Originally written for Canada Arts Connect.
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I interview a wide range of women who work in the music industry forGirls Don’t Like Metal, from music journalists and publicists to academics and, of course, musicians. This week, I had the opportunity to talk to the lovely and talented Rae Amitay, a unique interview subject, in that she embodies several of the roles women take on in the industry. In addition to a career in music writing (she is a full-time staff writer and social …
Originally written for Canada Arts Connect.
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Lisa Christiansen is another brilliant woman who has dedicated her career to celebrating the music she loves. She serves as the host of the CBC Radio 3 show Appetite for Distraction, where she combines exciting independent music with plenty of chat, often veering into one of her favourite topics: heavy metal. She’s also the host of two innovative CBC Radio 3 podcasts: Extended Play, featuring in-depth discussions and interviews with Canadian musicians, and Full Metal Podcast, which focuses …
Originally written for Canada Arts Connect.
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Guro Juul Andersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Metal Hammer Norway. Incredibly ambitious and deeply devoted to heavy metal, Guro has built her career from scratch. She learned all that she knows about the industry by diving in head first and learning on the job, and over the years has become a creative force to be reckoned with. Now at the helm of Metal Hammer Norway, she devotes her time and energy to inspiring and educating the next generation of critics …
Originally written for Canada Arts Connect.
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Morgan Lander has been the lead singer and rhythm guitarist in landmark Canadian metal outfit Kittie since the band’s inception 15 years ago. Catapulted to superstardom while still in high school, Morgan Lander, her younger sister Mercedes and the other founding members found themselves contending with the realities of the music industry at an incredibly young age. Since that auspicious beginning, Kittie have remained a fixture in the Canadian music scene, as the members have matured from precocious teenagers to …
Originally written for Canada Arts Connect
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Cristina Scabbia shares vocal duties with Andrea Ferro in Italian heavy metal band Lacuna Coil. Scabbia’s clear voice and soulful performances have contributed to the success of this melodic, gothic-tinged group, and in recent years, they’ve enjoyed a steady climb in popularity. Lacuna Coil are currently on tour with musical titansMegadeth, Motörhead and Volbeat, as part of this year’s Gigantour lineup. Their newest album, Dark Adrenaline, is both musically and thematically darker than the band’s last several works, drawing both criticism and praise. …
Originally written for Canada Arts Connect.
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When I first began to reach out beyond the local heavy metal scene in Toronto and build social media connections with people writing and working and making music all over the world, Lisa Coverdale was one of the first people that I followed. I have been a loyal fan of her Twitter feed for years. As someone who works at both a PR firm and a record label, her insider knowledge of the industry is beyond compare. …
Originally written for Canada Arts Connect.
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I have had the honour of working with Laina Dawes at Exclaim! and Hellbound, where both of us contribute as writers (the multi-talented Laina also contributes photography). I have always been impressed by her strength and intelligence, as well as her willingness to tackle difficult subjects head on. She is the sort of person who never shies away from speaking her mind and speaking it truthfully, and I admire that deeply. I was absolutely thrilled when she agreed to …
Originally written for Canada Arts Connect.
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When I began developing this column, I knew immediately that I wanted to interview Kim Kelly. Kim is an active and dynamic member of the metal scene. A skilled and prolific writer, a dedicated promoter and PR specialist and one of the finest merch slingers on the continent, Kim has devoted her time, attention and eardrums to heavy metal. She is a woman I have long admired, someone who gives her all to her projects and has …
This week, I launched a new column called “Girls Don’t Like Metal” with Canada Arts Connect Magazine. This is an idea I’ve been turning over and over in my mind for a few months now, as a starting point for an even larger series of projects focussing on women and heavy metal.
Me
Here’s a little bit more about the column:
Girls Don’t Like Metal is a weekly column examines gender issues, feminism, and sexuality within heavy metal music. Each post will come in the form of of an interview with a member of the heavy metal community, including artists, writers, magazine and …
I am attempting to put together a list of articles about women in aggressive music: the artists, journalists, and fans. Please let me know about any I may be missing.
“Hardcore Women Crash the Boys Club” by Liz Worth. Exclaim! March 2006.
“Women In Metal” by Julie Pinsonneault. Stylus, March 19th 2007.
“Women In Extreme Metal” by Sarah Kitteringham. BeatRoute, May 2009.
“Women in Metal” by Kristy Evans. East Bay Express, February 3rd 2010.
“No, Seriously, Women Play Metal Too: Thoughts on Revolver’s Golden Gods Awards” by Stabitha Christie. Metal Insider, April 14th 2010.
“Metal Etiquette: A Ladies’ Guide To Concert Going” by Kim Kelly. Metalsucks, October 18th …