If Riot Grrrl is about creating a feminist voice in a predominant masculine landscape, do these voices have to fueled by Punk? and don't get me wrong, i grew up with L7, Babes in Toyland, seven year bitch, Bikini Kill etc... but I think that now we can consider the Riot Grrrl movement to be the apex that inspires and regenerates new feminist musicians. what do you think?
This is why i want to give a shout out to some local girls that i know, who i believe work from third wave perspectives.
one person that comes into mind right now is Emma Mckenna - she use to be in a lezcore band, is a veteran guitar teacher at a Portland summer camp, and has some fantastical songs on her Myspace. One of her influences is Sleater-Kinney, which i believe is on our riot grrrl mixtape! although i wouldn't classify her music as punk, i think it is coming out the inspiration of the punk feminist movement.
My fav song is "Rise out of You"
here's some cute stuff i found about Emma on NOW.com:
NICKNAME Tammy (to some).
POSITION Electric guitar and vocals. Trying to master the drums enough to back herself on a forthcoming EP (out in September).
TEAM MEMBERS Flies solo. Former teammates in post-Riot Grrrl power trio Galaxy (RIP): Katie Stelmanis (guitar, vocals); Maya Postepski (drums).
ROOKIE YEAR Played a different instrument every year in elementary school; sang in school choirs and one musical up till Grade 10. Picked up electric bass at 18 (the same year as her first rock show) and guitar at 19; singer for Team Rocket, who played the Yoko Ono tribute show at Lee's Palace in 02.
LEAGUE Lezcore (sad, sad lyrics, haunting vocals and melodic guitar).
STATS Galaxy's I Want You To Notice EP (2006); forthcoming solo EP. University of Toronto/Victoria College dean's list scholar.
SPECIAL TALENTS Can wiggle her ears, touch her tongue to her nose, bike with no hands, make a good sandwich and do a back walkover (with a spotter).
enjoy. and maybe i'll make this Riot Grrrl - local edition a monthly music note.xox
I totally think you can have the righteous hot fervor of riot grrl without the abrasive sound of punk. Emily Haines is my hero, her sound is beautiful and her lyrics are quite profound when it comes to gender, sex, and the female body. Pretty much anything from Knives Don't Have Your Back could be on a femilist (feminist playlist, geddit??), but especially The Maid Needs a Maid, The Lottery, and Detective Daughter.
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