Women In Noise? Women Here??

[anusenvy]

Sorry .. it's not ok to be aroused or talk about it.


Anyways, I was just suddenly reminded of Masturbatory Dysfunction and how she had no pictures of herself performing or otherwise with her face showing but otherwise she posted very erotic photos. Through conversation I learned this was on purpose. Always fascinated me for some reason.

[Minus1]

I recent Joensuu show, I talked with couple ladies asking am I seeing wrong, but isn't audience like.. half women? Maybe not mathematically exactly, but close enough to give this impression. It wasn't about girlfriends showing up kind of thing (which is cool too), but everybody actually watching ALL the shows, that consisted pretty much harsh noise.
Evening included one female artist, Nikama. She doesn't have any physical releases. Gigs have been hit & miss, but this particular gig was great!

Week before there was in Helsinki not only Nikama, but female noise artists THE GLORIA. There are plenty of women in the audience.

So, this message replying "women in noise?" - Even if there always is women at shows, at these recent gigs, it seemed as if there was even more than before. Plus every gig having female artists too.

Thanks. Admittedly I'm not...er...getting out much. 😂 (ie Going to Noise Shows). I made assumptions about this (and about the makeup of this forum.) I'm glad to be wrong.

[BatteredStatesofEuphoria]

I inherently mistrust any one who considers either the creation or the consumption of art to be therapeutic.

This seems like an attitude that's going to pretty much dismiss most art, noise or otherwise. Art as catharsis is as old as art itself. Plenty of art is borne out of the artist's pain or trauma and their desire to find some kind of closure or meaning out of it, and plenty of people have used consumed art to help them cope with the vagaries of life.

Now if that's the ONLY thing someone gets out or art, if they're using it as a crutch, then I can understand seeing that with disdain. But art as a way to deal with pain is as authentic and valid as anything else.

[groesk]

This seems like an attitude that's going to pretty much dismiss most art, noise or otherwise. Art as catharsis is as old as art itself. Plenty of art is borne out of the artist's pain or trauma and their desire to find some kind of closure or meaning out of it, and plenty of people have used consumed art to help them cope with the vagaries of life.

yeah, i was thinking about that. I think the woman who talked about PE like that only meant it as a means to an end and nothing more. but yeah the post you're referring to just seems ignorant and close minded. unless there's some hidden meaning that he would like to elaborate on.

Thanks. Admittedly I'm not...er...getting out much. 😂 (ie Going to Noise Shows). I made assumptions about this (and about the makeup of this forum.) I'm glad to be wrong.

to be fair noise shows are pretty hard to even know about unless you're in some circle. i would love to go to some but i'm pretty sure i'm the only noise enjoyer in my town.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Here is the video collection of Helsinki show I mentioned, including couple female artists:

https://youtu.be/6SZGp56nq6Y?si=PELzbiMXYb-k_gvX

[anusenvy]

It was fun for a minute there on social media to be able to reach more people directly/find more shows locally. Conceivably giving people the ability to find something they might not have otherwise without social media. Then, social media caved like all business & obscurity is easier to be obscure again. However, I did not anticipate these new algorithms + AI generated auto responses....people like Torturing Nurse + Ryosuke Kiyasu get higher views/higher engagement but is 95% jokes about Yoko Ono with rest being general Wurm psychology. Hopefully both are selling more tapes + more digital purchases. Misunderstanding + attacks/jokes frequently indicate person actually IS curious/interested. Ask the gay/trans community about this.

Also, if someone has gotten to the point that they are currently immersed in a subculture to point of frequent and deep investigation, one can usually follow a trail to some sort of show information. May not be as frequently occurring as open mic night. However for me geographically, I've always been spoiled so to say to always have things available 1 hour or less from home. 2 or 3 hours if the artists on it are more recognized i.e. needing to go to NYC or small town in VT near Canadian border. I think this also shapes my perspective of characters in scene for obvious reasons i.e. Hot Topic absolutist liberals, lots of veteran performers/fans, places centered around academia, more 'record stores' than potentially necessary, etc. As opposed to how I perceive some other parts of US (or otherwise) where it is 3+ hour trip to anything worthwhile.

