Historically the bands dubbed "supergroups" have almost exclusively been comprised of men. The WIKI list reads like an exclusive men's club and a quick Google search for female supergroup turns up Wild Flag and that Adele wants to form one at some point in the future. Surprisingly Trio comprised of Parton/ Harris/ Ronstadt doesn't pop up in my initial search at all.
It turns out that when incredibly talented women come together to make a record, their music is dubbed something closer to a collaborative project or isn't celebrated as a big deal by the industry at all.
I refuse to call case/lang/veirs anything but a supergroup. Individually: Neko Case, K.D. Lang, and Laura Veirs are music icons. Apart, they are masters of an individual music style that is unmistakingly their own. They are all dynamic storytellers whose delivery, timing, and melody choices set them apart from the pack. The most stunning thing that takes place when these three powerhouses come together is how the flawlessly their styles blend together. Rather than these three voices standing alone like bold primary colors stacked next to each other, they work together to create new and magnificent colors. These songs are a Pantone swatch book of their very own.
There is a shade and tone to please everyone here. Their vocal harmonies are world class. The musical orchestration is dense yet burns away at the right moments to audio equivalent of a movie camera panning out or moving in for a close up. The result is a distinctly American(a) tale that perfectly balances the intimacy of a person sharing a piece of themselves but they tell it in a way that can be universally appreciated and understood. This is the result of musicians knowing how to do what they do best while leaving plenty of room for others to move around and add their own layers. You can't make this kind of record without truly listening to each other. It turns out this supergroup are also super-communicators.
I have never done much time in church but whatever inspiration people describe after a strong Sunday sermon is the kind of experience this record delivers. Listen to "Down" and you will hear what I mean.
Watch their first live performance together in Portland here.
Monday, June 27, 2016
Friday, June 24, 2016
Feminist Friday : A Weekly Round Up for June 24th, 2016
Phew! Lost power last week for a bunch of days thanks to a terrible storm that rolled through Richmond, VA so I am happy to be back at it again.
The best thing about this week was learning about Portia Sabin's (Kill Rock Stars President) music industry podcast. This is my new everything.
In a quick backyard report, local lady and massive talent Lucy Dacus has just been picked up by Matador Records. Our whole community is so darn happy for her and I wrote about her several months ago noting ironically a similarity to a classic Matador artist, Bettie Serveert. Weird, right?
Alice Bag is headlining Philadelphia's Treat Y'Self Fest, a benefit for the annual March to End Rape Culture. Pretty darn excited to be a part of this as well; happening this August once again at the PhilaMOCA .
Flying Lotus needs to a dictionary because his use of rape is wrong all wrong.
Tavana wrote an insulting piece of trash about sex appeal in music for the LA Weekly that has every feminist I know steaming. But it isn't all band, Hawking wrote a response piece that gets it right.
How do touring bands deal with tragic news? This story shares an example of how musicians cope.
Laura Mvula talks us through the many "ists" found in the music industry. Hint: Racist and sexist are in the mix.
Sexism in the music industry is happening in every corner of the world. This story highlights what is going on in France. Don't worry, it is written in English.
All it took was one brave woman to out Ian Conner as her rapist and 5 more women have since also stepped forward to say they were his victims too, rapper/songer Theophilus London has something to say about it.
Social media means musicians are more accessible than ever to their fans and equally, dangerous people who are on the cyber attack. The NYT weighed in on this.
ANd last but not least, what is the state of women in music today. This article helps present some of those issues.
Have something you think I should share ? Send me a note via tracy at littleblackcloud records . com
The best thing about this week was learning about Portia Sabin's (Kill Rock Stars President) music industry podcast. This is my new everything.
In a quick backyard report, local lady and massive talent Lucy Dacus has just been picked up by Matador Records. Our whole community is so darn happy for her and I wrote about her several months ago noting ironically a similarity to a classic Matador artist, Bettie Serveert. Weird, right?
Alice Bag is headlining Philadelphia's Treat Y'Self Fest, a benefit for the annual March to End Rape Culture. Pretty darn excited to be a part of this as well; happening this August once again at the PhilaMOCA .
Flying Lotus needs to a dictionary because his use of rape is wrong all wrong.
Tavana wrote an insulting piece of trash about sex appeal in music for the LA Weekly that has every feminist I know steaming. But it isn't all band, Hawking wrote a response piece that gets it right.
How do touring bands deal with tragic news? This story shares an example of how musicians cope.
Laura Mvula talks us through the many "ists" found in the music industry. Hint: Racist and sexist are in the mix.
Sexism in the music industry is happening in every corner of the world. This story highlights what is going on in France. Don't worry, it is written in English.
All it took was one brave woman to out Ian Conner as her rapist and 5 more women have since also stepped forward to say they were his victims too, rapper/songer Theophilus London has something to say about it.
Social media means musicians are more accessible than ever to their fans and equally, dangerous people who are on the cyber attack. The NYT weighed in on this.
ANd last but not least, what is the state of women in music today. This article helps present some of those issues.
