#LOVE the gayness of the Miley track | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

mercuryonparklane · 3 years

Text

Taylor and her history of hanging out with queer people from the very beginning…

The queer Disney crew (Selena, Miley, and Demi)

The dancer/country singer/actor who is “not straight” (Julianne)

The bi actor (Dianna… yeah yeah, unlike the others, she has never really come, but the evidence suggests…)

The actor who called herself “so gay” on live TV and has only dated women since she broke up with the vampire (Kristen)

The queer model/actor who would be at the literal center of the L chart (Cara)

The patron Saint of queer women (Annie)

Lesbian Jesus

The former impersonator turned Old Fashioned sipper (Fletcher)… okay, it was really only the one time that we know of, but still…

And those are just the ones that are confirmed (excluding Dianna and probably missing a couple tbh)…

Her history of very intense, at the very least borderline romantic “friendships” with certain women, who she suddenly went from essentially obsessing over to never hanging out with again (that we know of)…

Then her influences/artists she chooses to promote… Dolly, Melissa Etheridge, Brandi Carlile, Tegan and Sara, Tori Amos, King Princess, Kehlani, Hayley Kiyoko, Phoebe Bridgers, girl in red, Brittany Howard, and on and on and on…

I also really want to know if she actually wrote that one song with Chely Wright because that would be a fun addition to Debut (TV), if so…

Ofc, promoting/liking or hanging out with lgbtq people does not mean you are queer, but… I mean… it’s the idea that some think Taylor is 100% hetero and that it’s disgusting/disrespectful to think otherwise… and, it’s like… this woman has been writing love songs with sapphic themes and about feeling “other” since years before she was famous and she has surrounded herself with queerness and has had rumors since at least 2009 and has been romantically linked to multiple women since forever and I just think the most logical conclusion is that she’s a queer woman who has hinted at her queerness many times, especially in the last few years (“ME! out now”, “gay pride makes ME! me”, multiple references to being trapped in a box, rainbows here, unicorns there, gayness everywhere…)

Listen, I’m sure some people think I’m off base to still think she’s a lesbian, but that’s been my stance since day one (like 2008) and nothing has really ever changed my mind about that and, in fact, over time that has only solidified (ofc, it’s just my opinion based on everything I’ve seen as I’ve followed her career and not all Gaylors have to agree… we certainly can’t seem to agree on much other than her queerness tbh, which is fine because some of the best sapphic stuff isn’t necessarily linked to certain women anyway).

I may not be right that she is a lesbian… but I think if you aren’t at least open to the idea that she may not be the straightest person to ever exist, then I’m not sure what you’ve been seeing all these years because all signs point to this woman being either queer or at least alluding to being queer, which if she isn’t, I think she has some explaining to do…

And on that note, I am so ready for Red (TV) and my clown heart really wants something in the vault tracks that could hint at Tayliz, but I’m also okay with more Swiftgron because honestly 2012 was such a fun time in the gaylor world (not so much in the Achele thread, though…)

10 notes · View notes

gethealthy18-blog · 4 years

Text

These 11 Couples On Indian Television Are The Reason Why I Want To Get Married

New Post has been published on http://healingawerness.com/getting-healthy/getting-healthy-women/these-11-couples-on-indian-television-are-the-reason-why-i-want-to-get-married/

These 11 Couples On Indian Television Are The Reason Why I Want To Get Married

These 11 Couples On Indian Television Are The Reason Why I Want To Get Married Bency Sebastian Hyderabd040-395603080 January 28, 2020

All of us have found our perfect dream couple on screen, in movies and television series. While couples in movies are a part of our fantasy for about 2-3 hours, couples on Indian television stay with us for years. Throughout the years, they show us that love can exist even through arguments and fights. They give us major couple goals and restore our faith in true love and big romantic gestures. As young girls, we’ve all watched our favorite Indian television celebrities fall head over heels in love with their perfect partners and wished for the same. Let’s discuss some of these cute couples who made us wish that we had someone to lean on every time we saw them on screen.

