Se no dia 08 de março se comemora
a data histórica do dia mundial da mulher, nada melhor que a cena gaúcha underground
prestar sua homenagem. Foi exatamente o que presenciamos sábado passado (09/03)
na tradicional Embaixada do Rock em São Leopoldo/RS, no “Ladies In Black” capitaneado
pela lenda do underground nacional, Flávio Soares (Leviaethan).
Quatro bandas onde em todas
tinham pelo menos uma integrante mulher, mostrando a força das meninas no Heavy
Metal.
Para incendiar a noite que iria
madrugada a dentro, tivemos o grande show da Soul Torment, que tem em sua
frente a vocalista Deisi Wolff, onde apresentam um Thrash Metal com pitadas
mais extremadas de alto nível, não deixando os bangers parados, já que a “pauleira”
comeu solta em seu setlist composto por suas composições autorais. Tendo como
destaque a primeira faixa em português “A Praga do Mundo”, apresentando todo
seu potencial em um grupo que tem muita experiência de palco e com ótima presença,
faltando apenas o lançamento do seu Debut para brindar está ótima fase.
Seguindo a frenética noite era
hora da Psycophobia com seu Death/Black Metal old school, sem frescuras e
extremamente direto tendo em suas lacunas Évora Morgana (guitarra) uma das
percussoras do Heavy Metal no Brasil. Sem enrolação e delongas após uma pequena
passagem de som, a Psycophobia despeja toda sua podridão e agressividade no
público, não dando espaço para respirar e jogando seu arsenal autoral um atrás
do outro, levando os bangers aos primeiros moshpits da noite. Um show correto e
incessante.
Algo que vale sempre ressaltar,
mas não como crítica negativa, mas sim construtiva é a qualidade de som que a
Embaixada apresenta, que varia muito entre o bom e o médio. Pois em certos
momentos as bandas sentiram certa dificuldade com este quesito e como estamos
falando de um dos principais redutos do underground gaúcho, esse upgrade
poderia ser dado, assim como na estrutura com melhor acessibilidade.
Seguindo o baile metálico tivemos
a estreia das caxienses da Hatomic, quarteto feminino desembarcando pela
primeira vez na região metropolitana de Porto Alegre. Empolgando os presentes
com uma série de covers muito bem executados, variando entre: Sepultura,
Metallica, Pantera e etc. Mas a grande surpresa da noite foi a composição
autoral do quarteto, “Disorder”, mostrando o sangue novo da cena gaúcha com um
poderio sonoro de muita qualidade com um Heavy Metal agressivo e diversificado.
Claro que aquele cozimento de palco ainda é preciso, mas no que se propõem estão
de parabéns e mostram que o futuro é promissor.
Fechando os portões do inferno um
dos trios mais infernais do Brasil, Losna e seu Thrash Metal mais que
gabaritado, tendo Fernanda (baixo/vocal) e Débora (guitarra) a sua frente,
completando a destruição com o monstro Marcelo na bateria. Falar da Losna e sua
qualidade é chover no molhado, um show empolgante, visceral e com uma banda
soltando fogo pelas ventas, nos enchendo de orgulho e escancarando que os mais
antigos ainda têm muita lenha para queimar. A presença de palco de Fernanda e
Débora impressionam, assim como a técnica apurada de Marcelo. Uma apresentação
monstruosa deixando os presentes inquietos e agitando até o último minuto.
The idea of this
article arose in March, when we was talking about the international Women's
Day, we thought about write a special article, then our team took testimony
from some women working in the Metal and Heavy Rock scene, to know their
opinion as today the role of women in this scene before dominated by men.
Before, the rare pioneering pained discrimination and lack of support, but
sought their place and won respect, even following the “male style”, and we can
cite such as the Runaways, Girlschool, Doro Pesch, London Wilde, Jo Bench and Leather Leone,
and here in Brazil Volkana, flammea, Valhalla and Placenta, to name a few.
Later, another
generation has shown that women did not need to leave to be female and even
delicate, or don’t use a more stylized costumes (did you remember the term "Beauty and the Beast"), and we quote here Liv
Kristine, Anneke, Kari and then immediately Tarja Turunen, Cristina Scabbia,
Vibeke Stene ... and from there, bands with female members, not only on vocals,
and even formed only by women grew only taking up some specific labels, and
even unique festivals, emerging year by year, as Metal Female Voices, held
since 2003 in Belgium and the She shakes the Earth, here in Brazil, in
Brasilia.
