FEMALES IN METAL

Marta Samitowska

Although metal music scene is dominated by male musicians, ladies have always been there. Just to mention here about such brave chicks as Lori Bravo (NUCLEAR DEATH), Katherine Thomas (THE GREAT KAT), Nicole Lee (ZNOWHITE), Doro Pesch (WARLOCK), Jo Bench (BOLT THROWER) or Sabina Classen (HOLY MOSES) who's enormous determination, strength and passion helped them to survive in this brutal male's world...

Nowadays, metal ladies are doing very well on the metal music scene. Let's say that such female artists as Tarja Turunen, Cristina Scabbia, Sharon del Adel, Angela Gossow or the newest addition in metal super-league namely Anette Olzon Blyckert have already achieved what most of male musicians can only dream of. Nevertheless, those ladies are still forced to fight against many prejudices every day. That's the main reason why Polish writer Marta Samitowska decided to write series of books about female artists. It's called "Through My Eyes, In Their Own Words: females in metal and beyond". Marta's intention is to prove that all these common stereotypes about women in metal are far away from the truth. Hereby I would like to present you an interesting interview, concerning various aspects of her work. Enjoy reading it.

-First of all, tell me something about yourself. Are you a professional writer, of course if there is something like a „professional writer”? Is it, I mean writing your main occupation?
I’m Polish, though have been living in the Netherlands for more than seven years now. I’m thirty-one, married, and expecting my first baby in March. The two studies that I finished had to do with languages and literature (first English philology in Poland, and then Dutch Language and Culture in the Netherlands). But I’m not really what one could call a „professional writer.” Writing has always been a hobby of mine. And now, since I’ve started my own company, it has also become a bit of a „job.” However, my „real” daily job has nothing to do with writing, and definitely nothing to do with metal: I work at an archive of a housing corporation.

-How did your writer's career start that you ended up writing books on metal music and artists? In general, where did your interest in heavy music come from?
I wouldn’t describe myself as a „metal-head.” I had always been drawn to darker music, but I started listening to metal only in 2000. It was my boyfirend at that time (and now my husband) who introduced me to this music. Before that I had been quite prejudiced towards metal: I had always thought that there was no place for sensitivity or depth there. That the metal scene was only for macho’s. But when I got to know such bands as My Dying Bride (with their beautiful dark melancholy), Iron Maiden (with their elaborate song structures), or Trail of Tears and Nightwish (with operatic female vocals), I totally changed my mind. It was a revelation! Metal COULD be surprising, sensitive, passionate, melancholic, intelligent, and – what was very important for me – there seemed to be more and more place for women in the scene. I had always loved passionate, original and powerful female vocals. My all-time favourite singers are Kate Bush, Tori Amos and Lisa Gerrard. I was surprised and very much pleased to notice that these very women also influenced some of the females in the metal scene. And that drew me to metal even more. And as I have mentioned earlier, writing had always been my hobby. Somehow I always feel the urge to write down what I think. I like analyzing and comparing things. Following artistic and personal developments of artists. And so I started writing down my thoughts on some albums, bands and concerts. And in this way my site Cursed with Oblivion was born. Later on I started doing more and more interviews, got in touch with more and more bands. My network was growing. I started working for the official fanclubs of Epica and After Forever, writing pieces for the fanzines. And in the meantime the idea to create a little book on female singers in metal was born. The booklet was called „Power and Majesty.” And this year (May 2008) I have started my own company called Muse(ic) Books through which I’m planning to release more books on „female-fronted metal.”

-What are the best and worst things about being a female metal writer?
The best things are, in my opinion, the whole process of creating a book, seeing it grow, gathering information for it and having a chance to interview some of my personal favourites. Plus the satisfaction you get when all is done and you receive positive feedback from the readers and the artists. The worst thing is the prejudice towards females in metal: generally speaking, that a woman and metal doesn’t really make a successful combination. But on the other hand, the very same thing also drives me to prove the opposite.

-Doesn't writing books and collecting materials for them make you sick from time to time? What are the biggest obstacles in your work?
Definitely not! At least, not yet - Otherwise, I wouldn’t have started my own publishing company. Collecting interviews, photos, making up interview- questions and getting them answered, and discovering new bands and voices is all very exciting! I do admit that sometimes the writing itself doesn’t go that fast. And sometimes I have these days when I am not really in the mood for writing or just don’t have any „inspiration.” But generally speaking, I have lots of enthusiasm and energy in me. The biggest obstacles? Hmm... The scene is growing so fast, and almost every week something changes, so it’s quite hard to keep up with all the developments. Sometimes I think that one chapter is finished, but then the news of a band’s split- up or of a singer’s departure, etc. is announced, and then the whole chapter has to be updated, revised and rewritten. Or even removed from a book (it did happen to me). It can be quite frustrating. That’s why it took me almost three years to complete „Through My Eyes...” part I.

-Would you tell me some words about Muse(ic) Books company? Was it hard to establish a publishing company in the Netherlands?
Muse(ic) Books was founded in May 2008. Since it was difficult for me to find a publishing company that would like to publish books about females in metal (not a very popular subject with regular mainstream readers), I decided to start my own company for all my future projects. Muse(ic) Books is still very small and pretty much underground. But I hope it will grow with time.

-Some time ago you've released the first part of "Through My Eyes, In Their Own Words: females in metal and beyond". How did you actually come up with an idea of writing series of books about female-fronted metal artists? Did you wake up one day with that idea in your mind, or what?
The more I got into this genre, the deeper I went, the more I realized how many talented females in metal there were. So the idea to write a series of books about women in metal wasn’t born in one day. I became aware of the fact that there’s so much talent out there, and that it would be nice to promote it a bit more. First I was planning to publish just one book, but the ideas kept coming. I was discovering more and more fascinating bands and artists, and at some point I just had too much material for one book only. Now I have enough interviews for part II and even III. I’m also working on another project: female- fronted metal seen through male eyes. But I don’t want to reveal too much yet.

-„Through My Eyes...” isn't actually your first book about women in metal music. Could you tell me something about „Power And Majesty” which was written some time ago?
„Power and Majesty” was written in 2004. It was totally self- published and self- financed. The booklet contained four chapters; each dealing with a different theme: the beginnings, singing, song- writing and image. For this project I interviewed some of the better- known female singers in metal: Cristina Scabbia, Liv Kristine, Anneke van Giersbergen, Floor Jansen, Simone Simons, Sarah Jezebel Deva, Angela Gossow, etc. I think it was maybe too early for me to write such a book then. Right now I think I know way more about metal, the whole scene and also about writing in general. So some of the things I would have done differently now. But still, I am very proud of it and the booklet definitely contains many interesting quotes from the featured ladies.

-Don't you have some kind of impression that you write books about women to prove something? Maybe just to refute some negative stereotypes about women in metal?
That’s correct. It is not just an impression. It is my goal. I want to show that women in metal also have lots of interesting things to say; that they’re creative, intelligent and strong. And that they’re definitely no puppets in what seems to be a male- dominated genre.

-What do you think about the common opinion about ladies in metal being nothing but a bunch of whores?
It’s the same as saying that everyone who listens to metal is a satan worshipper. After taking a closer look at the genre, one realises that all such prejudice is just rubbish. And not only when it comes to metal. I hate this kind of generalizing.