Article by Jim Chapin
Photography by Michael Mullenix
It was a meeting of generations. Shirley Manson, who gained notice in the 90’s fronting the alt-rock stalwarts Garbage, and Lauren Mayberry, vocalist for indie synth-pop band CHVRCHES. The pairing for the SXSW Keynote may at first seem a bit random, but actually, the two know each other, having met through mutual friends in a Los Angeles pub some two to three years ago.
But there are other connections more important to the SXSW conversation. Both are Scottish. Both are singers who front all-male rock bands. Both are the face of their respective groups. And both share similar stories of the difficulties in working in a music industry dominated by men.
In a frank and candid SXSW keynote, moderated by editor-in-chief for Pitchfork Puja Patel, the two swapped tales of their early struggles and confronted the #MeToo movement in the music business. They discussed the changing face of music representation and social media’s impact on controlling one’s story. A major theme that both women kept returning to was how to maintain feminine integrity in such a male-dominated industry.
To strong audience applause, Manson summed up her feelings. “I think it’s important for women to dream and create, and believe in themselves as artists. Your agency is not how you look…. That is a lie. Your agency is your mind!”
Mayberry discussed the changing dynamic and perception of the band as she moved from backup vocalist to frontperson. She discussed the uncomfortable conversations she had with her bandmates asking for an equal cut of the profits as her role in the band took on a greater focus. Thankfully, the band readily agreed, but the fact that it was an issue she felt she had to fight for underlies the gender powerplay that exists.
The discussion soon shifted to the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements and the delay in hitting the music industry. Both agreed that things are changing as more women tell their stories. Recent accusations against, Ryan Adams specifically – which he has denied – were touched upon. As allegations against well-known musicians surface, both women stated that they had a problem separating the art from the artist, feeling that the work is fundamentally linked.
Manson was very direct: “A lot of people just don’t draw that line, and that’s for them to live with,” she said. “If you don’t care about that sort of thing, you can listen to all the R Kelly you want, and you can have a miserable, shitty life.”