That women music writing debate....

It’s been a good summer so far for music and writing - first there was Stoke Newington Literary Festival at the beginning of June with ‘the lads’ (see earlier post). Then the Screaming Queens event at Bromley Literary Festival on July 3rd.

Bromley isn’t the most exciting place to be on a cloudy Sunday afternoon (no wonder Siouxsie Sioux felt the need to escape), but a few of us female music writers read to an audience at the Tom Foolery pub. I explored the concept of (rock)girlpower from She Bop (which will hopefully soon be going into a third edition), Zoe Street Howe read from her vivid biography of the Slits, and novelist Sarah Drinkwater regaled us with tales of Riot Grrrl. Jane Bradley from the wonderful For Book’s Sake hosted the event, giving us her flamboyant profile of punk queen Jayne County.

All this is part of breaking the male monopoly of writing about music. Women are included in the debate, but, it seems, more as marginal and occasional voices. As Ann Powers said recently on Facebook:” I was happy to see Rock She Wrote and the SPIN Record Guide on the list of Pitchfork's favorite music books a few things were left out. Like most of half the population.” She points to Daphne Carr’s timely Amazon list of pop music books by women as a more representative guide:

Amazon.com: Daphne G. Carr: pop music books by women
www.amazon.com

Daphne is diligently compiling a follow-up to Rock She Wrote with the forthcoming Pop She Wrote. I’m on the editorial board for this project, and already over 400 women from around the world are on Daphne’s list. All this vibrant writing will form part of an archive....showing women’s crucial role in the development of rock criticism.

While we’re at it - some important links to check out:

www.forbookssake.net
“an intelligent but irreverent website featuring books by and for independent women”

http://thegirlsare.wordpress.com
“UK based independent online music magazine, celebrating and supporting women in music.”

www.thefword.org.uk
Contemporary UK feminism with some great writing about women & music

And of course:

http://wearsthetrousers.com

*Please do send me further suggestions/recommendations - maybe some more from the US?!!

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Apologies for not posting recently...LucyOBrien blog has been laid up with flu and a hacking cough. Normal services will be resumed as soon as possible. In the meantime, does anyone have a good cough remedy?

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More on that 'female Glasto headliner' issue....

Here's the link to my Mojo blog piece about Glastonbury's headlining women. The BBC claim Beyonce was the first. Skin (and many others) beg to differ!

http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2011/07/mojo_blog_glastonbury_2011.html

That Skin interview in full....

(photo credit: Jessica Gilbert)

Since reforming in 2009, Skunk Anansie have re-established themselves with a comeback compilation (Smashes & Trashes), fierce live shows, and a new album Wonderlustre , which combines their raw riffs, deep funk, frenetic drumwork and lush vocals with more confidence and maturity than ever before. Skin, Ace, Cass and Mark are an alchemical force - something they were delighted to rediscover after an eight year hiatus.

Earlier this year they were on the soundtrack to Zack Snyder’s film Sucker Punch with a raucous cover of the Stooges’ ‘Search And Destroy’. And Skin rode into the Venice Opera House on a white stallion to collect her La Cavalchina award for contribution to culture in Italy. This summer they are playing countless festivals throughout Europe. NME named Skunk Anansie one of their ‘20 Must See Bands’ at Download, saying that they are “cementing their position as one of Brit’s greats.”

I recently caught up with Skin to get the low-down on Download, Beyonce....and that white stallion....

Q. So how was Download?
A. It was weird. It’s a big metal festival and we’re not that heavy. We played after the guy from Pantera and his fans are real metal-heads. It was a first festival of the year and I felt like we were warming up. It goes like that; the first is OK, the second is great, the third is amazing. Having said that, everyone loved it and the reviews were good!

Q Talking festivals, what do you feel about the collective amnesia surrounding Beyonce’s show at Glastonbury? The BBC said she was the first female headliner at Glasto, but you & the band headliined the Pyramid Stage in 1999.
A. I don't like my achievements being made invisible like that. Hold on, am I Scotch mist? Actually Beyonce you're not the first woman to headline a stage at Glastonbury. What about Bjork? Suzanne Vega? Or Sinead O'Connor?  You're not even the first black woman on that stage! Everyone got carried away at the prospect of a huge American star at Glastonbury and lost their mind. Not one person had checked it. It’s what I call Beyonce’s tidal weave (!)...everyone gets caught up in the tsunami!

Q. NME called you “one of Brit’s greats”. Do you feel Skunk Anansie are getting proper recognitiion in the UK?
A. When it comes to us the British press and Radio 1 have a kind of apathy, but that’s starting to change. There is a huge live scene, and if people don’t hear what they want on major radio they seek it out elsewhere. We’re no longer directing what we do towards radio, we’re plugging into a scene that is a less dependent on three minute pop songs with electronic voices. We’ve conceded it, because in Europe we’re one of the biggest British bands.

Outside England the rest of Europe is interested in new music - whether it comes from new acts or older bands. In the UK it’s almost like a band aren’t allowed to last more than three albums. But you can make music till you’re 80. Every musician knows that you get better, but the industry won’t let you do it. For instance, Kings of Leon - now they’re making great music. For a big rock band it takes time to get your craft together.

Q. Do you think the industry here has problems slotting you into a category?
A. I scare a lot of people. I’m not a tiny pretty blonde who’s 18. It’s easier for people to define you as a female artist if you run round in your underwear and use your sexuality to get on. You can fall into that trap, and end up with them controlling your sexuality. I’m sexual in my own way.

Q. What was it like riding a horse onto the stage of the Venice Opera House?
A. That was one of those things where you get on the horse and think ‘Oh my God’. The Italians have great ideas, but they’re not so great in the execution! It was surreal. They forgot to put the curtain down beforehand, so everyone saw me getting on the horse, and that meant there was no dramatic impact! And there were too many people swarming around taking pictures. Still it was fun, and an honour to get the award.

Q. Are Skunk Anansie recording a new album?
A. We’ve written 15 songs that we’re planning to record in the autumn. The last one had to be done very quickly, but we’re taking our time with this. It’ll be a bit heavier than Wonderlustre, with some electronic influences, and very melodic. It’ll probably be out next April.

Thank you Skin. Watch this space....!

Skin talks about Download, Skunk Anansie's new album, and riding a white horse

**WATCH THIS SPACE***

After Skunk Anansie's fierce set at the Download Festival, Skin has a chat with me about the gig, about the plans they've got for the summer, plus a few thoughts about Beyonce at Glastonbury. Oh, and riding onto the stage in the Venice Opera House on a white stallion.
COMING UP!