But what after
all? There is still much difficulty, discrimination? It is fair to explore the
image of female musicians, using labels like "Female Fronted Metal"
or "Female Fronted Band"? And use that label is fair or is to take
advantage, sometimes even to meet a possible lack of other qualities? Win a
predominantly male territory without losing femininity is also a challenge.
What they think about all this? Also ask the opinion of "guys".
Cartoon by Márcio Baraldi in tribute a all women in Rock/Metal: "They plant love... They Plant Life... They Plant competence...They plant profissionalism...and everything blooms
We know that
there are few testimonials face a number of bands, the diversity within that
scene, beyond the individuality of thought of each person, but follow us,
because certainly we have tried to diversify, talking to people from different
countries, ages and various Metal sub-styles, and of course also have your say.
Come check out what they have to say to us.
The
experienced London Wilde, who comes from a time that the scene was much more
complicated, especially for women, have restrictions on labels such as
"Female Fronted Metal" and also expressed her opinion to the younger:
London Wilde
"I think
the term “female fronted” can be negative if it evokes pre-conceived notions of
what the music is going to sound like. I think it’s important for women in
Metal to not worry about stereo types, or fitting into any perceived role, and
just focus on realizing your own personal vision as an artist." London Wilde (Lead Singer from WildeStarr , Producer, Ex-Chastain - EUA)
Marcela Bovio (Stream of Passion, and also guest in Ayreon, The Gentle Storm), mexican singer radicated now in Netherlands, gave to us your opinion too:
"I think women
are a lot more accepted in the metal world nowadays. You see a lot of women
making heavy music, it’s not a surprise anymore which is great! If anything I
think we really need to get rid of the “female fronted metal” label, it doesn’t
say anything about the music a band makes at all!"
And about the option to live and build the career in the Netherlands, Marcela told us: "There are a lot of factors why keeping a band in
Europe is easier than in Mexico, but a big one is I think that (at least in
Holland) there’s much more government support for the arts than in Mexico for
instance. It’s getting less and less, but there’s still lots of venues and
youth centers that motivate young people to make music and perform; there are a
few more doors you can knock on." Marcela Bovio (Stream of Passion –
Mexico/Netherlands)
Marcela moved
from Mexico to the Netherlands, but across the ocean there are also countries
where support is precarious. See what Daria Piankova (Concordea-Russia) and
Nelly Hanael (Majesty of Revival - Ukraine) have to say. Dara thinks is still
difficult to opine about women's participation and the pursuit of maintaining
the balance between showing strength without losing femininity...
Daria Piankova
“It’s a hard question, mainly because this
music had originally played by men, not by women. Commonly this kind of music
is associated with protest, rebellion, aggressivity, power which is – I say
this word again –c o m m o n lya men’s prerogative even
within our modern culture… So when you talk about the role of women in this
music, you have to face many stereotypes in the air, in men’s and women’s
minds. Today women try to contribute their serious share in this business… and
their objective is to combine their natural tenderness and the power I
mentioned above. Create beauty and be steady in spite of everything. And remain
women after all. It’s not the simplest task believe me.”
And about the support to Metal bands in Russia, Daria told us: "There are a lot of small events held in the small pubs or bars where several
bands can play in an evening. If you have enough money and abilities you can
always pay and play once as a support band on scene with a touring star. Often
the same happens with festivals.As you can see, the only and most reliable
support is our enthusiasm and our love towards what we play and what we
do."(Daria Domovik – Concordea – Russia)
...While Nelly Hanael has a poetic vision of the women in Metal!
"For me, a
combination of woman`s gentle and the power of Metal music was always (and
still is) the most marvelous and magical thing in the strange world of various
musical instuments and voices. When woman begins to sing in such a powerful song
she brings a tiny (or not a tiny) line of melody which you must follow anyway
and you enjoy it anyhow, especially when the singer is a professional!
Nelly Hanael
All of those
women reminds me a warrior maidens - a combination of strength, beauty and deep
in her roots tenderness. It`s some kind of a fairytale on a metal\rock scene,
it must exist and continue to progress!"