1. Karthik and Naira

kartiknairafc / Instagram

Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai has been on television since 2009. It is one of the longest-running shows on TV and it showcased one of the cutest love stories of all time between Naitik and Akshara. The show then transitioned into showing the love story of their beloved daughter Naira and her sweetheart Karthik and the audience loved them even more. These two are couples in real life too and that is what makes them so great on screen.

2. Aditya and Zoya

bepannaah_adiya_pearl / Instagram

The show Bepannah is a romantic mystery drama that aired for the first time in March 2018. The couple of the show, Aditya and Zoya are one of the most loved duos on Colors TV and this show appeals to the heart of every romantic.

3. Maan and Geet

official_guruchoudhary / Instagram

They share a form of affection that makes us wish we were in love. This romantic pair who shared a relationship that often resulted in lover’s quarrels and tiffs made fighting and arguing look passionate too. The show Geet-Hui Sabse Parayi gave us dreamy ideas of the kind of love we all wish to have, as naïve as it seems.

4. Shivaay and Anika

Another couple that made constant banters look cute, was the couple from the show Ishqbaaz Shivaay and Anika. They share a love-hate relationship and even in all their different versions throughout the show, have a sense of cuteness about them that got them into the list of the most loved couples of Indian television.

5. Raman and Ishita

divan_ruhaanika_lover / Instagram

The show Yeh Hai Mohabbatein brings two people, Raman and Ishita, who are from completely different backgrounds together to show us that love knows no culture or religion. Giving us major couple goals, they are inseparable even through those tiny cute arguments they have. Anyone who sees this duo on screen can tell that they are madly in love.

6. Armaan and Riddhima

dillmillgayye_ / Instagram

The Indian medical drama series, Dill Mil Gaye brought out the romantic in every youth that watched the show. Even though Riddhima’s character was changed more than once, my personal favorite was Shilpa Anand who made the couple look charming and beautiful. Armaan and Riddhima share the kind of intense chemistry that makes falling in love look wonderful but maddeningly beautiful.

7. Arjun and Arohi

IndianExpress

If you’re a fan of love-hate relationships, this duo topped that list with passion and romance. What made them cute and lovable for all of us was that they were together in real life too. The title track of the show Kitani Mohabbat Hai will always remain in our minds because of this couple.

8. Anant and Navya

somya_fan_forever / Instagram

The most desired kind of romance we all love to watch is college romance and no one can beat this adorable pair Anant and Navya in that forte. The show Navya aired in 2011 and portrayed a young college couple who fought against their orthodox family to keep their love alive. The romance in this show was most relatable to all those young love-struck kids out there.

9. Arnav and Khushi

Hailing from different lifestyles, Arnav and Khushi hated each other’s guts but fell in love through it all. Their love story had so many twists and turns that it did justice to the name of the show Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon.

10. Ranveer and Ishani

shakti_my_jaan1 / Instagram

Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi was a popular romantic show that aired on television for more than four years. The show was loved for the on-screen chemistry between Ranveer and Ishani. Their love story was all-consuming and complicated but yet there was a strong bond of love between the two.

11. Samrat and Gunjan

Times Of India

Another show that captured youth love stories was Miley Jab Hum Tum that showed two couples who were all friends. Samrat-Gunjan and Mayank-Nupur were best friends who loved and cared for each other. Samrat and Gunjan were the ideal couple because they always had each other’s backs. They were friends first who fell in love later.

Who said only Bollywood couples can make us feel bad about not finding love? These couples give us major couple goals and give us singles hope that love is waiting for us around the corner and when the time is right, we’ll experience it. Do you agree with our list? Comment below and let us know your favorite television couples.

The following two tabs change content below.

Latest posts by Bency Sebastian (see all)

Bency Sebastian

Writer, dreamer and a moon child. Bency believes that music, words, and little precious moments of life add color to a world that is black and white.

