Femme Power Halloween Hysteria Outright
Oct
03
1.49pm

FEMMEPOWER PRESENTS // The Women Of Halloween Hysteria 2018 – Part 1


One of the best parts about music, and in particular the overall “heavy” scene, is how unique each musician is in the art they make and the message they convey. In a time where equality and inclusion is becoming part of our public conversation, we at Hysteria wanted to do something that could have a positive impact on all members of our community—with a special focus on our fellow rocking ladies.

MORE: HALLOWEEN HYSTERIA: Your Guide To The Best Gig This October // DOWNLOAD AUSTRALIA 2019: Drop First Epic Line-Up With Two Major Farewells

Teaming up with FemmePower, a writing project about empowering and sharing the stories of all kinds of women, we have put together a feature with some of the Women of Halloween Hysteria 2018. These short snippets are just a fraction of what each of these ladies believes can help inspire and empower not just women, but everyone in our community.



This is Jelena from Outright. 

Words are powerful, there’s no doubt about that, but for Jelena the most powerful examples of empowerment are those people who took their ideas and their values, and put them into actions to better the world around them. It’s easy to say that you believe in something and that you want to see change, but when you can say to yourself ‘I’m going to face hundreds of obstacles along the way, but I’m going to persevere because this is important’, you are taking steps to live as positively and deliberately as possible and help drive the outcomes of the world we live in. But not all challenges can be faced alone, and really why would we want to? Building communities that create a sense of safety, value and capabilities doesn’t only benefit the variety of different people in the world, it means we can share the load. “By community building, we share each other’s stories, we connect with them, we empower each, we learn from each other, and then we can create change around us. It’s more about amplifying each other’s voices and encouraging self-determination; I don’t want to speak over or talk for anyone else, each person has their own values and voices and I want to help amplify them!” Organisations like Girls Rock! Australia have already shown us how much can be achieved when you provide a platform for those people who may not feel like they have one. For anyone that’s been apart of Girls Rock!, seeing the kids understanding that they have a place, taking that on board and taking it with them to the bands that they’ll create in the future, is so unbelievably powerful. And this was all started by a bunch of cool people, wanting to do some good shit in the world – just like Jelena. “What’s really important to me is that we enable each other, empower each other’s truths and break down all the barriers that get in the way of safe, healthy and productive lives. That’s the least that we deserve as human beings and that’s the least we can do for each other.” 

By community building, we share each other’s stories, we connect with them, we empower each, we learn from each other, and then we can create change around us

[JELENA]

This is Beth Lucas. 

In life, there’s so many different ups and downs that each individual experiences. While the latter can seem like a never ending battle at the time, Beth’s own life has taught her that it really does get better. Inspired by musicians who weren’t afraid to sing about their feelings, Beth strives to use her music as an outlet for her emotions, and create art that others can relate to. “Most people will experience some form of sadness, depression or anxiety in their life, that’s just the way human emotions are, but there’s nothing wrong with that and we shouldn’t be ashamed to talk about those things.” By opening up a platform that can speak honestly about our feelings, all different kinds of people can feel like they are being heard, that they are not alone and that there is nothing wrong with them. Beth consciously takes steps towards living her most positive life, after all the brain is a muscle that you need to exercise and take steps towards keeping it in the best shape, but sometimes shit just happens. That’s life. Having music that can be there for you during those times—songs that connect with how you’re feeling, what you’re thinking, what these emotions even are—that is the music that Beth thinks is most impactful. When it comes to those songs that really made a difference, it was always the simplicity of them paired with the strength of the message that stood out above the rest. It’s also what she hopes for when writing her songs. “[That’s] all I can hope for; that someone can listen to my songs and know that, it’s alright to feel a bit down sometimes but things will, and do, get better.”

This is Kris Killriot from Kill The Apprentice. 