And about the label "Female Fronted Band" Nelly thinks:
"It would
be great if such label exist because those people, who like to listen to female
voices in metal\rock easily could find many of a good bands. And also it`s easy
for the bands to find the right label which knows it`s professional duties in
this way! hehehe . Nelly Hanael (Vocals - Majesty of Revival from Ukraine)
And in brazilian scene? What the girls sayd about the role of the women in Metal scene nowadays? Jana, Angela and Adriane with the word...
"Increasingly
larger and on the rise. Things have changed quite an average of 10 years over
here, today, women are increasingly present in the rock/metal scene, both
attending the shows and buying material and as members of bands and producers
and organizers of events! Authentic, wearing, listening and acting the way they
like without having to prove anything to anyone to join a group. I see many
more young girls wanting to have a band, for example, are not just the boys I
am very happy about that and I feel very accomplished to see that this is a
reflection of this change in behavior, today women and men are treated equally
and given the same respect, at least the majority, which demonstrates how we
can effectively win our space within that community.
Jana Lemos (pic by Flávia Mesquita)
Of course, we
have always been around, from the beginning, but the collections and the macho
atmosphere of once discouraged many. Women do not like sound, women only like
guys, women only cause discord among the faces of the bands woman in the role're
hunting a hairy woman's poser (for the simple fact of being a woman), woman in
Metal that does not catch the guys is "kind of male girl", but woman who picks the
guys is a bitch ... well, I can say is that if this thinking still exists, it
must now be well hidden, it will not be tolerated! Metal and Rock are
transgression movements.
“There is no
space to sayd it’s a only male scene now, the person who thinks so, definitely
does not live Metal, just a tanner, did not understand anything! We attended
the scene as headbangers who we are, we are looking and united to protect and
prevent any kind of prejudice and injustice. The woman of the scene is now
aware of their right and your space, you feel the urge to talk, play, enjoy, go
where she wants, say their opinions, face whoever will tackle, as equals. And
the scenery only have to gain from it!"
"Women
are active in all rock-metal sheds, have great representatives in all genres
and play their roles admirably, and nothing to owe to the “male side”.
As I am
more extreme Death and Grind I will name some names respect and attitude: Marly
(No Sense), Ana (Haemorrhage), Gabi (Nuclear Frost), Larissa (High School
Massacre and Retaliation Infernal), Fernando (Obitto), the girls from band
Valhalla (Brasilia) and many others who do not remember now. . But all worthy
of respect and admiration !!!! "
"Women
have always been in the rock scene, from the beginning, but having featured as
mere fans. After a while women gained more space to be the protagonists, coming now occupy high-profile
role with men.
On stage there is no distinction of sex, but only the music."
Italy is a country with a many great Metal bands nowadays, always given to us new and very talent artists, like Chiara Tricarico (Temperance) and Nicoletta Rosellini (Kalidia), and both gave us their opinion about the women's participation nowadays:
"I’m glad
that girls have taken their own place in the metal scene in the last years.
I think it is
a very positive fact that the audience has finally opened its mind to the
numerous good female musicians of the scene.
I like to
express myself in many diferente ways, and this is why I do not limit myself in
just one vocal style. I like both the operatic, the pop and the more aggressive
and rock styles, and usually I also do the growls and screams on stage ahahha!"
"When I
started singing in bands (around 2008), women were still rare in the
underground scene of rock and metal, and the few bands led by women were still
something strange! Nowadays, the movement" Female Fronted "grew lot
and it seems that every band must have a "frontwoman"!
Be part of the
movement allows you to use some unique features such as fanpages or zines
dedicated to him.
But I still
prefer to describe my band as "Melodic Power Metal" instead of
"Female-Fronted Band" because there are many listeners who are not
really interested in "movement".
I think all
these bands have to take a step back and stop describing themselves only as
"Female-Fronted band"; in fact, I prefer to read their musical genre,
instead of this tag. "
(Nicoletta
Rosellini - Vocalist of Kalídia - Italy)
Nicoletta Rosellini
To Carla, from La Ventura (Netherlands), definitely nowadays the women proven the capacity to be the "leader of the Pack":
“I personally
take my role as frontlady of a rock/metal band quit seriously. For me it is a
perfect genre to express my emotions. It’s powerful, melodic, heavy and groovy
at the same time. Maybe the metal and rock scene was originally dominated by
male artists but nowadays women have proven to be just as capable to be leader
of the pack. A female voice can easily balance and compliment the heaviness of
the music in its genre. For me this scene is all about women at their best:
showing beauty and power at the same time. I think we’ll survive in this
“men’s” world
Andthe "Female Fronted Band" tag I
believe it is a good thing, because nowadays it is popular and hot in many
parts of the world. Although I do believe we ought to be open for all good music,
no matter what gender is fronting a band. Don’t you agree?”
