Online Portfolio for Laina Dawes

Author, freelance music journalist, critic and concert photographer.

[writingisfighting]

So why did UPS knock on my door at 8:30am? To bring me copies of the second print run of WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?! So, this updated version includes a Black Rock 101 playlist that features Rock, Punk, Hardcore and Metal artists, with some of the new releases that have come out this year! A massive thank you to my publisher, Ian Christe, Justina Villanueva, Lauren P, and all of the musicians, writers, industry workers who graciously lent their time to make this happen. The book will be available to purchase via Bazillionpoints.com; Amazon, and through national and local bookstores! 

[writingisfighting]

Rammstein - Deutschland (Official Video)

Check out this (academic) article I wrote about this video and the representation of black women......yes, it will make sense! 

[writingisfighting]

Article: Hey Tommy Vext: just because you’ve never seen racism, it doesn’t mean it’s not there Check out the article (linked above) on Loudersound.com

[writingisfighting]

Article: Fighting against racism in metal is more important than ever

Check out the article on Loudersound.com. 

[writingisfighting]

Here is my Setlist for the January 26th event:

“Hating” Eight Bells Landless          

“The Eldritch Dark”  Blood Ceremony, The Eldritch Dark   

“The Beast and the Drowning Bucket” CRETIN, Stranger

“That's It!”  Diary Of Destruction, Dark Road To Recovery    

“Inverse” Kylesa, From the Vaults Vol. I          

“Justify The Suffering” Landmine Marathon, Sovereign Descent    

“View From a Tower” Mortals, Cursed to See the Future          

“Hold My Breath”  Eight Bells, Landless      

“Devilspell” Mortals, Cursed to See the Future          

“All Must Die” The Oath, The Oath          

“Parsonz Curse” Royal Thunder, CVI          

“The Guilty One” MILITIA, The Villainess     

“Epidemic”  Salome, Terminal          

“Bad Vision” Acid King, Free... / The father, the son and the holy smoke     

“Kill Your Pain” Sophia Ramos, Her Majesty    

“The Usher”  Subrosa More Constant Than The Gods           

“Orchard” Windhand, Soma

“Track 04” Jucifer, District of Dystopia 

[writingisfighting]

“Lemmy appreciation: a life lived hard, a death too soon”

The Guardian

[writingisfighting]

“The Year in Innovative Black Women”

Hazlitt

[writingisfighting]

‘I Don’t Know if I’ll Try to Answer ‘Who Let the Dogs Out’’: An Interview with Artist Ben Sisto

Hazlitt

[writingisfighting]

“Heavy Metal Feminism”

Hazlitt

[writingisfighting]

“We Don’t Need Another Black Woman in Rock n’ Roll”” How Betty Davis Challenged the Music Industry

Hazlitt

[writingisfighting]

"The 20 Best Metal Albums" of 2014 on Spin.com.

[writingisfighting]

Millions March NYC & SantaCon Squared Off This Weekend: Guess Who Won? on Refinery29

[writingisfighting]

"Myths About Trans-Racial Adoption" at Refinery29.

[writingisfighting]

Mary J. Blige's "My Life Turns 20" at Cuepoint / Medium

[writingisfighting]

"Heavy Metal Horror Movies to watch on Halloween" Flavorwire

[writingisfighting]

"X Japan Reinvents Itself, Reigns at Madison Square Garden." MTV Iggy

[writingisfighting]

"Black-ish: New Sitcom Takes on Race in America" Refinery29