From the site Women In Ctrl.
I’ve been a woman in music my whole life. I’m an internationally touring, award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, label owner, sometimes instrumentalist, mom, and activist.
My latest EP is called Fight for Love — inspired, in part, by Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman” film, where our Super SHERo doesn’t fight for “the American way.” She fights for Love.
My latest single is called “Red Pill.” Written and recorded in collaboration and support of award-winning African-American director Tonya Pinkins, the song will appear in her “Get Out” type film of the same name later this year.
It’s no coincidence my present work is in support of female collaborators, and open-hearted people everywhere.
Yesterday was John Coltrane’s birthday. He said:
“My music is the spiritual expression of what I am – my faith, my knowledge, my being… When you begin to see the possibilities of music, you desire to do something really good for people, to help humanity free itself from its hang-ups.”
Coltrane has always been a major inspiration to me. Honest integration of ourselves, our experiences, beliefs and visions into our music, is a way of asserting them in the world — and perhaps, bringing change.
Yes, I certainly have experienced many forms of gender discrimination in the process of making music. If you want to know my stories, listen to all the stories. I tend to channel my experiences back into the music as a way of slaying those ignorant dragons.
Ultimately, I think the quality of my work, my general relentlessness in producing it, and my good luck in finding some super talented, fair-minded, good humored men, and ever more women, along the way, has been a way to address and try to defeat discriminators.
I am about to release my 7th album Crush Redux- The Stu Brooks Remixes!
I’ve been at this for some time.
One thing I find unfortunate is that change hasn’t happened as quickly as I would’ve imagined across these years. We are still at only 4% female engagement in the music business, unless you count sales. That’s a false reality!
Women are and have always been making some of the most important, inspiring, universal music ever. From ancient times when women were sacred drummers, to a profound and prolific Coalminer’s Daughter, to Miss Simone, to R E S P E C T, to “People Got the Power” to The Miseducation, to Esperanza, to Dolly, to you and humble me, the ladies and the world deserve enthusiastic, welcoming access to more than just 4% of the music industry and the world.
Still reeling from the loss of our beloved and Notorious RBG, I’ll reiterate a phrase she made famous:
“I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.“
Whenever they do, our musical landscape, the music industry, and the world becomes a more honest, sexier, better grooving place, for everyone.
— CD
Thanks to Women In CTRL. Visit their site and connect with the organization on Twitter.
