International Women’s Day: Meet the women rocking the music scene!

Every year on March 8th the world celebrates International Women’s Day. What is it? It’s a focal point in the movement in women’s rights. It’s a reminder that globally there still needs to be more done in order for gender equality, be it equal pay, voting rights, sexual harassment, discrimination, the list goes on. However, it is a reminder to celebrate women who have broken down the walls of society that have defined us. It is a reminder to look at every woman and applaud her strength for what she has achieved in her lifetime. Distorted Sound are proud to celebrate the women in the music industry who are saying that this isn’t a ‘boys club’, and that gender doesn’t define what we can and cannot do.

Having faced discrimination myself doing this job for being a woman, I write from experience. I have been cat-called doing my job. I have been declined offers to do my job for being a woman. I have been put down in an editorial position by ex-colleagues when advising them on their roles for being a woman. I have been sexually harassed for weeks on end by ex-colleagues because, simply put, I have a vagina. Looking back though, I am another woman representing the music industry. I am another woman that fiercely stands up for herself when faced with inequality because of my gender. I get up every day and I do my job, and not to burst my bubble but I think I do alright. I’ve been told I do. I do it because I want to do this job, music is a passion of mine and I’m not going to be told ‘girls can’t listen to black metal because it’s not feminine’, I’m not going to be told ‘I’d bang you’ when I ask an interview question, I am not going to be sent messages at 3AM with pictures of your penis because we worked a gig together once. I am going to continue interviewing artists I never dreamed I would, I am going to continue writing features that matter, I am going to continue exploring new artists that deserve their name spread around. My gender doesn’t do my job for me, my hard work and dedicated does. I’m lucky that I have some really supportive male colleagues and co-editors who respect me and my position. Thank you to everyone who sees me for the job I do. 14 year old Jess would be kicking off if she knew she’d interview Dee Snider a decade later!  – Jessica Howkins, Deputy Editor of Distorted Sound.

The above ladies you can see are all part of the fantastic team at Nuclear Blast in the UK office. To work with the entire team on future work for Distorted Sound is always a pleasure. The level of professionalism that comes from them is next to none. They are, alongside the likes of the ladies at Cosa Nostra, Season of Mist, Incendia Music, Hold Tight, The Noise Cartel, Pioneer Music and the many other’s out there, some of the best people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. When you get to work alongside the likes of OVERKILL, BEHEMOTH, VOYAGER, ROTTING CHRIST, ARCH ENEMY, LUCIFER, LACUNA COIL, LOVEBITES, the endless list that are on the rosters, you know that it is because a job is being well done.

What is inspirational about every woman I have worked alongside is the sheer dedication that comes from each of them. They work tirelessly day in and day out, and they set the rules. They are inspirational because there was a time when so many women wouldn’t be taken seriously in the music industry, and yet here they are some of the most listened to voices in the industry. It’s still a struggle to see a diverse panel for awards such as the Grammys, a band member spoke recently that this year is the first he has seen more women on the panel and even then it was far and few in between. Within record labels and PRs though the mould is changing in the most refreshing manner, and that is because of the strength of the women in them, inequality has strengthened them, and for those who are fortunate to have not experienced it on a level in their career, good, keep it that way. You have made a change!

“The greatest achievement for me though is when I speak to female fans and they tell me I’ve inspired them to get out there and play. Also, that there are many women out there killing it in the heavy genre – not just musicians, but within the whole industry -these days is testament to how far we have come.” – Simone Dow, VOYAGER – Guitars

“As a woman in a predominantly male-driven industry, unconscious bias and at times bare-faced sexism, albeit through lack of education, are things that I have unfortunately encountered as a musician. In truth, it’s not something to which I devote a lot of energy; I just focus on the music. Being successful is the best way to silence these people. With more female representation in the industry, I’m confident that such bias and bigotry will become a thing of the past.”  – Cherry Duesbury, DEFENCES – Vocals

“It’s awesome to see female lead bands or bands with female instrumentalists coming up in the scene recently, its sends a great message to young artists about not being afraid to do what you want, no matter what gender you are. We’re looking forward to what’s to come and hope everyone is excited too!” – Charlie Rolfe, AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS – Vocals

“Being a woman in this industry means you sometimes have to work 10 times harder to be taken seriously. We knew that before we started this band, so we knew that to get noticed our music had to be more than special. Our hard work has paid off and in our first 25 shows as a band we’ve already been able to achieve playing some of the biggest festivals in the world including Reading & Leeds Festival, Download Festival, Rock Am Ring and have supported the likes of THRICE and YOU ME AT SIX. In 2019 we will be releasing the best songs we’ve ever written and playing shows in parts of the world we’ve never been to before. We’re proud to be a band that has inspired young girls to want to become musicians and follow their dreams.” – Steph O’Sullivan, GREYWIND – Vocals

Women in the music industry goes further than the labels and PR’s. It goes to all those women who have been making waves by creating some incredible music through the years. The women musicians who have been standing up against sexual harassment from recording artists and managers, the women musicians who get cat-called on stage, the women musicians who tell people where to go when they say they aren’t ‘sexy’ enough to be on a cover of a magazine or to get a gig. Those musicians deserve to be applauded daily for their strength and dedication to what they want to do in life. Most importantly those women deserve to be heard and continued to be taken seriously.

To all the women in the music industry, no matter what sector you come from, celebrate your achievements. We are strong, and we are being heard, we are being taken seriously. To the women who are in bands and refusing to dress a certain way because you’ve been told it’ll sell more records and tickets, stick to your guns. To the women who dress a certain way because you want to and not because someone has told you to, good for you, flaunt what you got. To the women who are standing up against sexual harassment claims in the office, from working concerts, from being in the studio, keep fighting for the women who don’t feel like they can. To the women who don’t feel like they can, we got you, you are just as strong.I can safely say that even though I am still young, I am noticing a huge change in the music industry on a daily basis when it comes to equality. The women AND men I work alongside are the most tolerating people I have ever met. Thankfully most recognise the importance of speaking out about these matters and celebrating the achievements women have made over the years, even before our time. So, thank you to every person who has made a change and thank you to every woman who has not given up, without you the change would not be this great.