Carla Van Huizen (Vocalist, La Ventura – Netherlands)
Again, in Brazil, Deisi Wolff, Fernanda Vidotto and Aline Happ, they see that
the number of women in the scene has grown and continues to grow, and
demonstrate the same ability of men within the Metal scene:
Deisi Wolff (Soul Torment)
"I see the role
of women in Rock or Metal utmost importance, year after year we are gaining
ground in the midst of this" scene "where most of the musicians and
audience is still male. The important thing is that we are not highlighting in
just for being a woman, but to have ability and attitude as much as men.
Nowadays still represent a minority, but the number is growing every day and
should be supported, because there is one thing missing, idependent of the
gender, that is the union between the headbangers and bands . And when the
chicks that makes a sound, or simply supports the bands the way you can (instead of going to shows to make intrigues and parading clothes) are women like this
the metal need! " Deisi Wolff (Road to Metal colaborator and Lead singer of Soul Torment - Brazil.)
"I see women
with the same role as the man. Several bands with women have appeared and been
highlighted, especially groups with female vocalists."
(Aline - Vocals and Keybords - Lyria, from São Paulo-Brazil)
"I believe that
in general aspects yes, we won a lot of space but in interpersonal aspects
still we have to "organize" more cohesively as music is a great way
(as well as other forms of artistic expression) to pass ideas and ideologies
and create ties, promote and opinions etc." "
"Through sweat,
blood and tears the woman will to fight and want to rock. And whether Pogue,
bang your head, to mosh and to show that
can and should be seen as a normal human being and not as a crystal shattering.
WE ARE STRONG, we are made of METAL, dare me to say."
(Fernanda Vidotto - Amazon Press,
Collaborator Road to Metal site)
Fernanda Vidotto (Amazon Pres)
Évora Morgana, experienced
musician of the Underground scene of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), saw women occupy more
and more space in all areas within the Rock and Metal:
Évora Morgana
"Well,
this is a space that has been achieved with great difficulty because both Rock
and Metal in general is a very macho stronghold. If outside was a space
provided by difficulty, imagine in Brazil, where unfortunately we have this
football culture and carnival ....
When I started
were very few women in the scene, had to be firm and very determined, without
exposing too! respect is the key !!
Currently I
see more and more women warriors in the scene, from the Rock to the extreme
Metal bands and only female members too, and is restricted to the sound we do
not have women entrepreneurs who make t-shirts hand-painted or screen printing,
zines and more !! "
Hail to the Queen! Doro, a pioneer, starting very young in a scene almost totally dominated by men. What the Metal Queen told us about that times and nowadays:
"Women's
participation today is fantastic, and there are a lot of great female musicians
on the scene. In no time I got to suffer discrimination. Everyone was always
very good to me and treated me with respect and I felt very supported by all
the other bands and musicians, and I always, always felt a deep and solid
connection with the fans. I guess I always felt I loved the fans and the music,
more than anything else in this world.”
Well, and what about the guys? What do they think about the women participation nowadays, and about the labels like "Female Fronted Band". We had a conversations with some guys to hear their opinion. Dave Starr (USA - WildeStarr, Vicious Rumors) and Vitor Rodrigues (Brazil - Voodoo Priest, Torture Squad former member) and others gave us their vision:
"I think
its great that there are more women in rock/metal these days. Things are much
different today then they were 20 of 30 years ago, and that's a good thing.
Back then, there were really only a few bands with women in them, now there are
quite a few. It can't help but be empowering for women to see so many ladies up
there now. Having said that, I think the "Female Fronted Band"
classification is tired and old. We used that ourselves on our website, but
dropped it a few years ago. It just seems dated and boring to me.I think every musician... and every band
should be judged on their merits, and not on their gender. If we truly want to
live in a color blind society, we should also live in a gender blind one as well.
Great music is great music, it should not really matter who makes it."
