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Welcome to the fourth round of The Soundcheck's Women In Heavy Music series; an ongoing feature aimed at shining a light on some of the incredible women in the heavy scene.
Each quarter this year we've honed in on some amazing femme artists from around the globe, from women set to make waves in 2024, through to rising stars in the local scene and some Aussie bands who boast some incredible females.
While so many phenomenal musicians continue to kick and smash goals, particularly in the heavy music scene and surrounding genres, there is still a percolating sensation on a mainstream level that heavy music isn't commercially important, and/or that women have to continually prove themselves worthy for a seat at the table via a series of erratic and invisible hoops. As a result, the odds get stacked against people merely wanting to get their voices heard along with a lack of regular and unbiased support. And yet ironically: the heavy scene is where most large-scale and niche events remain constant and thriving.
There is not a lack of artists, only a lack of seeking outside the comfort zone on a corporate and personal level for most. And heavy music is not a novelty or a phase; if it was, I guarantee you there wouldn't be so many artists continuing to make and release music across the board.
Having said that, it's not all doom and gloom here. In fact, today is a full blown celebration of passion and inspiration. Throwing the call out to a heap of female and female-identifying artists within the heavy and surrounding realms, round four in 2024's Women In Heavy Music series is a snapshot of some amazing Australian talent (and a special international act) sharing what they love most about the heavy community and a look into what inspires them musically; plus a final word from yours truly at the bottom.
While this is the final 2024 feature this year, I will absolutely be continuing this series into 2025, and I encourage anyone reading this who may be keen to be involved in future to hit me up here.
But for now, here is Women In Heavy Music : in their own words, featuring: Emmy Mack from RedHook, Moni Lashes from The Babes, Bonnie Fraser from Stand Atlantic, Mish Sharma from Torizon, Marsya from Voice Of Baceprot, Monique Pym from Reliqa, Ellen Chan from Moaning Lisa, Monica Strut from The Last Martyr, Sam Wolstenholme from Seraphic and Aeon Nexus, Natalie Foster from Press Club, and Peni Parker.
PART FOUR: IN THEIR OWN WORDS
It's easy to talk the talk, but when it comes to also walking the walk, few do it better than Emmy Mack. Enigmatic vocalist for Sydney genre-mutants RedHook, a presenter at triple j, journalist and presenter for Music Feeds and inaugural winner of the Australian Women In Music Awards Women In Heavy Music Award in 2023, Mack embodies everything right with women in music: talented as hell, one of the hardest workers on the planet and also someone who, quite often unseen, is relentlessly advocating for the heavy scene and everyone in it.
On the RedHook front, the band most recently unleashed their sophomore album Mutation on November 22, blowing minds and speakers with their ambitious and outrageously infectious second full length cementing what many have known around the traps for years: RedHook are superstars. Synths? Tick. Saxophones? Tick. Breakdowns and horny metal? Tick, tick. And once again RedHook also infuse searing vulnerability into their adrenaline-inducing wares via Mutation, with Mack also fearlessly weaving her own experiences into relatable and invigorating sonic fireworks (plus a #1 spot on the ARIA Australian Albums charts for good measure!).
Over the years, Mack has also consistently been charming the airwaves hosting triple j's Short.Fast.Loud, Summer Nights and Good Nights, toured with The Smashing Pumpkins, performed across the globe, headlined massive shows, repped local and international icons as a journo, guest DJ'd...and that's not even coming close to capturing all of Mack's professional pursuits.
And as if all of that wasn't enough, Mack is also a stalwart supporter not just of all things. heavy music, but women, female-identifying and non-binary artists in the music industry, continually sharing her knowledge, opening her soul through her music, and extending opportunities across the industry to many; myself included.
Here's a peek into Emmy Mack's world:
WHAT ARTIST(S) INSPIRE EMMY THE MOST:
I gotta shout out my brotha Bonnie Fraser for this! And I would 100% say this even if we weren't mates! Not only is she a gun songwriter, a fierce performer, a genius lyricist and just a fearless baddie who inspires me (and countless others!!!) with literally everything she does, she's also just effortlessly authentic AF. That's the mark of a true icon honestly. And to cap it all off, she's also the kindest, sweetest, most down-to-earth doofus in the whole entire world.
Love you 4eva Bondawgs!!!
WHAT EMMY LOVES ABOUT THE HEAVY MUSIC COMMUNITY:
I might be terribly biased in saying this, but I don't think the emotional connection runs quite as deep anywhere else as it does in the heavy music community. For people like us, the music is more than just entertainment, or a mood booster, or a fun soundtrack to other experiences. It is all of those things, of course, but it's also etched into our DNA. For many of us (myself included), this kind of music has literally saved our lives, reaching out a hand in the darkness to articulate our pain and struggles in a way that helps us feel less alone, helps us feel connected to something, and delivers catharsis, comfort, healing and hope. That's powerful. And when multiple people are able to connect with each other based on that shared spiritual experience? That's beautiful.
There's a reason why studies have shown that heavy fans are music's most dedicated and loyal, and that heavy music has a positive impact on our mental health by providing a sense of belonging and acceptance. I feel that to my core. So many of my most precious and enduring friendships have come from heavy music, and for that I am eternally grateful!
Earlier this year I had the honour of being nominated for the Australian Women In Music Awards for the Women In Heavy Music category alongside the wonderful Mikaila Delgado, and the insatiable powerhouse/drum-machine Moni Lashes.
Moni is the drummer for The Babes; a rock'n'roll hurricane who have been described as "the love child of AC/DC, Rose Tattoo and Skid Row", with hints of new Southern rock. Behind the kit is the Adelaide-hailing Moni herself, who first picked up a pair of drum sticks at the tender age of 5. Having toured the globe, The Babes have ticked off performances at home in Australia, as well as in the USA, Japan and were even deployed to Iraq by the Defence Force to entertain the troops, busting out their phenomenal musical chops smack dab in the middle of a war zone.
As if all of the above isn't badass enough, Moni also snagged herself an official World Record back in 2015, becoming the first person to ever play drums non-stop for 24 hours straight without a single break outdoors. This feat was also made even more pivotal with Moni taking on the task to raise funds for her father's medical treatment.
Onstage, Moni is magnetic. Off stage, she is hilarious, warm and someone you instantly want to be friends with (especially for those who enjoy a Simpsons reference or, in my case, a few). Here's Moni sharing some insight into her world:
WHAT ARTIST(S) INSPIRE MONI THE MOST:
Without a pioneer like Suzi Quatro, I don’t think us women in hard and heavy music would have the same chances that we do today, to be front and centre in Rock’n’Roll. A truly pivotal moment for me starting my band, The Babes, was hearing Suzi Quatro's 48 Crash.
WHAT MONI LOVES ABOUT THE HEAVY COMMUNITY:
The thing I love most about the hard and heavy rock scene is that it really is a welcoming environment for the true underdog. This was most evident to me when I set a world record becoming the first human to drum non-stop for 24 hours, in order to raise funds for my Dad’s life-saving medical treatment. During that record event I was blown away by how heavy metal musicians and fans from all over the world came together to support me.
It was so special to see true rockers uniting and for a cause so dear to me, and it just proves that heavy metal and rock is so much more than “just noise”.
One of Sydney's most beloved acts, Stand Atlantic have catapulted into the limelight since the release of their 2018 debut album Skinny Dipping; and they've never looked back. With a career trajectory as explosive as their high octane sonic output, Stand Atlantic have carved out a unique and formidable place in the heavy scene, whether busting out bouncy pop punk, softer rock or face-melting metalcore.
And charismatically leading Stand Atlatntic proceedings is vocalist and guitarist Bonnie Fraser; a magnetic and effortless rock powerhouse, unafraid to channel life's darker moments into searing yet insanely fun creations. And fronting a band who undeniably know all of the rules in order to break them musically, Fraser has also publicly spoken over the years about finding her own place within the LGBTQ+ community, and the importance of the pursuit for change, emerging as a positive and authentic role model on a global scale.
Revealing that she had her first kiss at a Slipknot concert to Kerrang, it's safe to say that Fraser's love affair with heavy music has been raging for a large portion of her life. And most recently, Fraser once again smashed expectations alongside her Stand Atlantic bandmates, releasing their new record WAS HERE, snagging the group #3 on the ARIA Top 50 Albums charts and solidifying their standing as one of the most exciting (and hardest-working) bands in town.
Most recently, Stand Atlantic toured extensively in North America alongside A Day To Remember and August Burns Red. And to start to close out 2024, here's Bonnie's take on the heavy realms:
WHAT ARTIST(S) INSPIRE BONNIE THE MOST:
The heavy music community has been such a big part of my life since I was in early high school. Some of my first ever shows I went to were heavy ones and I loved the culture around it, everyone was kind and just there to let loose. My favourite band growing up was Parkway Drive and I was diving into literally ANYTHING heavy i could find - not even understanding or realising how much the music and the community would shape me as a person and musician.
WHAT BONNIE LOVES ABOUT THE HEAVY MUSIC COMMUNITY:
The heavy community taught me how to release superficial judgements at such an early age in the sense that so many of these tatted up dudes, somewhat ‘scary’ looking (to a 14 year old girl anyway) screaming angry sh*t into a mic were kind-hearted, some vegan, some straight edge especially in the hardcore community and cared about the world we live in. I know that sounds a little weird but as a 14 year old you don’t think much about what's behind people's appearances, so that was really important to me and something I look back on so positively. To see how it's grown so much now with inclusivity since then is so awesome and I love how its transformed on that level. Seeing women be so much more involved in it too is so sick. Heavy music will always have a place in my heart!
PHOTO CREDIT: NEW TEETH CREATIVE
The vocalist for Brisbane/Meanjin hard rockers Torizon and an A&R rep for Good Intent Music, Mish Sharma has never been one to shy away from a blistering riff or evocative hooks, with a penchant as well for alt-pop singer-songwriters thrown in for good measure.
Since the inception of Torizon, the band have snagged global coverage, including features on PROG, Pilerats, and TheMusic.com.au, airplay on triple j and Triple M, and they have also alongside the likes of Circles, Valhalore, The Last Martyr, Fifth Dawn and many more. Having also ticked off appearances at Wallapalooza, AM//PM and Jacaranda Festivals, Torizon's material, fronted by Mish, frequently takes aim at toxicity and trauma with an uplifting twist, fusing empowerment into a melting pot of modern rock and metal.
Most recently, Torizon dropped the powerful single Martyr in 2023, with the band also teasing via their socials that they are well and truly in motion completing recording of a brand new EP. A genuine music lover who can be found supporting her fave bands when she isn't onstage herself, here is what inspires Mish's own heavy music journey:
WHAT ARTIST(S) INSPIRE MISH THE MOST:
This tends to change for me every few years depending on whether I'm listening to music to vibe, find inspiration or looking for catharsis (I realise how dramatic that sounds but it's true haha). Spiritbox have been a big influence for me over the last couple of years. I LOVE Courtney's voice and the textures she uses to deliver performances that give me chills - her vocal agility and songwriting are GOALS. Watching a badass female vocalist feeling herself while dominating metal stages / festivals around the world has been somewhat healing for me. She embodies a balance of pure power and peak femininity which has been really inspiring because you don't always have to be "the tough metal chick", you can be yourself and take up space in a way that feels authentic to you.
WHAT MISH LOVES ABOUT THE HEAVY MUSIC COMMUNITY:
I love that the heavy music community is inclusive and supportive. There is a sense of camaraderie to take care of each other, especially between artists and industry peers, because at the end of the day we all share the same passion. I am stoked to see more all-ages shows and representation for marginalised communities in the heavy scene...it's so good for the next generation of metalheads to see that there is room for everyone from all walks of life.
For our solitary international act in this feature today, I had every intention of keeping this round as an all-Aussie affair. But when an outrageously talented all-female Indonesian metal trio, beloved by Tom Morello and Flea, visit Australia for the first time in 2024, they definitely deserve the bragging rights as being the only overseas act here.
If you're a lover of heavy tunes and haven't yet heard of or witnessed Voice Of Baceprot, rectify your error immediately. With all three band members performing wearing hijab while blasting songs that target empowerment, protest and issues not faced by most Western bands, including religious opposition to making music, Voice Of Baceprot weave menace, chugs, funk-fueled basslnes and dynamic personality into their music; and it's hard not to get swept up in the grit and gusto, especially in a live setting.
Capturing Tom Morello's attention when they released covers of Rage Against the Machine cuts, including Guerilla Radio and Testify, Morello would go on to declare seeing the trio perform as “one of the greatest moments in rock and roll history. Seeing them play, and seeing the authenticity in which they tackled Rage Against The Machine’s songs were really impressive to me. It really is a testament to the unifying power of rock and roll, that gender, religion, national boundaries can’t stand in the way of it."
A ground-breaking band who have evolved from high school students in a remote and conservative village in Indonesia through to performing at Glastonbury, here is what Voice Of Baceprot guitarist and vocalist Marsya had to share about inspiration and her love of the heavy music scene:
WHAT ARTIST(S) INSPIRE MARSYA THE MOST:
The artists who have influenced us the most are System of a Down and Rage Against the Machine. Their unique music and powerful lyrics inspired us to use music as a medium for self-expression and courage in our own creative journey.
WHAT MARSYA LOVES ABOUT THE HEAVY MUSIC COMMUNITY:
What do we love about the heavy music community? It's the warmth and closeness in how they interact with one another. The community teaches us to look beyond appearances, embrace differences, and foster a deep sense of humanity.
PHOTO CREDIT: SHAUN WILLIAMS
Sometimes you meet people in this life and you can tell that they're destined for huge things. First witnessing Reliqa in a support slot at a show at Sydney's Factory Floor, it would be years later when I met Reliqa vocalist Monique Pym during the release of their 2022 EP I Don't Know What I Am; and it's safe to say this woman has star power and then some. But what's even more refreshing is Pym's care and kindness shown in everything she does, acknowledging everyone around her while also creating something truly unique with her Reliqa bandmates.
In 2024, Reliqa inked a deal with Greyscale Records in Australia and Nuclear Blast for the rest of the world, leading to the unveiling of their long-awaited debut album Secrets of the Future. A pastiche of scorching ferocity and crystalline beauty, Reliqa expertly bonded modern metalcore with pop, prog, post-harcore, electronica and rapped elements, proving their own future-proofed craftsmanship with bold yet sharpened delivery.
As of this week, Reliqa will be performing at Good Things Festival, finishing off a truly stacked year of releasing new music and live performances, with the band also recently ticking off supports with Periphery, Dayseeker, Halestorm and BABYMETAL in this year alone. And speaking of Halestorm, the Red Lion, Pennsylvania-hailing hard rockers have certainly played a large role in Pym's creative journey:
WHAT ARTIST(S) INSPIRE MONIQUE THE MOST:
I have to give a shout to my girl Lzzy Hale. Every time I think back on our shows with Halestorm last year, I feel so much warmth and optimism and excitement to be part of this community, because that’s the effect Lzzy has on me. She is the antithesis of “don’t meet your heroes”. Where she would have every right to be jaded or cynical after 20-something years of hard work in this incredibly challenging industry, instead she is patient, spirited and a fiercely dedicated advocate for diversity in music. Working alongside her was everything my 15-year-old self dreamed it would be and I can’t wait to be even more inspired by her when our paths cross again.
WHAT MONIQUE LOVES ABOUT THE HEAVY MUSIC COMMUNITY:
I don’t think any other corner of the music industry gives people the same amount of freedom to express their emotions, their fears and desires, anything like that. Since this community is built around music that is so brutally honest, I feel like it inherently is the safest space for people to realise their authentic selves. I just love the individuality that comes out at heavy shows, from baby emos lining the barricade every night of an all-ages regional tour, to metal dads donning their finest flannos and screaming along to Parkway. It’s an outlet, and that has become more important for people to have than ever before.
PHOTO CREDIT: MIGUEL MERRETT
Hailing from Canberra with a shared mission to make loud noises together, Moaning Lisa are one of the undisputed rulers of modern grunge; gritty with jagged edges but plenty of buoyant moments packed full of heart. Releasing their sophomore album fainter on November 22, Moaning Lisa once again flexed harmonies to die for, relatable lyrics that feel like a warm hug and some sparkling guitarwork, with the latter courtesy of the extremely talented Ellen Chan.
Picking up the guitar as a teenager, learning blues and 80s glam rock in her early years, Chan would ultimately go on to fall into the world of the Pixies, Adalita and Mitski, with her work on fainter recently praised by Beat Magazine, declaring: "guitarist Ellen Chan’s striking riffs ring out like sirens, adding urgency to the self-explanatory getting over you is on my list of things to do (but not on the top). This highlight boasts full-throttle, getaway-car energy"; and spending time with tracks like 4am (where have you been?) and de facto, you certainly get the urge to leap into the car and escape your troubles to a new adventure brimming with hope.
Set to kick off their 'fainter' Album Tour next February and March, Moaning Lisa will bust out their renowned catharsis and dynamic intimacy for Aussie audiences once again, with performances in their wake also spanning Midnight Oil through to Luca Brasi, Hockey Dad and many more. But before she gets back on the road next year, Ellen Chan reveals an important creative inspiration that significantly inspired her musical journey:
WHAT ARTIST(S) INSPIRE ELLEN THE MOST:
The artist that means the most to me growing up was actually a fictional artist from a Japanese anime called Nana. The story centred around a 20 years old woman named Nana Osaki who moves from a small town in Japan to Tokyo in the pursuit of a professional music career with her rock band, Black Stones. The soundtrack to the show was performed in mixed language by a Japanese artist named Anna Tsuchiya so she was also quite important because of that parallel.
I think through her I also realised that enjoying and creating music isn't necessarily contingent on the listener understanding the lyrics. I remember trying to sing the theme song of the show, and asking my sister for feedback on my singing and her being like, "uh....yeah... not bad". (I took the hint and soon gave up pursuing singing!). Seeing how cool Nana was playing the guitar with her bandmates in this sort of dramatised anime sensibility was what made me really want to learn the guitar so I could start my own band and embody that same charm and punk music and fashion aesthetic. I wanted to be exactly like her.
I feel like being in Moaning Lisa has helped me to fulfill that childhood dream more or less!
WHAT ELLEN LOVES ABOUT THE HEAVY MUSIC COMMUNITY:
I've met some of the loveliest people in the live music community bonding over our love for a band that we are seeing or bonding with fans and artists after a show that we've played. Often artists within the community are just big fans of each other as well and that's why being a performing artist is so great because you get to play with other bands you admire.
The other things that I love is of course the DIY ethos and the raw energy live rock music encapsulates. Experiencing that cathartic resolve and frisson in real time with everyone else at a concert is awesome.
The lead vocalist for Melbourne chaotic metal outfit The Last Martyr, Monica Strut also works to boost the scene as a music business coach for emerging bands and musicians. She has also worked as a digital content producer and is also a music journalist, blogger and podcaster, including work for Knotfest Australia and HEAVY Magazine.
Via her tenure fronting The Last Martyr, Strut thrives amongst a unique setting of metalcore, nu-metal and electro-fused dark rock, with the group's latest EP Requiem, released back in October, hailed by Music Feeds as "a potent cocktail of pop-inflected, soul-stirring metal, linked together by a central evolving narrative of apocalypse, destruction and disrespect of Mother Nature". And Requiem is certainly proof that thought-provoking concepts can reach towering heights in the right hands, with the EP a riveting ride from start to finish; and Strut is pulling zero punches in non-stop captivating performances.
Previously touring with a horde of local and international rock heavyweights, including Black Veil Brides, Sunk Loto, Story Of The Year and Hanabie., The Last Martyr also sizzled into #64 on the Australian Artist Album charts with their most recent release; and Strut continues to cut an inspiring pathway professionally, whether battling hackers on the band Facebook page or rounding up female support bands for a show.
WHAT ARTIST(S) INSPIRE MONICA THE MOST:
The artist that means the most to me is Chrissy Amphlett of Divinyls - she carved the path for women in heavy music in Australia! They were around before my time and I'd give anything to experience what the band were like in their heyday, but reading Chrissy's autobiography as a teenager completely changed my life and her authenticity and guts has impacted the Australian industry forever. RIP Queen.
WHAT MONICA LOVES ABOUT THE HEAVY MUSIC COMMUNITY:
The passion and creativity of the heavy music community is unlike any other music communities out there in my opinion. We're used to being outsiders, underdogs, misunderstood and honestly, that's the way we like it to some extent! I love the fact that whenever you spot someone wearing a metal tee out in the wild there's already an unspoken understanding that you're on the same team, especially for women in the heavy music scene. I'm constantly in awe of some of the amazing femme artists we have in our industry right now.
PHOTO CREDIT: UMMAGUMMAMUMMA PHOTOGRAPHY
Sam Wolstenholme certainly keeps herself creatively busy, fronting Brisbane acts Seraphic and Aeon Nexus and writing for Good Call Live amongst many other endeavours. A singer-songwriter with decades of classical training and experience under her belt, Sam made her live band debut in 2013, going on to enamour with her operatic vocals and classical instrumentation that permeates symphonic metallers Seraphic and, more recently, debuting some harsh vocals via her work in Aeon Nexus.
Before finding her true calling in the world of metal, Wolstenholme was training to become an opera singer, but the intricate merging of her creative past and present is what sets her apart in the heavy scene. And while very well known on the local scenes thanks to her work with Seraphic and guest appearances with pirate/beer metal collective Lagerstein, Wolstenholme has also now turned her gaze to a love affair with metalcore that kickstarted listening to Northlane by Alien, with Aeon Nexus offering the chance to step into heavier waters and embrace a more progressive metalcore style.
Ticking off the final Aeon Nexus performance for the year this weekend, Sam's other project Seraphic also recently released a completely acoustic EP, Re-imagined, which also accompanies the news that it marks the beginning of a new chapter for the group heading into 2025. But Wolstenholme is taking it back today to another significant musical influence and celebrating sisterhood:
WHAT ARTIST(S) INSPIRE SAM THE MOST:
I'm probably going to sound like a broken record because I've brought her up in almost every press piece since launching Aeon Nexus, but Spiritbox's Courtney LaPlante is hands down my most significant musical influence. Her impact on my approach to composition, my confidence in my own ability and my creative career decisions in the past three years cannot be overstated. Eternal Blue spoke to me on such a profoundly deep level. That album was a game changer for me, and Courtney's mastery of her dual clean and harsh vocal craft was the inspiration I needed to finally commit to learning how to scream so I could pursue my dream of fronting a metalcore band. Obviously there are so many other examples of amazing female vocalists who crush it with extreme vocal styles, but Courtney's performance on Eternal Blue came to me at the perfect time. Now after an incredibly successful first year of fronting Aeon Nexus and bringing my vision to life, I've never felt so empowered as a performer, and I feel like I'm finally finding my voice. That's thanks in large part to Courtney.
WHAT SAM LOVES ABOUT THE HEAVY MUSIC COMMUNITY:
Heavy music fans have a fervent passion for the bands they love that often far outshines the level of fan investment that is typical in most other genres (Swifties are a notable exception though!). But not only are they passionate about the style of music as a whole, heavy music fans tend to be much more willing to invest in and support their local scene. They'll be the ones who are going to local gigs specifically to watch the bands, rather than treating those gigs as a purely social occasion and the music is just an afterthought. Similarly, I love how the bands themselves go out of their way to support, encourage and lift up other bands. Though the number of women making their mark in our scene continues to increase, we are still heavily outnumbered by all the men, and that can be isolating at times. However, I think because we often have shared experiences of how we've moved through the heavy music world and the challenges that come with that, us ladies are each other's biggest and most vocal cheerleaders. Our sisterhood is growing stronger and I absolutely love that.
Treading the fine line between polished yet DIY, Press Club offer everything you could want from a punk band. Audacious yet affable, authentic and perfectly unbridled, Press Club roared into the final months of 2024 armed with a punchy new track Champagne & Nikes; a resounding reminder of the kinetic and cathartic prowess that beats at the core of the Press Club soul, and largely amplified by the rousing performance of vocalist Natalie Foster, who injects power and gripping emotives into every move the Melbourne quartet make.
Currently on the road supporting Grinspoon's extensive national run, Press Club also added a UK and Euopean tour onto their 2024 bingo card, with their overseas adventures including some sold out headline shows, two sold out support slots with Spanish Love Songs, and festival spots at 2000 Trees, Noisehnhausen festival and Zwarte Cross and Valkhof festivals in The Netherlands.
Now in command of three studio albums, 2018's Late Teens, 2019's Wasted Energy and 2022's Endless Motion, Press Club scooped up a nomination for Best Independent Punk Album or EP at the AIR Awards in 2023, with Foster continuing to showcase her diverse vocal range and electrifying-yet-seemingly-effortless star quality with every new release.
Fans can also catch Press Club this month performing with The Smith Street Band and guests on December 20 at Melbourne's Corner Hotel, and at a special all ages show in Hoppers Crossing on December 14. But in the meantime, here's Natalie Foster's two cents on heavy music:
WHAT ARTIST(S) INSPIRE NATALIE THE MOST:
The artist that means the most to me, Brody Dalle of The Distillers. I love her voice and energy and the band's longevity is inspiring. I've never wanted to be a flash in the pan - I'd like my career in music to have a lasting effect on people and the industry.
WHAT NATALIE LOVES ABOUT THE HEAVY MUSIC COMMUNITY:
I felt welcomed from the start, even though I felt like an imposter. I like the independent, DIY ethos. I like being a role model for young women aspiring to be on stage. I like inspiring people to express themselves in a way that is authentic to themselves.
If you love some rock laced with pop culture inspo, Gadigal/Sydney-based alt-rocker Peni Parker is definitely going to be up your alley. Originally hailing from Yuin country (Shoalhaven), Parker packs an explosive punch via her unique take on punk rock, alongside inspirations spanning comics and much, much more.
On the live front, Parker has opened for Enter Shikari, Against The Current, Scene Queen, Hot Milk, WAAX, Ocean Grove and many more, and her passion for all things heavy and anime recently collided with her new single set my world alight (arise). Exclusively premiered by crunchyroll, set my world alight (arise) heightens Parker's powerful exploration of themes including mental health, politics and fighting against bigotry, with the anime Solo Leveling also inspiring her newest release, mirroring the journey and tenacity of its character Sung Jinwoo.
Drawing inspiration from My Chemical Romance, ONE OK ROCK, Xdinary Heroes and LiSA, Parker slices like a knife with her sharp aesthetic and sonic concoctions, and after a busy year sharing her music across the country, Parker took a moment to share her own inspirations in the industry, and what she loves most about the heavy community:
WHAT ARTIST(S) INSPIRE PENI THE MOST:
Hmm.. guess this is kind of vague but it’s all the women and nb humans in rock who came before. They broke through the norms and faced endless bigotry to leave the door open for all of us.. Now that is rock.
From Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Joan Jett, Sinead O’Connor, Poly Styrene, Blondie, Bikini kill to Avril Lavigne, Pretty Reckless, and LiSA - each of these incredible women in rock inspires me in different ways, and I will always be thankful for their music and hard work in breaking barriers, and shaping the industry.
WHAT PENI LOVES ABOUT THE HEAVY MUSIC COMMUNITY:
I love the self-expression — screaming your favorite songs while wearing an outfit your younger self could only dream of. Which is why we need more diversity in the scene: more music, more stories, and more humans serving weird, wonderful, and c*nty looks.
I'm closing out today's feature with a final word from myself, largely because I rarely inject my own voice on The Soundcheck outside of the occasional feature; and after a difficult but still beautiful 2024, I want to give a significant nod to the heavy music scene which has keep me afloat. A huge shout out first and foremost to all the ladies who spared their time to be involved today, as well as all the ones who are routinely blazing their own trails, breaking barriers and inspiring the present and future faces of the heavy scene.
Heavy music isn't just about anger and noise. Sometimes it is, and that's a hell of a fun time. But the point is missed so frequently by non-heavy appreciators about the nuance, connectivity, sheer-blown talent and diversity throughout the heavy realms. Earlier this year, APRA finally introduced a new category at their APRA Music Awards, recognising homegrown heavy releases and songwriters. Awesome? Yes. However, the APRA Music Awards were established in 1982, and while plenty of rock and metal artists have taken home some awards over the past few decades, it's taken until 2024 for the industry to finally acknowledge a standalone category for these significantly important genres; not to mention ones that are commercially and culturally making waves time and time again.
Everyone loves an underdog, but there's only so long we can keep viewing heavy and surrounding genres as the novelty uncle who shows up to make Christmas more fun, but who we never take completely seriously. We currently have one ARIA category dedicated to hard rock and heavy metal, often with 5 x slots up for grabs. Again - great we even have that. But when you break down the breakdowns and how exceedingly vast the scene is, we're shoe-horning a kaleidoscope of styles and talent into a very small pool with very few crumbs. And within that pool, we also throw in the fact that many women are still fighting the imbalance of existing in a traditionally male-dominated stratosphere on top of the surface level hurdles. In the current landscape with acts battling streaming, low royalties and a saturation of the same artists time and time again in the spotlight, these things matter. People aren't necessarily in it to win it at all times, but the small window for a band to even get their music heard is lined with financial burden, ever-changing algorithms and the normalisation of things for artists beyond what the music industry is actually all about: the creation of music.
Outside of the local industry accolades, we need only to look at some of the discourse being spouted by some high-profile (mainly) international mainstream media or industry figures who routinely declare that "Rock Is Dead" and lament the perceived lack of fresh talent. But if these mainstream journalists peeped beyond the shifting of radio and physical sales (as well as beyond their own ongoing lack of support for these genres or opportunities for new bands), they would uncover what every metalhead, indie kid and/or alternative aficianado already knows: we're still here. We never left.
For myself, what I love the most about the heavy music community is the resounding camaraderie. Our seemingly niche passions don't feel so niche when we're standing in a crowded and sweaty room, communing with chaos. I also love the fact that I continue to meet so many women in this scene, on and off the stage, or in the mosh. We don't have to wear head to toe black to fit in anymore (although I still do a lot of the time because - sweaty). It's becoming less frequent that we have to brace ourselves for the dreaded "name 3 bands" or "whose girlfriend are you" inane chats. It doesn't matter what you look like. It doesn't matter if it's your first heavy show or your 500th. We don't have to grin and bear it against the gatekeepers, elitists and/or any of the haters salivating to see us fail. And within that, we can celebrate and foster each other's wins, even when those wins are few and far between, because we know that every step forward is a win for all of us.
Thank you to my featured ladies today and every single soul out there creating and releasing music.
And here's to more magical musical mayhem in 2025.
Catch up on The Soundcheck's 2024 Women In Heavy Music Quarterly Feature Below.
And keep your eyes out for even more femme heavy features to come in 2025!
BY TIANA SPETER