“As someone who slaved over their album this year, and did not make the Borealis Music Prize longlist (something I secretly wanted to be in the running for since recording the album) I was appalled and astonished to see a Facebook ‘friend’ and local musician complain about her nomination. And worse, she cried misogyny for being nominated for a music award! Misogyny means not being nominated because of your gender, or, having to read a clearly demeaning remark about yourself because of your gender — Heather, haven’t you written dozens of articles for The Overcast? Aren’t 75% of its writers women (Eva, Felicity, Emily, Elizabeth, Wendy, Amy, etc)? Doesn’t it publish more pieces about feminist issues than other local media combined (as I type this, there are two feminist issue articles in the “popular posts” tab)? Hasn’t The Overcast’s male contributors praised you time and time again as a songwriter, while some of us got no press? Is it so wrong a paper would compliment your drummer when your drummer is Phil! Misogyny isn’t a compliment like “a voice that’ll melt your bones,” it’s something that implies “not bad for a girl.” You can’t cry wolf on feminist affronts, you can’t say the paper talked about the female-fronted albums differently when in fact if you read the article they did not, and by doing so, you tainted the joy surrounding the celebration of local music today. I hope you know there are dozens of local musicians who would have loved your slot you are complaining about getting, and this poor paper, having to put up with the music community shitting on it for trying to give someone free press and $1000. Makes me shake my head.” - So Frustrated
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I have never met Heather. I know her band. After reading this and checking out her social media rant and the 60+comments the only conclusion is that Heather is a very rude person with very little perspective on what she is trying as an attempt to call out on something that did not happen in this case. Yes these situations DO exist, no doubt about that. This wasn’t the case. Taking on the attributes of a bully does not help your case either.
Heather please get off your soapbox and read some more before going off on unintelligent tangent.
Yeah I can’t believe that she went off on him like that. What a ridiculous thing to say about a publication that has done nothing to promote your band that is only kind-of-ok.
And she has no thanks at all for even being included in this list. As if she has herself on this high horse where “of course I deserve to be there, but let me tell you why it’s not good enough for me!”
Misogyny is a problem, but this is not it.
Couldn’t have said this better. I’m a female musician and totally get how frustrating it can be. I can’t count the number of times people seem surprised when I say I play (insert “male instrument here…aka not keyboards). I worked at a music store and had to fight for anyone to take my knowledge about guitars and gear seriously. I get why one would be defensive about this. I get sticking up for it and I get the need for this conversation.
BUT…calling someone out in this manner isn’t a productive way to have this conversation. Especially with someone you know, and with a publication that works tirelessly to support all genders, has a majority staff of women, and covers women’s issues on a regular basis.
Picking on the wording in this article (sentences, really) is maybe going a bit far. I get the issue exists and are important. I see it everyday. But…was it worth tainting an entire publication that is constantly trying to support women in music and tainting an award so many would have loved to be part of. An award that I am sure the Overcast spends countless hours, resources on and likely loses money on?
Also…aren’t you (Heather) and Chad friends? Hasn’t he supported your music? And YOUR band. I don’t understand why complementing the band that YOU put together and the sound they bring to your music detracts from you….it’s still your band…which you lead and assembled?Wasn’t this meant simply as a shout out to the members of YOUR band and not meant as a separation of band vs. front woman?
We all know Chad has nothing but support for the women’s community and considers that regularly in his work. Why wouldn’t you send him a private message and just ask him to change it and explain why it’s important. I’m sure he gladly would have and learned from it.
Instead, hundreds of people are seeing him (your tireless supporter) basically being called a misogynist. Whether or not you say it directly, and whether you distinguish “calling him a misogynist” from him “saying something misogynistic”,what people read in seeing your post is that that’s who he is and who the Overcast is.
Aside from everything, on a human level, I’m sure you hurt a friend in your actions.
Go ahead and have this conversation. It’s so necessary and I will shout with you all the way. But let’s not hurt the people trying to help us in the process? There’s a time for yelling and I get the anger, but there’s a time for one on one communication and education, too and that can be equally effective. Sometimes we need to give positive reinforcement. When was the last time someone made a post saying “The Overcast a doing a great job supporting Women’s Issues and Supporting Women in Music”?
Can we put down the Pitchforks every now and then?