Arjen Lucassen have the Dave's same opinion about the tag "Female Fronted Bands": Well, I
guess that within the female fronted metal style there are many different bands
who don’t even sound like each other! So in that repects it’s not good. Arjen A. Lucassen (Ayreon, Star One, The Gentle Storm)
Adriano (Krophus), Baronvon Causatan (Metal Militia Magazine), Vitor Rodrigues (Voodoopriest), and Carlos Garcia (Road to Metal web site) from Brazil, they see that
women, as well as conquer their space, now also leave their mark as well as any
element that really wants to show their work at the scene:
"Women
had representation in rock or metal has always been and, although most girls
prefer to follow other paths, the departed for that left their mark ... I see
no distinction between people, what happens is that many do not take it
seriously and do not happen ... but that's part of mankind millennia, and that
can overcome this out there distilling the blood rock/metal through your
veins ..... that's it." (Adriano Ribeiro Khrophus, guitarist of the band Khropuhs)
Adriano (Krophus)
"Early, few bands had a woman forward,
perhaps either playing an instrument, but taking the lead were few. Examples
like Jynx Dawnson the Coven, Wendy Williams Plasmatics, through Doro Pesch in
Warlock and we can not help but remember Runaways, Suzy Quatro, even not liking
the work is worth mentioning also Janis Joplin.
Currently we
see in all styles, bands with a female member in the formation or even entire
bands of women, and when I say in all styles, are all same. Since traditional
Heavy Metal reaching the extreme sounds like Splatter/Gore.
I even think
we got to the hype of being separated by genre something you do not need, but
is for social issues or small heads on both sides (men / women) this
competition and differentiation arises.
I think the
feminine side does not have to fight for a space, but do the same to keep,
continue and exit the position simply reflect that thing to get running hairy
ade ago because touching band or because it has a great hair because are those
that spoil the image of women within the Metal fortunately is a small group (or groupies, hehehe) only lose space in my point of view. While we have bands and women
representing your space, you can be sure that women are doing very well in Rock/Metal scenario! (webmaster of Satanic Militia Magazine, Baronvon Causatan)
Vitor Rodrigues
"I see
that today the woman is gaining more space both in the Metal and Rock as a means
virtually dominated by men, and this is extremely beneficial and important.
There is still much to be conquered, but with so many emerging talents, no
doubt achieve this goal." (Vitor Rodrigues Voodoopriest)
"What
matters is the music, not sex, color, creed .... whatever. The quality
of the artist is going to win the recognition and respect. Today women
have won their space before a scene dominated by men showing
that, that's stupidity find that some guy can not do this or that task
because it is male or female. Their role in the Metal Scene and Rock is
fantastic, we have vocalists, keyboardists, guitarists, drummers, they
are producing ... everywhere,
showing strength, but without losing the grace, and it is perfectly
normal today, and although some bands still use the fact to try to
attract attention, the vast majority see who do not care, as I said
before, what matters It is the artist's quality. "(Carlos Garcia, Editor and Coordinator Site Road to Metal)
This article is relatively small to the subject size and the proportion that women
now occupy in Rock and Metal scene, but we hope with this article, as
well as a tribute, also show that the views, problems and achievements
have very similar points, not regardless of age, country or continent, and we hope to revisit the issue at some more specific articles soon.
FINAL CONCLUSION
We
have observed that all respondents agree that today women naturally took its
place on the scene and is present in various sectors of the "music
industry", even though it may still be found some prejudice and more
conservative resistance (we know that there are prejudices against
religions, preferences sex,
and even absurd as discriminating by skin color differences, and yet,
even though difficult to conceive, places of the world women are treated
as being inferior), but in a civilized and globalized world, one can
not admit certain absurdities, either the environment, then, much less in music and even less in Rock and Metal, which always preached to freedom in all forms.Specifically
on the subject matter hereof, the woman took his space, is active,
present, creative, beautiful and independent of all, another aspect that
most agree, even if some are of the opinion that tags like "Female
Fronted Band" also have positive role, what matters is the quality of the music, not the labels, gender, creed or whatever.
Feature: Carlos Garcia, Fernanda Vidotto and Deisi Wolff Edition, additional texts and Review: Carlos Garcia
All statements taken from interviews ceded to Road to Metal Charge: Marcio Baraldi http://www.marciobaraldi.com.br/
Thanks: Many thanks to everyone who contributed responding to this article, to Marcio
Baraldi and all the women in Rock and Metal.
