I happened to catch a short documentary segment on Global TV’s 16x9 program entitled ‘Black Metal’ the other night. While the term ‘black metal’ typically brings to mind that particular sub-genre of metal, this is about something entirely different. Namely, black women involved in the metal scene. The story contains interviews with MilitiA Voxx, vocalist of Judas Priestess (a heavy metal tribute band) and Laina Dawes. Laina is the author (amongst many other credentials) of the book ‘What Are You Doing Here?’, chronicling black female musicians and fans in the metal world.
Both women have experienced the same sentiments revolving around their apparent inability to fit anywhere into a scene traditionally dominated by white males. From this short documentary, and other interviews and creative endeavours that both have been involved in, it is apparent that both MilitiA and Laina are as passionate, if not more so, about metal than anyone else in the scene. It’s worth giving the the program a quick view. If nothing else, it leads one to at least think about gender and racial stereotypes.
I am still meaning to read ‘What Are you Doing Here?’, as I am interested in the perspective that it can provide. With Laina’s presentation at the Noctis festival in Calgary in September 2013, she again proved how passionate and fully approachable she is regarding the work she has done. I was impressed, and thus am looking forward to eventually picking up a copy of her book for myself.
Fanny Janssen is another young woman currently making waves in the metal world. Although not quite in the traditional sense. She is the talented seamstress behind Obscura Morgana, creating unique viking and folk metal themed clothing.
Reading an interview that was recently published with Fanny provides some insight into the creative process behind her work. Her work inspires me to want to sit behind my own sewing machine and attempt something creative, although I can’t ever see myself doing something quite as profound as what she has created.
Read the interview here:
