Ms. Hendrix
There are very few niches left in popular music that would be considered original. I might, for example, mix hip-hop with 80’s hair metal and ska if i wanted to try something new…but it most likely wouldn’t do so well. (I might argue that mixing ska with anything would produce questionable results…) But one niche that has not been explored at all, and one that i think needs to be, is the “girl with the electric guitar.” Think about it, there are NO women out there right now playing electric guitar. OK OK, i know about all those women rock bands etc, Le Tigre blah blah. But there is no full out blues rock goddess that makes all guys with guitars go “wow, she is BETTER than me.” And i think there needs to be. The cultural resistance that exists to women playing electric guitars is just what is needed to make it that much more groundbreaking. Think about it, there are tons of women out there in Pop music, obviously, but they all either only sing, play piano, or play acoustic guitar. (majority anyway) There are a few that break the mold and maybe play drums (White Stripes) but can you name one woman that takes a guitar solo? Why is this? I would say one reason is the cultural norms that are perpetuated by parental upbringing. Think about it, parents usually get upset even if there son wants to switch to the electric guitar. It’s louder, sexier, and more rebellious. But if your daughter all of a sudden is learning to play “Foxy Lady” on her new Fender Strat they are going to be even more surprised than if she wanted to pick up Rugby. I think that most parents would steer their daughters in the direction of the safer and tamer piano. Women also have to combat the scary and confusing world of the electric guitar industry (not to mention the music industry…). First you have the guitar store, which is usually completely employed by men selling gadgets like “Stomp Box” or “Tube Screamer”… not exactly the names you might find written on the walls of a typical 16 year old girl. Not to mention the guitar magazine, which, on a good day might mention a women, let alone have a picture of a girl with a guitar. (Unless of course they are in a swimsuit modeling it..) So no wonder there are no women rockers! There are no role models for one, but this is arguably the perfect set of circumstances for a star in the making. The originality bit alone should be enough to catch people’s eye. All it would take would be one woman that would have the guts to do it. It would be almost impossible to break in, considering how difficult it is to get into the music business anyway, but if the talent was there it would happen. This is just my hope anyway. I don’t see it happening anytime soon, but when it does i bet it will be amazing.
-alex
Music Recs-
Rachel Yamagata “Letter Read” (song) “Worn Me Down” (song)
Jem “Flying High” and “24” (songs)
Camera Obscura “Keep it Clean” (song)