Source: https://www.stylecraze.com/trending/tv-couples-who-inspire-us-to-get-married/

1 note · View note

usviraltrends-blog · 6 years

Photo

New Post has been published on https://usviraltrends.com/songwriter-sues-miley-cyrus-for-copyright-infringement/

Songwriter sues Miley Cyrus for copyright infringement

Entertainer Miley Cyrus arrives at the grand opening of Britney Spears’ two-year residency ‘Britney: Piece of Me’ at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 27, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A Jamaican songwriter is taking Miley Cyrus to court in a $300 million war of words.

Michael May, who performs as Flourgon, claims that the pop artist’s 2013 party anthem “We Can’t Stop” features lyrics that infringe on his own musical work. He filed a copyright complaint in federal court in New York on Tuesday.

The seven offending words: “We run things. Things don’t run we.” They were featured heavily in the chorus of Cyrus’s song.

May claims he created the phrase for use in music in 1988, when he wrote the reggae track “We Run Things.” His lyrics were: “We run things. Things no run we.”

The complaint says that the 2013 song owes its “chart-topping popularity and its highly-lucrative success” to May’s work. Without May’s influence, it adds, “the entire theme of ‘We Can’t Stop’ would be hollow in sound and impact.”

May is asking the court to prevent the song from being sold, distributed or performed. Although court documents do not specify an amount requested in damages, his attorney, Stephen Drummond, told CNNMoney on Wednesday that $300 million “would be a reasonable compensation.”

He is also suing the song’s other writers and producers, Theron and Timothy Thomas and Michael Len Williams II. The Thomas brothers make music as Rock City, while Williams is known under his stage name, Mike Will Made It. Sony Music and its label RCA Records are also named in the suit. May is also suing Larry Rudolph, Cyrus’ manager.

RCA declined to comment Wednesday. Representatives for Cyrus, the Thomas brothers and Williams did not respond.

Cyrus, who found fame as the clean-cut Disney idol Hannah Montana, drastically altered her look when she released “We Can’t Stop.” The song features references to partying and drug use, and Cyrus played up her controversial new image while promoting the song and its album, “Bangerz.”

Related: Miley Cyrus sings her Liam Hemsworth love story

May argues that Cyrus was influenced by Caribbean music as part of this career move, leading her to seek out songwriters familiar with the genre.

According to court documents, the phrase at the center of the case is rooted in the “unique phraseology and linguistic combinations” of Jamaican Patois. The complaint also cites an interview Theron Thomas gave to the music magazine Vibe in 2015, when he said that “we incorporate Caribbean culture because that’s who we are and that’s the base of our creativity.”

Jeff Peretz, an assistant arts professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, said he was skeptical of the case against Cyrus because the phrase was not specific enough.

“I think they’re just throwing a shot in the dark,” he added. “If she’s influenced by this and likes the way it sounds and wants to use any of these tropes in her music, they’re all fair game.”

For example, a judge in 2015 threw out a case against Taylor Swift. She had been a accused of stealing lyrics from a song called “Haters Gone Hate” for her hit “Shake It Off.”

Related: ‘Blurred Lines’ jury orders Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams to pay $7.4 million

But the landscape for music copyright has become complicated in recent years. Peretz pointed to the case made against “Blurred Lines,” the hit song from Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams.

A jury found in 2015 that the song infringed on the copyright of the 1977 Marvin Gaye song “Got To Give It Up.” Thicke and Williams were ordered to pay millions in copyright damages, and Gaye is now credited as a songwriter on the track.

Peretz said the case made it more difficult to separate homage from theft. He added that its outcome could discourage young artists who draw influence for new songs from those who came before them.

“The lines keep getting blurred,” he said. “If you can’t start by emulating your heroes, how do you begin?”

CNNMoney (New York) First published March 14, 2018: 2:33 PM ET

!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function()n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments);if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)(window, document,'script','//connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js');

fbq('init', '731697573629176'); fbq('track', "PageView");

#News

0 notes

djrelentless · 7 years

Text

“2013 REWIND: DJ Relenless Talks Music, Politics, Life And The Future”

December 26, 2013 at 4:29pm

What can I say about the year that gave us "twerking" and the "Gay Lumberjack meetsHillbilly Chic" beard? The year that blatant abuse of power with a side order of racism and homophobia was the order of the day. Where Pop Divas battled for the top of the charts, but were side swiped by a smarter girl from Houston.

Yes, 2013 was a quite a year in news and for me personally.

It seems like every year Reality TV gets more and more out of control. We went from a sassy toddler beauty pageant contestant to a backwoods redneck duck calling family and suddenly became surprised that the monarch of it was homophobic and racist. And not wanting to be outdone….the Kardsahians pulled every trick out of their Prada bags to stay relevant. Too bad that not even marrying Kanye West could keep them afloat on the internet. Kanye had a moment of truth on Jimmy Kimmel when he went on to address the parody of his BBC interview. For just a second, I understood his point of view, but then he just kept on talkin'! His mouth is gonna be his biggest downfall. He has some clever twists of phrases in his lyrics, but his idea of being a super genius is what keeps everyone from taking him seriously. Poor Paris Hilton…..she's no longer the "rotten spoiled whore darling" of media. Instead of releasing that horrible song with Lil' Wayne she should have done a sex tape with him. That would have kept her in the news for at least a month. We were continuously being bombarded with information everyday. How could anyone keep up or pay attention?

Musically, we started out the year doing the "Harlem Shake". This really funky dance featured in many Hip Hop videos got appropriated and transformed into convulsions of the masses. Great beat, but no one I saw online was doing it right. This was kinda the "Year of Appropriation" (folks basically stealing other things from other cultures…..some for music, some to shock and some just to get a laugh). Even my alter-ego, Jade Elektra found herself being appropriated by Circuit DJ/Producers who years ago would never play or admit they liked tracks like "Bitch You Look Fierce" or "Why Are You Gaggin'?", but now are stealing riffs and lyrics to make these outdated tribal tracks for shirtless steroid boys to throw their hands in the air while their drugs kick in. That's so 1998!

The word "twerk" was on everyone's lips after the 2013 MTV Music Video Awardsbecause little Hannah Montana decided that once and for all she was no longer going to be a Disney Princess. So, when Miley Cyrus bent over in front of Canada's Marvin Gaye,Robin Thicke during a mash-up of "We Can't Stop" and "Blurred Lines" the course of Pop Music history was changed forever. Online and in the media, Lady GaGa and Katy Perrywere slated to duke it out for the top of the charts by September. After that moment, no one was even thinking about an "Applause" or a "Roar". But no one could have predictedBeyonce coming around the corner in at the last moment in December with her brilliantly unannounced CD and Visual album. Finally….an artist got it right. Release more than a bunch of songs. Give your fans a complete package and they will go out and buy it in droves.

Rivalries between Chris Brown and Drake or Azealia Banks and Iggy Azalea seem to cool by summer. I think a few people found out that the internet could be a dangerous place for their careers. Bad publicity is still bad publicity. And when you are trying to sell records in this economy…..it would behoove you to sit down and shut the fuck up! I didn't get the apology that I wanted from Eminem, but I did get to hear him say that he is not a role model and that he did a lot of his early 2000's antics for publicity. But like Andrew "Dice" Clay andLisa Lampanelli, you can only go so far shocking people before it turns into hate. On top and everyone's talking about you and then poof…..you're gone. The next obnoxious thing comes along. So, I lifted my ban on him just in time for his well crafted album, "The Mashall Mathers LP 2" (produced by the legendary Rick Ruben).

Idiots like Justin Bieber and Rob Ford really found out how bad publicity travels around the world in a second. These fools spent the year just writing jokes about themselves with every move. And it's sad that the City Government in Toronto has nothing place to remove Fordfrom office after admitting he lied about smoking crack, got caught on video with some shady dealings, possible murder suspect and told a room full of reporters that he has more than enough "pussy" to eat at home. Bieber just really needs a good ass-whippin'. Punk ass bitches like him are always super tough behind bodyguards when he would bust a grape in a fruit fight (to quote Jay Z). God….please make his announcement about retiring TRUE!

It was quite the year for Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. These two have played their hand very well. I just wish that they would give thanks to Ellen DeGeneres for really launching their success by having them on to perform "Same Love" in October of 2012. And speaking of lesbians on daytime television……it has been great to see the void of Oprah filled with two dykes competing for ratings every weekday. Queen Latifah & Ellen seem to be fighting over guests and who's funnier. The only thing is one is completely out and the other dances around the subject.

But we did have some new entries into the game. The LaToya Jackson of the Braxton family, Tamar Braxton really stretched her 15 minutes into 20. Kendrick Lamar shook things up on the Hip Hop scene by just being raw on his lyrics. And thank God that damn "Royals" song by Lorde seems to be dying down! I love when they hype a new artist that they think is the next big thing. She should take a look back at Nora Jones. Praised and revered….now no one knows where she is (taco stand, maybe). At least with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis they had a few years under their belts to find their sound and message. This kid's album sounds like one song. No variations and nothing interesting. I don't wanna hear another teenage girl who sounds like the voice of a baby doll programed with the latest catch phrases…..just tired! But we'll see what happens at the Grammys.

And speaking of the Grammys…..I definitely think it's gonna be a Justin Timberlake year. I think the lawsuit by the Gaye family will hurt Robin Thicke's chances. But Pharrell Williamsshould snatch a couple awards for producing and singing the track "Happy" for "Despicable Me 2". Let's just hope there won't be any awkward performances like Lady GaGa & R. Kelly's "Do What U Want" on SNL or Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" on theAmerican Music Awards even though they both made for good television.

Apparently some other "good television" in 2013 was "Breaking Bad". Who would have thought a show about dealing meth would be one of the highest rated show? Perhaps with the state of the U.S. it's not that surprising at all. From the blatant sabotage of the government by the arrogant and racist Republicans to the dumbing down of TV programing, many didn't have much to turn o except drugs to cope. Medical marijuana has legalized pot in certain areas of the country and many are trying to find doctors who will give them a prescription for any ailment.

And the Reality TV shows just keep on a comin'! My favorite new title coming from the states is "Sex Sent Me To The E.R." (probably because I could have been on this show….but we'll save that story for my book). As a member of the Screen Actors Guild, it saddens me that good actors can't get work today while simple and common people can allow cameras to follow them around and makes millions. And talking with one of my good friends who is an excellent director, I realized that this Reality Crap has effected our actual actors in America. Now perfectly good actors are "acting" like Reality Stars to get work. This is why Australians and Brits are playing Americans better than Americans. It reminds me of when I was applying for a job at Gym Bar in Chelsea, NY back in 2009 and the owner actually asked me to not mix my sets. Mainly because the norm in the bars in Manhattan these days at some gay hangouts is a DJ who cannot mix. That is killing the art of DJ-ing and definitely killing the art of acting!

But never fear….Kevin Hart came up with one of the most brilliant ideas. "The Real Husbands Of Hollywood" has flipped the script. It's a fake reality show with real celebrities. Very funny stuff! I predict that Mr. Hart will take the place of Dave Chapelle in 2014. God knows, he's about to drop several movies at once to start the New Year off. Let's just hope he doesn't implode like Dave did.

The other disturbing trend I watched in 2013 was the Conservative Party of Canada's government borrowing pages from the U.S. Republicans' playbook. Not many realized thatFOX News opened an office in Montreal this year. That means that the Republicans have raised enough money off the puppet shows like "Family Guy", "American Idol" and "The Simpsons" to expand to another country. The very things that the Republicans hate and want to fight to keep down like gay rights, immigration, poor people's dreams, etc…are the very things they sell us on their shows to make money to continue their agenda. Their remarking of voting zones and opposing Obama tooth and nail is part of their plan to take back the White House in 2016. And don't think for a moment that the Obamacare website debacle was not a scheme by the Republicans. It's just too bad that him being the first African-American President has left him in a position where he can't call them out without them saying he's playing the "race card". These days everyone is holding their breath hoping that Hillary Clinton will run in the next election. At this moment and time, she seems to be the only threat to the Republicans. But a lot can change over the next year couple of years. Remember back in 2008 when we all thought she was a shoe-in?

