Rissi Palmer – “No Air” (Jordin Sparks Cover)
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Author Archives: Black Women In Rock
Rissi Palmer – “Country Girl” (LIVE)
Black Women in Punk: Coming Soon
The site hasn’t been updated in nearly a month, but never fear! I’m working on putting together another genre feature series, this time with all of the incredible Black Women in Punk. It’s a massive list. Stay tuned!
Nice & Rough: Black Women IN Rock Indiegogo Campaign
Hi all! I’ve just got word that the good folks behind Nice & Rough: Black Women IN Rock have launched an Indiegogo campaign to help get their documentary off the ground, and they need YOU to help make it possible!
This project is not directly affiliated with my own, and I found out about them three years after starting my own blog, but I absolutely support what they do and want to help get the word out about them. You can find a treasure trove of interviews and features with various working black rock musicians on their site Nice & Rough. Use their wonderful site as an extra resource to find out more about the plentiful contributions of black women to rock music.
I’ve already contributed to this campaign, and urge you to do the same. As with the Poly Styrene documentary campaign (which recently exceeded its’ set goal), it is very important to get media out there that present the stories of black women who make rock music. Even though we’ve been a part of rock from the start and have given so much to the movement, it’s so easy to make black women invisible in this scene. Projects like these helps to make sure that DOESN’T happen!
The link for the Indiegogo campaign is here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/la-shoot-nice-rough-black-women-in-rock/x/16403222#/ If you can give to this project, please give! If you can’t please, please share! Thank you!
Black Women In Metal: Part 4
What’s special about these last four ladies is that they perform as solo-acts, crafting their own special sound while rocking out at the same time. This is the conclusion to our Metal series. The other 3 parts of the series can be found by clicking the following links: Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3
Adore (top left) – One-woman black metal, with artist Adore (Shantell Daggs) playing all of the instruments on her recordings. If you like having your face melted, then definitely check her out! The Facebook page for her project is here: https://www.facebook.com/1adoremusic/
Dohrn (top right) – For even more face-melting, check out Alicia Warrington’s project Dohrn. Completely heavy, completely brutal, and stunningly good. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/dohrnmusic/
Omega Sirius Moon (bottom left) – OSM has a grungy sound that crosses over into stoner territory at times. Nice to listen to. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OmegaMoon/
Kudisan Kai (bottom right) – What’s best about Kudisan Kai are her powerful vocals, laid over tight instrumentation that’s as good as any other alternative band out there. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KudisanKai/
Photo Credits: Adore (FB page), Dohrn (FB page), Omega Sirius Moon (http://omegasiriusmoon.tumblr.com/), Kudisan Kai (FB page)
Black Women In Metal: Part 3
Far from being an anomaly, black women play extremely important roles in a variety of rock acts. This includes a number of metal acts. Here are five more ladies who shred and scream in metal bands. This is a continuation of the Metal series. Part 1 is here, and Part 2 is here.
Dana James (Helms Alee): Dana James plays bass for this stoner/sludge inspired metal band Helms Alee. High-quality music, recommended if you like laid-back metal like Torche and Baroness. Bandcamp page: https://helmsalee.bandcamp.com/
Militia Vox: The lead vocalist for the Judas Priest cover band Judas Priestess, and also works as a solo artist. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/militiaismyname/
Goldgrrl (Erzulie): Lead vocalist for Chicago-based metal band Erzulie and an all-around awesome person. Their sound is reminiscent of Plasmatics-esque punk metal. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ErzulieBand/
Jada Pinkett Smith (Wicked Wisdom): Yes the actress! Besides acting, she is in a heavy metal band called Wicked Wisdom, who got to play Ozzfest a few years back. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OFFICIALWICKEDWISDOM/
Kiyoe Krista Fluker: Guitarist for Harlequin and former bassist for Fortress of Empyrean. Based in Los Angeles. Facebook page for Harlequin: https://www.facebook.com/pg/harlequinofficial/.