As a front-woman in a band within the punk/hardcore scene, Kris knows how scary or intimidating it can be for women to break into any industry. But fearless women like Courtney Love, Patti Smith and P J Harvey acted as inspiration to Kris and helped her move past her fears and trepidations; encouraging her to just do it, take the plunge and make a decision that now plays a huge part in her life. Even the WAY in which women in music can affect the audience is something that inspires Kris and the music she creates. “I think people love seeing and hearing a woman on stage singing emotionally; whether it be a ballad style, hardcore, punk, whatever, if it’s got that passion behind it, it’s breathtaking for the audience! I love hearing a strong woman screaming her guts out or playing ballads on an acoustic that brings a tear to your eye.” The way that we as women can connect with so many emotions, and convey them with feeling and passion, is what makes men and women collectively really want to hear what a woman has to say; especially on a stage platform. For young women wanting to pursue a career in music, or any other industry, that shyness or fear could feel like an impassable obstacle; but women like Kris just want everyone to be fearless, let go of that anxiety and realise that your passions and emotions are something to be admired. “Be fearless! It took me ages, I didn’t start singing in a band until my 20s when I know a lot of people start in their teens. I was too scared but then when I finally did it, it was the best thing I’d ever done. Let go of your fears, embrace who you are, we’ve only got a short time on this planet so just do it.”

Let go of your fears, embrace who you are, we’ve only got a short time on this planet so just do it!

[KRIS KILLRIOT]



This is Teigan from Being Jane Lane.

Teigan doesn’t exactly fit into the “girly girl” stereotype, but that doesn’t stop her from loving all that there is about being a woman! After a year that has been filled with dreary uncertainty and doubt, Teigan believes that focusing on women being successful and capable is what we need, to progress towards empowerment and true equality. As a musician, Teigan has seen the dedication to equality in the Entertainment industry; but what about other industries like Science, Engineering and Trades? In her youth, Teigan was interested in those ‘tradie’ jobs (because who doesn’t love being hands on and out in the fresh air!) but she never felt motivated or encouraged to pursue those kinds of jobs. It’s as if women don’t start out with those kind of opportunities, instead seemingly encouraged to pursue secretarial or other ‘pen-pushing’ roles in the workplace. “Being out in the sun, the hard yards and heavy lifting, it’s just assumed that it’s not something that women would want to do. We’re expected to be well dressed and well groomed, so because you can’t go out onto a job site in high heels and with your nails done people assume that [it’s] not something women would be interested in—but that’s not how it is!” Instead Teigan believes we should be embracing and encouraging women to follow whatever path they choose. Whether that’s to settle down, have a family and be that nurturing, empathetic figure that women always have been, or to conquer the world in industries that are deemed “too masculine” for women; every woman’s choice is a good choice as long as that’s what brings them joy. “Just go for it, don’t stop and don’t give up! Step over those boundaries and own it!”

This is Sam from Seraphic.

To Sam, women are a symbol of strength. There’s so much that has been endured by the women of the past, so much that they fought for, and they did it all while maintaining so much dignity and grace. Closer to home, Sam is continuously inspired by the women she grew up with; her family and friends. These women who get by day-to-day, no matter what trials or tribulations they face, they have a strength of character that never loses sight of who they are or what they stand for. Celebrating these qualities of every day women is something that Sam strongly believes will remove the barriers on inequality. “It’s a passion of mine to see more [of that], more women being showcased as tough, resilient, creative and intelligent. Those traits for me have nothing to do with gender, it’s about people being strong and powerful and inspiring in their own right. A lot of the barriers we think we have are actually just perceived. Man or women, adult or child, if there’s something you are passionate about don’t hold yourself back because you think you can’t or shouldn’t do it.” While there are always external obstacles that we can’t control, knowing deep down that these so-called rules, these barriers that people think society has placed upon them, they aren’t real. What is real is the strength and power that is within every individual.

What is real is the strength and power that is within every individual.

[SAM]

Catch these girls and more live at Halloween Hysteria 2018, tickets from Oztix.

Read the original FemmePower project, visit @FemmePowerAU on Instagram or www.femmepower.com.au




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