Quote from: DBL on February 01, 2026, 11:36:54 PMIt seems odd that this topic of "women in noise" keeps resurfacing without really leading anywhere. I don't really see what the aim is. People asking for artist recommendations get them, but are they actually being listened to? Do people actually want to hear noise made by women for some specific purpose, or do they just want to point a finger at a flaw they've once again spotted, and are more interested in this supposed lack of women rather than the women's actual active participation in the genre/scene? Is there an assumption that noise should somehow change and adapt to attract more women?
I would think this is not about this particular topic, but it effects most things out there. As examples, I always get some jaded veteran asking what is the current new good noise and if you drop some names, you can be pretty sure they will not check it out. Same could be said for question when someone asks what is good punk, what is good new black metal that brings something new that wasn't done by Bathory and Venom already. hah. and you can be sure by the question they present, its not like they would really care.
We have seen quite frequently also discussions where is the anarchist and left leaning noise. And unless its someoneones friend, mostly people don't appear to know. Which is odd, but that's how it goes. If you drop some names, they won't check artists out, but repeat the question later on, as clueless as they were before. Maybe complaining how there is so much bondage art and abuse that can't find good noise.. while in reality it would be relatively hard to even find bondage covers unless you intentionally go to the source?
Currently, in Helsinki, in the Punk museum (there really is such thing, believe it or not, in central of city!) is exhibition about women and minorities in the punk scene. A lot of people who were in Finnish hardcore punk scene in the 80's and 90's might be little amused since if judging by front men of known bands, it may seem there isn't really that much women in the scene. However, punk wasn't about hc band members per se, but culture existed in many forms that do not require being band member. Many punk related things, animal activism, human rights, organizations of many styles or merely even the act of hanging out - being involved in less visible ways, meant that there was large scale involvement that just isn't documented in form of 7"s, LP's and such.
From perspective of noise, there are some major figures who made scene of specific moment to be what it is. Lets say Gaya of Antichildleague is not only noisician, but major gig promoter of industrial-noise. She is to thank for A LOT of most significant 00's power electronics and noise things. Or Ina of Tower Transmissions, who may not be so visible for people who do not know about festival, but indeed right there on top of entire operation. Something like Artware label is obviously long gone, but just couple of weeks ago, Ulex Xane credited Donna Klemm to be the person who was the first to really buy and import Streicher tapes. Lifting the project from obscure, almost private tape trading network into being treated like releases of real label: getting distributed by dealers. These just couple obvious examples of people who really have changed noise history in very different magnitude compared to dude who just put out couple audio releases.
It is just the thing I wonder, that if someone would be honestly interested in female artists or the role that women have played in industrial, noise, etc.. I just wonder how it is possible
not to know at this day and age? Many times I come into conclusion that at least the ones who cry loudest for equality or representation, aren't really interested. They are as interested as the old dudes who check out 10 second snippet of metal band and say "Slayer already did this", while there is absolutely nothing in common. Its just tendency to revolve in passivity with any excuse one can.