I also admittedly probably may not have found 'noise world' had I not tried to perform myself from the get-go.

It's too bad because even most seasoned fans may not look very deep into the subject, either through ignorance or satisfaction with the amount of information they receive through mainstream outlets. Maybe some people could radically overcome their fears of SI/FAR somehow converting them accidentally or purposely to something they don't currently believe in. Then they may find a forum such as this as viable tool rather than some moral or ethical quandary. 

In fact, you may be surprised what you find if you submit to nuance and have "open mind".

Anyways...

I'm ok with admitting that at one point I truly believed Pharmakon was one of the only women in noise. Ah but how times have changed. Perhaps that does say something about accessibility to information. Or maybe too many people have drifted away from search engines + stuff like that. 

In defense of the thoughts I was having during my first reply to the thread, I do believe some people want to be objectified and I am fine with silently validating that. I also think it is kind of knee jerk response to claim objectification anyway. Do I objectify someone because I recognize their gender and have normal response to that? Or is it objectification because I say so like Butthead?

Me personally I'm interested in learning more about Gabi Losoncy who I believe is in partnership with Sam McKinlay. Am I [truly] going crazy or has Gabi performed on a release? Or is it just quotes and art? I was not really enjoying her book but am actually interested in trying to read it again. Any information you might share about her here would be appreciated. I particularly enjoyed her art on this release:



Anyways...

To revise and sum everything up: I've seen women around noise scene and many of them.

[DBL]

It 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?

Instead of talking about women of noise as some abstract concept, I'd rather welcome people talking about specific artists, label owners, zine makers etc. and spread the word about them. Write reviews or comments and say why this specific artist/project is worth of interest besides being a woman. There should not be a shortage of where to start from, and some have already been mentioned in this topic and others on the forum. Genre greats, interesting newcomers, local obscurities...

Puce Mary and Pharmakon are talked about for sure, and are appreciated well beyond the core noise audience. Himukalt as well, I think? Her works were just recently brought up in the canon of noise/PE topic. Cosey Fanni Tutti has been discussed regarding her memoirs, and of course Throbbing Gristle has not been forgotten.

Sarah Froelich's contributions to Consumer Electronics have been discussed here I think, not sure about her work with Ramleh. I'm not familiar enough with either to comment.

Anenzephalia's later live gigs with a female member have been positively commented here, both in sound and live presence/intensity. I think she hasn't featured on any releases yet though? I might be wrong. Live clips and longer gig reports have been made by SI.

AntiChildLeague has lately been talked about regarding her gigs in Finland, and I recall some people praised the quality of the latter tapes quite recently too. I am way too unfamiliar with the project, but Big Fat Arse 7" is an excellent noise EP. Two hard-hitting songs and the approach seems very personal. The artist Gaya Donadio has been interviewed by WCN Podcast about her gig organizing.

Young projects Bootycall, Nikama and The Gloria haven't really made physical releases yet, Bootycall has just one small edition tape out I think. Still, their Finnish gigs have been discussed here (and documented by Special Interests' live report videos) and Nikama's debut tape remains anticipated by many.

Prior to her solo works, Nikama was a part of Junta for a couple of years. Project is now defunct, but just recently published live tape on Sudden Movements might be one of the project's most hard-hitting releases. It's of course not the most experimental nor playful one of theirs due to being a live recording, but recommended to those who appreciate strong live harsh noise.

Junko of Hijokaidan. Her solo album Silent Beauty is certainly a strong noise album of straight-up vocal torment, not for the weak! I greatly enjoyed her collab album with Demonologists too: clean horror electronics and partially effected and completely unhinged screaming. A challenging album with plenty of personality.

