Everyone is aware that March 8 is the International Women’s Day. But not many people know March is also considered Women’s History Month.
Since the late 60s, historical female achievements and women’s contributions to contemporary society are highlighted every year in March. These celebrations are mostly held in the UK, US and Australia.
So, in the spirit of #girlpower in the music industry, I’m joining this observance by shining a light on four amazing artists on my podcast in March 2024.
PART 178 OF “AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN?” A RANDOM COLLECTION OF UNKNOWINGLY OBVIOUS FACTS ABOUT AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE
That’s right, dear readers. In case you haven’t heard, I also run another project under the Silly McWiggles brand. It’s a music podcast called Silly Talks Music. And it’s now in its 5th season. If you fancy finding out about what prompted me to start this side hustle, I wrote about it here.
The difference between this edition of the show and the previous ones lies in the overarching theme. While I dedicated this blogging space to “The Female Factor in Australian Music” in 2021 already, I’ve never centred my podcast interviews around one set topic before.
I admire sooooo many women in the music biz, in Australia and beyond. Sometimes, I get to speak to them as well. So, this March, I’ve chosen four, each with a story worth highlighting.
Every week this month, two episodes are dedicated to each of them. The first one, the ‘Silly Talk’ touches on a broader music industry topic. And in the second one, the ‘Silly Encore’, you learn more about their personal journey.
There’s a little surprise this season as well. It opens up with a chat with an international guest.
Pilani Bubu is a singer-songwriter and storyteller from South Africa. We met at the 2022 WOMEX (Worldwide Music Expo), where she took my breath away with her showcase performance. I was fascinated by her vocals and intrigued by her craft.
Our focus on the podcast is #AFRICANSPIRITUALITY. Pilani walks me through her career, how she rediscovered the connection to her land, people and culture, and breaks down her newest 5-album project, Folklore.
There’s also a fascinating New Orleans episode that has shaped her as the artist she is today.
My second guess on the show is an Australian musician I’ve been following for years, who – miraculously – agreed to the interview.
Fanny Lumsden is an incredible artist who made me appreciate country music even more. With four albums behind her belt, she has won numerous national awards and genre-specific accolades. But most of all, she is a very enjoyable, honest and open-minded interviewee.
In our chat about #COUNTRYMUSICINAUSTRALIA, she shares intriguing insights about her community, talks about being a mom in the music business and breaks down her many projects, including running a record label and a regional country hall tour.
In Fanny’s case, there’s also a bonus. Unfortunately, I’m not well-versed in the Australian country music scene. So, I’ve asked my guest to prepare a playlist with her peers and favourites.
Guest number three reached out to me on… LinkedIn – of all the social media platforms where I’m present in some way. Can you imagine? 🙂
BELLA DEER is the project of Isabella Losi – an indie artist from Geelong in Victoria. She might not have heaps of music released yet, but her musicianship is unquestionable.
In the episodes with BELLA, we zoom in on her experiences in the music business so far, which – despite her recent project being quite new – span nearly a decade already. She also talks about how being the finalist in the prestigious Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition boosted her confidence to keep her independent muso gig going.
BELLA’s most recent single, “Care Too Much”, caught my attention instantly because it’s a pretty song. But also because the video was shot in beautiful spots on my favourite Great Ocean Road.
I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t finish this season of the podcast on the genre of music I grew up on.
And it seems not much has changed since my adolescence. Because don’t you also have the impression that there are very few female-led bands in the heavier music scenes? That’s why I invited Sam Faul from Sydney-based alt-metal band Fifth Dawn for a chat.
The singer shares her experiences as a frontwoman of a band and a female fan of heavier-sounding genres before she’d even become a muso. She also takes me through the Fiftth Dawn’s story, which started in a pretty spectacular way for an emerging act.
The band are prepping to release a new album towards the end of this year. For now, check out their most recent single.
Last but not least, do you remember Helen Reddy – the revered Australian artist who conquered America, too?
In her iconic feminist anthem “I Am Woman” from the 70s, she sings the following words in the chorus:
If I have to / I can do anything / I am strong / I am invincible / I am woman
My female guests on the podcast in this #girlpower season prove they are 100% true!
Find out about more about female-led projects in the Aussie music biz:
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Gorillaz – you have competition. The first Aussie virtual science fiction band Big Sand dropped its debut single, “Take Me Home”, in April 2022
When Gorillaz debuted in the late 1990s/early 2000s, it was a bold experiment that the music world was watching with great interest. Hiding behind an animated band and building an entire storyline behind them wasn’t exactly an original idea, though. There had been similar concepts much earlier on. But never had a virtual music collective…
Silly McWiggles. A blog about Aussie music. 