But I guess the most frustrating thing to watch this year was the acts of racism and homophobia. The George Zimmerman Verdict in the murder case of Trayvon Martin really sent a message about America that polarized race relations. It gave us the new and improved "Jim Crow". It raised the question "Have we really evolved at all?" People likePaula Deen and Phil Robertson are great example of the rebranding of "Jim Crow". Celebrities like Julianna Hough dressing in "blackface" for Halloween, Steve Martintweeting a racist jokes, the attacks on Nina Davuluri for being crowned the first Miss America of Indian decent….all tell a different story about "the land of the free." Some tried to apologize while others just "stood their ground" and let their racist thoughts flow like theRiver Jordan. And even though Elisabeth Hasslebeck was finally asked to leave "The View", I think it was a little too late.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/09/16/miss-america-2013-nina-davuluri_n_3933666.html

But I guess the most ridiculous thing I just read about recently is the "National Chick-Phil-A Day" coming up on January 21st, 2014. Supporters of Phil Robertson are planning to converge on all Chick-fil-A restaurants to show their support for him and freedom of speech. Hey…it worked when the company came out against gay rights! But in a strange move the fast food chain has quickly denounced any involvement with the movement. Probably because Robertson is not only a homophobe but also a racist. So, the company has had to pick and choose their hate. Yes…we hate homosexuals, but we love our black customers who eat chicken!

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/12/26/have-you-heard-about-the-national-chick-phil-a-day-to-support-suspended-duck-dynast-star/

http://www.tmz.com/2013/12/25/chick-fil-a-phil-robertson-facebook-group-statement/

But as for me, 2013 taught me a lot about myself and where my life is going. With the help of my husband (John Allan), Todd Klinck, Phillip Fournier and the owners of Crews & Tangos I successfully maintained a monthly fundraiser for one of the charities that is dear to my heart…..Toronto's People With AIDS Foundation. Probably because I have witnessed first hand the good work they do for people living with HIV/AIDS. I don't think that everyone realizes that all it takes is one person to start a movement or to take a stand. I hope that I have inspired a few people to live in their truth. It's the only way to live….for me at least. I've learned that it is never too late to right a wrong (especially when it comes to your family).

2013 also taught me to always stand up for what you believe in (even when it is the unpopular thing to do). Pride week in Toronto showed me how some people only see what they want to see. Supporting your friend when they have done something that is wrong or controversial does not make their actions right. It only makes you look uneducated. Opening a conversation and dialogue about different view points should not turn into a "Twlight" movie with Team This and Team That. If you don't know what it is to be discriminated against or degraded because of who or what you are, then of course you will not have the same view point as of someone who has. Social Media has turn everyone into their own little islands. And our youth suffer the most because they actually believe the hype of entitlement. A few likes or quick comments posted on a page makes them believe that they are that important when there are much bigger issues at hand.

So, even though I have lost a few friends and acquaintances behind standing up against a racist act, I have gained a few a long the way and remain proud that I said something when most didn't see what was wrong in the first place.

It weird thinking back at the movie version of George Orwell's "1984". "Big Brother" was a real threat to our lives (or at least we thought back then). The idea that someone was watching us 24/7 without our control or consent was a scary concept. Now "Big Brother" is a reality show and everyone is clammering to post their most intimate details online. I love seeing photos of people behaving badly, smoking joints and almost naked in their bathrooms. And then they wonder why they can't get a job! It would seem that "Big Brother" has figured out how to watch us with our permission and no one is the wiser.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq-_7F9asjo

For 2014….I pray for clarity. I pray for continued good health. I pray for a common ground where we all can be heard and still respect each other. I don't have to agree with you, but that does not mean we cannot work together to make a better place for all of us.