And tangentially related: Yoshimi of Boredoms, and Kae Takahashi of noisecore band Sete Star Sept and her solo noisecore unit Anti Itch Cream.

Silent Abuse is no longer active, but her solo and collab 7" have been appreciated, and of course her vocal work with Bizarre Uproar (and Kärsimysnäytelmä!) rightly remains a subject of praise.

Rusalka, now going by her own name Kate Rissiek. Appreciated, but not that talked about here at least I think? Base Waters CD (as Rusalka) is a personal favorite. Harsh and immersive noise, a solid album that has kept me hooked for plenty of spins. As Kate Rissiek, I've got her LP on Buried In Slag And Debris. While it's more versatile and cuts deeper soundwise, it has remained a little more distant for me. Both albums are visually very pleasing. I think the artist had a collage book out as well that was mentioned here, or am I mixing up names?

Jessica Rylan / Can't, subject of Special Interests' video documentary last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qeu9Yeh8rrs

Kate DeVoe's Noise Widow fanzine has been brought up by WCN Podcast and in the noise zine topic here. And as of zines, Untitled Zine and Rocker have brought up female makers as both subjects and makers of interviews. Rose Actor-Engel of widely appreciated No Rent Records has been interviewed by WCN Podcast as well. The Rita-collaborator Lorelei was interviewed in the first issue of Hardcore Country And Western.

It feels like I'm forgetting some essential ones, but then again this is just a quickly written list and not some attempt at a complete glossary set in stone.

[Minus1]

It 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?

Instead of talking about women of noise as some abstract concept, I'd rather welcome people talking about specific artists, label owners, zine makers etc. and spread the word about them. Write reviews or comments and say why this specific artist/project is worth of interest besides being a woman. There should not be a shortage of where to start from, and some have already been mentioned in this topic and others on the forum. Genre greats, interesting newcomers, local obscurities...

Puce Mary and Pharmakon are talked about for sure, and are appreciated well beyond the core noise audience. Himukalt as well, I think? Her works were just recently brought up in the canon of noise/PE topic. Cosey Fanni Tutti has been discussed regarding her memoirs, and of course Throbbing Gristle has not been forgotten.

Sarah Froelich's contributions to Consumer Electronics have been discussed here I think, not sure about her work with Ramleh. I'm not familiar enough with either to comment.

Anenzephalia's later live gigs with a female member have been positively commented here, both in sound and live presence/intensity. I think she hasn't featured on any releases yet though? I might be wrong. Live clips and longer gig reports have been made by SI.

AntiChildLeague has lately been talked about regarding her gigs in Finland, and I recall some people praised the quality of the latter tapes quite recently too. I am way too unfamiliar with the project, but Big Fat Arse 7" is an excellent noise EP. Two hard-hitting songs and the approach seems very personal. The artist Gaya Donadio has been interviewed by WCN Podcast about her gig organizing.

Young projects Bootycall, Nikama and The Gloria haven't really made physical releases yet, Bootycall has just one small edition tape out I think. Still, their Finnish gigs have been discussed here (and documented by Special Interests' live report videos) and Nikama's debut tape remains anticipated by many.

Prior to her solo works, Nikama was a part of Junta for a couple of years. Project is now defunct, but just recently published live tape on Sudden Movements might be one of the project's most hard-hitting releases. It's of course not the most experimental nor playful one of theirs due to being a live recording, but recommended to those who appreciate strong live harsh noise.

Junko of Hijokaidan. Her solo album Silent Beauty is certainly a strong noise album of straight-up vocal torment, not for the weak! I greatly enjoyed her collab album with Demonologists too: clean horror electronics and partially effected and completely unhinged screaming. A challenging album with plenty of personality.

And tangentially related: Yoshimi of Boredoms, and Kae Takahashi of noisecore band Sete Star Sept and her solo noisecore unit Anti Itch Cream.

Silent Abuse is no longer active, but her solo and collab 7" have been appreciated, and of course her vocal work with Bizarre Uproar (and Kärsimysnäytelmä!) rightly remains a subject of praise.

