want to see women taking leadership roles within the music industry. I want to see women who are able to market themselves based on the content of their songwriting and musical style. I want to see women who inspire other women to be who they are and do what they love. And I do see that, here and there.

NATALIE

There WILL (mark my words) be a day when ALL women (and men) are free to be who they truly are without feeling as though they need something to sell. Underneath all of the things we, as human beings do, we all seek attention, love, and connection. It is the desire that drives us. I envision a world where truth is the driving force of all action and all expression.

MEGAN

Gender equality, b*****!

HANNA

I think it’s the same change I would like to see in society as a whole; respect and equality.

KIM

I would love for women to be respected and treated as creative equals.

<3

I will leave you with this beautiful quote from Michael E Reid.

“Dear Woman,

Sometimes you will just be too much woman. Too smart, too confident, and too strong. Too much of something that makes a man feel like less of a man, which will start making you feel like you have to be less of a woman. The biggest mistake you can make is removing jewels from your crown to make it easier for a man to carry. You do not need a smaller crown, you need a man with bigger hands.”

Thank you to the five women who participated and shed their light and beauty on such a delicate topic. - Bateau

BLOG: The B Word

I once heard this really awesome metaphor that I wish I could take credit for, but I can’t. It went something like:

“Men, imagine you are at a bar and a man comes up to you. He is trying to talk to you about religion and you’re really not interested. You are just there with your friends and trying to enjoy yourself. Now imagine this happening five times in one night. And NOW, imagine that they are all trying to have sex with you.”

Being a woman is f****** hard, and no man will ever be able to understand the struggles we have to deal with, so please don’t come at me like you do. We especially struggle when we are trying to be taken as professionals. I am also aware that men face their own struggles as well, but I am not talking about that because I am not a man, and simply could not understand.

Lisa Ling described the struggles she had to face on her way up to becoming an extremely respected journalist, and her struggles were all too familiar to me. She said she received incredible opportunities by men in positions of power, only for them to be retracted when she wouldn’t engage romantically with them. Do you know how incredibly humiliating and discouraging it is when your dreams are used as a weapon to get close to you? It did not matter that Miss Ling became one of the youngest reporters of her time, or that she is a published author who has multiple documentaries and international reports under her belt. She was beautiful , and therefore was not taken seriously. Somehow Miss Ling managed to get past all of that, and is now sitting in a position of power. If she can do it along with all the other respected women of the world, any woman can.

Whenever a man doesn’t get their way with a woman, she miraculously becomes “crazy” or a “bitch.” She is suddenly overlooked and ignored. These men stop pretending her opinion matters. Personally in my life, I know who these people are that have said these things about me. I know EXACTLY who they are, and at the end of the day, they are only hurting themselves. I’m not saying I am going to be this great big thing in the future, but one day they are going to cross a woman who will be. Women are calculative , creative, and patient. Women will come up from behind when you least expect it.

Yes I am sensitive, and yes I do take that shit personally. Because I didn’t spend fifteen years of my life studying piano, guitar, songwriting, an music in general to be overlooked. I also didn’t spend my educational career getting a degree in Digital Media and Mass Communications to be treated like an unknowing pair of boobs by some dude who is too drunk off his ego juice to realize I might have a brain.

I am fully aware that I am not the only woman who has dealt with this. Every girl gets hit on, I am not special. But before you call a girl a “bitch”, maybe consider she is like that because of years of having to protect herself from people trying to take advantage of her. I am also aware that this is a fact of life, and am by no means complaining, more so just sharing my thoughts. If anything, it makes me want to work harder. No one owes me anything, and my life is a happy one full of acceptance. I do music because I love it, and there is nothing else to it.

That being said, I am about to come out with my fourth album. Every single word I sing in all four albums was written by me. Every guitar and piano instrumental you hear was played by me. Every vocal recording was recorded by me in my own home, and sent out to engineers. I distributed this myself, because I don’t rely on anyone for shit.

I am not worried about my future or my success, because music will always be a part of me. As long as I am making music, I am successful.

I have great and few friends and family, and I am so thankful for all of you. No matter who or what this industry throws at me, I will always have you guys and my music to keep my head above water.

Love to everyone, even the people who don’t support me. - Bateau