0 notes

foodselfiesandstuffblog · 7 years

Text

Fader: 9 All-Female DJ Collectives You Need To Know Right Now

Meet the crews from around the globe who are empowering others by keeping the decks diverse.

In the past year, conversations regarding female representation in dance music have been more passionate than ever. It's about time. But importantly, this new wave of discourse is bringing with it a new wave of projects designed to highlight the women behind the decks. One such initiative is international collective female:pressure, who pool together statistics on female artists in electronic music, as well as photos of women in the studio, spotlighting their involvement in the technical side of music-making. Meanwhile, Twitter account Very Male Line Ups calls out all-male line-ups to “help bromoters do better,” and techno don Paula Temple’s Noise Manifesto label gives a platform to gender-balanced projects featuring 50% female and queer artists.

But positive efforts like these don’t come without their detractors. When New York-based “techno feminist” collective Discwoman were profiled in a huge NPR feature last year, the comments below displayed a notably negative reaction towards what they were doing—ranging from “And the NPR feminist rant goes on,” to “Sorry, but clubs don't have a bro problem. If you have a problem with the bros, that's your problem.” And these attitudes are still visible in the industry at large: last week, DJ Justin James went viral when he placed a Facebook ad looking for female DJs with ridiculous requirements, including specific height, weight, and being the owner of a popular Instagram account.

Though it might have been an unusually bold example of discrimination in electronic music, James’ request re-emphasized why all-female projects are so essential. While we’re living in an unequal world, it remains crucial to support voices that may not always feel comfortable with the bro culture of clubs. Speaking to The FADER over email, Paula Temple puts it this way: “Maybe when we reach the point where sidelining, gaslighting, denying, undermining, taking over, reductionism, hostile environments and sexual harassment have disappeared, there would be less of a reason to create all-female projects.” In an industry where there are people who don’t encourage—and in some cases, actively discourage—women to pursue DJing for a living, exclusively female-identifying projects carry massive significance. Below, The FADER highlights and speaks to nine such crews that are supporting and positively impacting women in scenes such as house, techno, and club music.

Discwoman, New York

This techno-focused New York collective has been running since 2014, founded by Frankie Hutchinson, Emma Burgess-Olson (who produces as Umfang), and Christine Tran. “I met Emma at Bossa because she played a techno track I liked and I asked her what it was. Christine I had met previously through her collective Witches,” says Frankie of how they came together. “Centering women allows us to make dope parties whilst being conscious of the reality of the fucking world.“ Following a recent night in Mexico with The Black Madonna, Discwoman has been announced as residents at Chicago’s Smart Bar for this year, as well as having potential plans to take things to the U.K., Chile, Colombia, and India.

Sister, worldwide

Sister is an online collective that takes its form in a series of Soundcloud mixes and also a private Facebook group made for discussing and sharing music between female and non-binary people. The platform was created with “the aim of solidifying a network of women within underground club music.” Producer and DJ Toxe, who is part of Stockholm based label Staycore, founded the group and contributed the first mix in the series. Today, producers such as UNiiQU3, DJ Haram, and KABLAM are all an active part of the community—a safe place for women in club music to hang out and voice concerns that may be met with hostility elsewhere.

TGAF, Paris

TGAF is a French collective comprised of five DJs, whose unusual acronym stands for These Girls Are on Fiyah. Carin Kelly, Malibu, DJ Ouai, Miley Serious, and Oklou became a team at the tail-end of last year, and have a monthly radio show on the station PIIAF where they play an eclectic mixture of house, pop, experimental, and club tracks. Each of their radio shows has a different theme, the first three being Air, Fantasy, and 3 a.m. Playing at nights both separately and together, they’re mostly at parties in Paris but have also been known to venture to Berlin.