Photo Credits: Dana James (Helms Alee Bandcamp Page), Militia Vox (Facebook page), Goldgrrl (Erzulie Facebook page), Jada Pinkett Smith (Wicked Wisdom Facebook Page), Kiyoe Krista Fluker (Harlequin Facebook page)
Part 4 is coming up next week to conclude the series!
The Tuts Upcoming Tour!
Hi Folks! Following their stunning debut LP Update Your Brain, The Tuts — everyone’s favorite British punk-istas — are going on a UK tour this May! I haven’t been able to see these ladies live (yet – come to the US, The Tuts!!), but they look like they put on a good show.
UK Peeps, get your tickets at The Tuts’ Official Website — they’re going fast! Tour dates are listed below.
Black Women In Metal: Part 2
This is a continuation of our Black Women In Metal series. View Part 1 here!
Black women instrumentalists are numerous, and play vital roles in a wide variety of metal bands. Here are five more talented black women who rock out the stage.
Alessandra Sbrana – Drummer for Botswana metal band Skinflint. Skinflint represents a vibrant metal scene in the African country, as discussed in this short documentary clip. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SKINFLINTMETAL
Luanna Nascimento – Screamer/vocalist for Brazilian band Visceral Leishmaniasis. One of the most brvtal black women I’ve come across while running this blog. If you’re into death metal and needed to see a black woman as the focal point, this band is for you. You won’t be disappointed. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VisceralLeishmaniasisBrutalDeathMetal
Larissa Pires – Screamer/vocalist for Brazilian band Retaliação Infernal. Another brvtal lady that leads a death metal/grindcore outfit. Anoher one to check out for the more extreme music fans. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RetaliacaoInfernal/
Cierra White – Drummer for several Colorado-based metal bands: Morbid Asphyxiation, Oak Ash and Thorn, and Mount Cairn. Facebook pages for: Morbid Asphyxiation https://www.facebook.com/morbid.asphyxiation, Oak Ash and Thorn: https://www.facebook.com/OakAshAndThornMetal/, and Mount Cairn: https://www.facebook.com/mountcairncobm/
Diamond Rowe – Lead guitarist for Atlanta-based Tetrarch. Beyond awesome at guitar shredding and is awesome live. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/tetrarchmusic/
Stay tuned for Part 3 next week!
Photo Credits: Alessandra Sbrana (Skinflint FB Page), Luanna Nascimento (The Female Vocalists of Extreme Music), Larissa Pires (Retaliação Infernal FB Page), Cierra White (Oak Ash & Thorn FB page)
Poly Styrene: “I Am A Cliché” Indiegogo Campaign
At last, the original RiotGrrl is getting her own documentary — or will, if the funds can be raised to make it happen.
Poly Styrene was the first black woman rocker that I ever knew about, and her band X-Ray Spex was the band that got me into punk rock and changed my life forever. Her story needs to be told, and I am urging anyone that can contribute to this project to do so.
The currency being asked for the campaign is the British pound, but you should be able to donate regardless of your location. I was able to donate in dollars.
Let’s make this happen! The Indiegogo page is here: Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché | Indiegogo
Black Women In Metal: Part 1
It’s a common misconception that there are few people of color in metal bands, and particularly that there are no black women. In actuality, black women play very prominent roles in these types of bands — either guiding the group with their vocals, or powering through songs as instrumentalists.
Here are four black women who sing lead in metal bands:
Kayla Dixon (top left) – Lead vocalist for Witch Mountain, a doom/stoner metal band. Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/witchmountain/
Cammie Gilbert (top right) – Lead vocalist for Oceans of Slumber, a progressive metal band. Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/oceansofslumber/
Alexis Brown (bottom left) – Lead vocalist for Straight Line Stitch, a metal band from Tennessee (US). Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/straightlinestitch/
Audrey Ebrotié (bottom right) – Lead vocalist for Diary of Destruction, a French metal band. Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/diaryofdestruction/
Part 2 coming next week!
Photo Credits: Kayla Dixon (Hillarie Jason), Cammie Gilbert (Catberry Photography), Alexis Brown (Kevin D. Soney), Audrey Ebrotié (Nicolas Gaire)
Black Women In Rock 