Ha! See what I did there?
So nearly everyday, in nearly every interview, I get asked, “What’s it like, to be a girl in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal…so I’m gonna tell ya. It’s Fucking Fantastic!
But to be honest, I never really gave much thought when I was 13 to the fact that I was a girl cutting her teeth in a male dominated industry. Because I had parents who raised me with the idea that are no boundaries to my dreams and aspirations, there is no ceiling, regardless of whether I’m a boy or a girl.
I remember them telling me at the start of Halestorm..that that 9-5, soul sucking job, or that white picket fence fantasy that everyone thinks you’re “supposed” to have, will always be there….But your dream, this crazy rockstar idea that you’re so obsessed with, the hard road?… You have to go for that now and with your whole heart.
I also have amazing bandmates, my best friends who know me better than anyone, and who have supported and shared my obsession for over 15 years…they’ve never viewed me like a good marketing gimmick, or something that “pretty’s up” a band of dudes.
Because Talent has nothing to do with being male or female. There is no “superior gender.” It’s about what you bring to that stage, holding your standards high, and be Great, not just “for a girl”.
My bandmates have endured my struggles by my side and have celebrated my triumphs by my side. I’m truly lucky to have such strong, real men around me.
So I dive into the unknown, combating the negative, condescending and ignorant things people spew, with positivity and by Continuing to do Me. I am also so grateful for our community and fan base that support all the things I stand for; empowerment, individuality, equality, positivity and Rock.
I’m carving my own path, following the only thing that I have no doubt of in this world…music.
Something I’ve learned as well, is that when people feel so compelled to get off their asses to Hate on you, it’s because you’ve made a noise that they can no longer ignore. And That is a great thing my dears. We need to make more noise!
And I’m not the only woman In rock, I am peers with some of the most talented, ferocious and ballsy women of our time. And we as women, have to deal daily with sexism, harassment and making hard decisions that often are an unfair, choosing the lesser of two evils. Lose your soul, keep a career path, keep a career path, lose your soul. And don’t get me wrong, I like dressing up in tight leather, and I like the sex that goes hand in hand with Rock n Roll…but Are we being judged or accepted on talent or by how we look? Are we being denied at the gate for not being sexy enough to turn on the gatekeeper? Are our passions being suppressed because they threaten the egos of a dinosaur mentality?There’s a big difference.
Walk a mile in our high heels? It has always been a long road for us, but we keep moving and we keep fighting, we take our pain and turn it into power.
I am so proud to be a WOMAN and I am proud of all of my female peers for having the courage to bring all of our experiences into the light. And Now that we have turned on this light, we cannot go back to darkness
We have a responsibility to our future ladies to stand up for what we believe in.
We look to our future. I’m so honored to get to meet and receive so many letters from teenagers and little women who draw pictures of me holding my gibson and tell me all about how they are starting a band because their parents took them to a Halestorm show! Remember my Dear Daughters…your life of yours, your story is yours…never change who you are for Anyone! You have all of our support through it all, stand or fall, I will be right here for you!
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dededos