Have something you think I should share ? Send me a note via tracy at littleblackcloud records . com
Friday, June 10, 2016
Feminist Friday : A Weekly Round Up for June 10th, 2016
A manel is yet another music panel where it is a wall of dudes that sit around and talk about stuff. Once again, the industry is lightyears behind the artists themselves. There are women in this industry so how about asking us to sit on more panels?
What happens when a band member defends a rapist? They get what they deserve, to be popped like the pimple on society that they are.
Athena is a powerful pendant necklace that doubles as an emergency alert system to help protect women against assault. By holding down the button on it will not only sound an alarm but send loved ones text messages alerting them to your location and alert 911. This way, you are truly never alone.
Glastonbury Festival has created a an intersectional, queer, trans, and disability-inclusive safe space that will be staffed by people who identify as female, including security and performers. This new area will also feature DJs, workshops on diversity / inclusion, daily dance classes, and DIY class on power tools.
Wax Idols dropped off the Pentagram tour because sexual harrasment isn't worth the exposure a tour of this size can bring.
This has nothing to do with music but math is certainly an important skill to have and the Fields Medal mathematics prize was won by a woman this year for the first time in its history!
Congratulations Baltimore, you have a new record store! If you are like me and love record shopping and coffee, this could be worth a road trip for you.
From the world of DIY punk feminism (Riot Grrrl in the '90s) to an oscar winning film producer, Audrey Marrs deserves a standing ovation.
CASH Music is a nonprofit organization here to help educate and empower artists and the their fans to foster a viable and sustainable future for music. WE NEED THIS.
Cool, a Nashville mural celebrating musicians that happens to exclude women completely. Really? Has no woman ever played Exit / In?
Friday, June 3, 2016
Feminist Friday : A Weekly Round Up
Safe show spaces only happen when we make it so. Here are a few highlights from Fuse.TV but a shout out to Beach Slang who are also a part of this movement and not mentioned here.
Dear Gibson Guitars, women are very important part of your history so please don't ignore it. I have always stood on team Gibson as a player but that could easily be changed.
What is the deal with cis male bands who pick mis-gendered names? It's not an ironic choice to me as an actual woman in music who has dealt with so many hurdles over the decades.
Hutch from the Thermals wrote a darn fine personal account about the frustrating aspect of band life when it comes down to trying to hold down a day job because music doesn't really pay. Note: band press which looks like popularity does not equal actual money coming in for human beings who make art. Social media likes do not translate into something creatives can pay the bills with.
However sexual assaults at concerts are still happening and at festivals, in mass.
It turns out that when nobody shows up to an author's reading, it feels just like a band with no audience.
The weirdest thing I read this week related to Kim Gordon, a coyote, and a Whole Foods parking lot.
NYC, I am very sorry your record stores are having a hard time keeping doors open. Our small city of Richmond, VA has kept more than 7 around for years now so perhaps it is time to visit us.
I very much enjoyed this piece by NPR about the forgotten women of Classical music.
Drummer wanna get some? Here are 10 funk beats I wish I knew how to play.
When you say stupid things, we are here to tell you and if it happens to be in front of a large audience, so be it.
Kickstarter as a possible A&R source? Molly thinks so.
Compact Discs and why we can't quit you quite yet.
Since 2011 these Muslim ladies have been blending their culture with hip-hop dance and it is beautiful reminder that music and art connects us all as humans.
Music-tech start ups are getting it all wrong according to Jim McDermott
Manko madness in Japan, art from the other down under.
Does your skin get off on music? Learn about skin-gasms here.
Dear Gibson Guitars, women are very important part of your history so please don't ignore it. I have always stood on team Gibson as a player but that could easily be changed.
What is the deal with cis male bands who pick mis-gendered names? It's not an ironic choice to me as an actual woman in music who has dealt with so many hurdles over the decades.
Hutch from the Thermals wrote a darn fine personal account about the frustrating aspect of band life when it comes down to trying to hold down a day job because music doesn't really pay. Note: band press which looks like popularity does not equal actual money coming in for human beings who make art. Social media likes do not translate into something creatives can pay the bills with.
However sexual assaults at concerts are still happening and at festivals, in mass.
It turns out that when nobody shows up to an author's reading, it feels just like a band with no audience.
The weirdest thing I read this week related to Kim Gordon, a coyote, and a Whole Foods parking lot.
NYC, I am very sorry your record stores are having a hard time keeping doors open. Our small city of Richmond, VA has kept more than 7 around for years now so perhaps it is time to visit us.
I very much enjoyed this piece by NPR about the forgotten women of Classical music.
Drummer wanna get some? Here are 10 funk beats I wish I knew how to play.
When you say stupid things, we are here to tell you and if it happens to be in front of a large audience, so be it.
Kickstarter as a possible A&R source? Molly thinks so.
Compact Discs and why we can't quit you quite yet.
Since 2011 these Muslim ladies have been blending their culture with hip-hop dance and it is beautiful reminder that music and art connects us all as humans.
Music-tech start ups are getting it all wrong according to Jim McDermott
Manko madness in Japan, art from the other down under.
Does your skin get off on music? Learn about skin-gasms here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)