Mahoyo, Stockholm

Childhood friends MyNa and Farah make up Swedish fashion, art, and DJ collective Mahoyo. Sharing a love for street culture and hip-hop, their creative venture combines a love of styling, photography, and filmmaking with music. When it comes to their DJing, there are no limits. “Hip-hop and R&B is [a] given, but we also love to mix our sets with dancehall, kwaito, kuduro, trap, and everything that we are inspired by at the moment,” they explain. “Through them we have found a way to express ourselves creatively and also use our creativity to empower the black and POC community.”

Miss Modular, L.A.

Operating from Los Angeles’ Radio Sombra, Miss Modular is a radio show run by host Sasha Ali with graphics and visual identity provided by designer Michelle Cho (who has also provided a guest mix for the series). Their other guests have recently included Nguzunguzu’s MA DJ and Lafawndah. The show is dedicated to “womxn-powered music,” and Ali elaborates on the phrasing over email to The FADER: “I say 'womxn' to be inclusive of music-makers who are femme-identified.” Miss Modular isn’t connected to any particular genre, instead showcasing the wide range of women’s musical abilities—"be it trombonist Melba Liston who arranged music for artists like Billie Holiday, Randy Weston, and Marvin Gaye, producers like Georgia Anne Muldrow or MA DJ of Nguzunguzu, as well as rappers and songwriters like Junglepussy or Selda Bagçan."

Born N Bread, London

With a mixture of wavy, emotional hip-hop and R&B selections and friendly chat between close friends, Born N Bread has been bringing feel-good vibes to the NTS airwaves since late 2015. The south London girls started up their collective last year, which encompasses the radio show, their fashion, art, and photography zine and other individual projects. Read The FADER's interview with the crew here.

Work In Progress, Toronto

Toronto-based DJ and promoter Cindy Li's radio show Work In Progress is solely dedicated to playing productions made by women. Past guests have included 1080p’s D. Tiffany, Volvox, and DJBOYZCLUB. As well as that, Li has started putting on events with her friend Nancy Chen—first bringing Discwoman to Toronto, with plans to do more in the future. Talking of the importance of creative spaces filled with exclusively female talent, Li says: “Who you book is reflected in who comes to your show, so I’m hoping by doing my radio show and throwing parties that fall in line with the ethos of my radio show, it will encourage more female participation in my local music community.”

Apeiron Crew, Copenhan

“Loads of women have the talent and dedication to work to make it, they just need a little push, a team or a role model, and that is something I realized the past two years being a part of Apeiron Crew,“ explains Red Bull Music Academy alumni Courtesy. Two years ago, four best friends from Copenhagen, Najaaraq Vestbirk (Courtesy), Emma Blake, Simone Øster, and Sara Svanholm (Mama Snake) came together to form Apeiron Crew. DJing in Denmark with heady techno selections in tow, the crew also fly in other female DJs to play with them. As well as being residents at the capital’s biggest techno venue Culture Box, members Emma Blake and Courtesy are also producing acidic techno together.

SIREN, London

After being exasperated by yet another male-dominated list of top DJs, nine London-based techno lovers formed SIREN through a Facebook group in October 2015. “SIREN comprises DJs, producers, promoters, music journalists, A&R scouts, radio show producers, and live performers. As we began to address in our first zine, we want to change things across the board,” they tell The FADER. Working incredibly quickly, they’ve put on their first party already, with sets from rising DJs Resom, Lenny Jams, and the collective’s residents playing a lot of fun, energetic techno. With plans to run the night every few months, SIREN have some clear objectives: “At our nights, we ask people to adhere to our slogan: 'no bullshit, just dancing.' We have a zero-tolerance policy on harassment, whether targeted at gender, race, sexual orientation, or ability.”

This article was written by Aurora Mitchell and published on Fader.com

#Discwoman #sister #fader #TGAF #MAHOYO #MISS MODULAR #BORN N BRED #WORK IN PROGRESS #APEIRON CREW #SIREN

0 notes