Rusalka, now going by her own name Kate Rissiek. Appreciated, but not that talked about here at least I think? Base Waters CD (as Rusalka) is a personal favorite. Harsh and immersive noise, a solid album that has kept me hooked for plenty of spins. As Kate Rissiek, I've got her LP on Buried In Slag And Debris. While it's more versatile and cuts deeper soundwise, it has remained a little more distant for me. Both albums are visually very pleasing. I think the artist had a collage book out as well that was mentioned here, or am I mixing up names?

Jessica Rylan / Can't, subject of Special Interests' video documentary last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qeu9Yeh8rrs

Kate DeVoe's Noise Widow fanzine has been brought up by WCN Podcast and in the noise zine topic here. And as of zines, Untitled Zine and Rocker have brought up female makers as both subjects and makers of interviews. Rose Actor-Engel of widely appreciated No Rent Records has been interviewed by WCN Podcast as well. The Rita-collaborator Lorelei was interviewed in the first issue of Hardcore Country And Western.

It feels like I'm forgetting some essential ones, but then again this is just a quickly written list and not some attempt at a complete glossary set in stone.

Wonderful post, thank you.

When I made this thread, through some fault of my own, I was rather in the dark about Women In Noise, and Women At SI. This thread has really helped me to see what you, and some others see. And in recent weeks and months, my Noise collection/listening includes more Women. And best of all, some stupidass assumptions on my part have been rectified. (I cringe when I look at my June 2025 OP.)

[Wainhouse]

How about a specific release from Melissa Paget's project Mass Marriage? Drying Up The Streets, her 2024 collaboration with M.I.A. https://phagetapes.bandcamp.com/album/drying-up-the-streets

Topics include sex work and sexuality in urban (public) environments. I read the lyrics as diaristic and enigmatic. The musical elements of this collaboration include beats, piano, and sequenced synth, but I would encourage people to give the material a chance even if they are wary of such things; the musical aspects blend together expertly with heavy electronics and tasty loops of feedback. The spoken word sections are strong, as are the handwritten lyrics on the vinyl insert, both of which I understand are some of the contributions from Ms. Paget. Reference points could include classic releases from Prurient such as Cocaine Death or Pleasure Ground, or more recently Retaliation. The spirit of this collaboration is clearly power electronics, even if the sounds can also be something else.

[Atrophist]

Minor correction: The Gloria does have at least one tape out. I got a copy at the Helsinki gig. Good stuff.

[NedOik]

Mayuko Hino C.C.C.C. was not mentioned. Awesome.

[Wainhouse]

Mayuko Hino C.C.C.C. was not mentioned. Awesome.

She is mentioned on the first page of the discussion thread.

Doesn't she have an interview in Bananafish? Was that a C.C.C.C. interview, or just her? I would love to read what she has to say. I've never owned a Bananafish. I've only read THAT Macronympha interview "Mean Sheets" from Bananafish #10... Hino is discussed therein... OK! I'm going to reread it again; it never gets old...

There is an interview segment with C.C.C.C. on the Live At Club Lower Links VHS (reissued on DVD by Tribe Tapes):

https://tribetapes.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-club-lower-links

Do any of her text interviews exist online?

[FreakAnimalFinland]

It 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.

[Vrenndel]

Anenzephalia's later live gigs with a female member have been positively commented here, both in sound and live presence/intensity. I think she hasn't featured on any releases yet though? I might be wrong. Live clips and longer gig reports have been made by SI.

She is featured on one track actually, on The World As It Used to Exist tape on De/TAINMENT TAPES. Looking forward to any future material featuring her vocals on record. Last December performance in Dresden was great.

[moozz]

Minor correction: The Gloria does have at least one tape out. I got a copy at the Helsinki gig. Good stuff.

There is also that The Rita/The Gloria split tape that came out maybe a year ago. On this split she comes out as the winner IMO. Definitely looking forward to future gigs/releases.