Introducing Dublin's BARQ, whose double A-side Sassy Mouth / Earthquakes is out now. Lead singer Jess Kav told us about it in her own words.
“Sassy Mouth” has been the most vocal I have been in lyrical content about the social change happening in Ireland and the world right now. Our world currently feels like its experiencing a tumultuous time where healthy debate is not always prioritised. Instead, we end up in black-and-white echo chambers unable to show empathy with ideologies that don’t fit our world view.
To feel anger is natural, which people can sense within our song. In “Sassy Mouth”, I discuss ideas about bodily autonomy, that we make reality, but we also have the power to break and change that reality. It is in our power. In the second verse I list multiple archetypes used to reduce the female identity. I go on to remind us that these are all ways to demean our roles. We are not just a “bossy bitch” or a “siren” or some enigmatic meta-human, we are multi faceted individuals with hopes and dreams for ourselves and for society as a whole. Inherently we all want to live in a place that feels safe and accepting. “Sassy Mouth”, in a way, is an anti-shit-slinging hadouken, intended to remind us all that we can overcome the bullshit and move forward with strength and compassion.
Julie Hawk, front woman of Hawk, has created a beautiful multimedia project called ‘Female Fronted, Drawn Together’. This is very much LOUD WOMEN’s cup of tea! A playlist of inspirational female musicians, past and present, with an illustration to accompany each song. Julie has kindly written a piece exclusively for LOUD WOMEN explaining her work on the project.
I don’t know where I’d be without the musical women who have influenced me. I started Female Fronted, Drawn Together as a project that combines music and illustration in a way that celebrates this; that allows me to share their music and give a little back to say thank you.
There wasn’t really a plan at first in terms of what I would base each drawing on. But I think that’s led to a really organic and personal process of pin-pointing where my feelings lie, because each artist has affected my life in a totally different way. Some of these women I admire for their message or for their musical creativity. Some of them have given me unforgettable live experiences. And some of them I associate with significant memories, whether happy or sad – the right place at the right time.
I don’t think believe that anyone hears the same piece of music in the same way. Each connection that an artist makes with a listener is unique and complex. On top of this, female fronted music is so often lumped together as a single genre in a way that doesn’t acknowledge the diverse voices and talent and ideas that each woman brings to the table. I feel like in many ways, girls grow up to feel competitive to one another, but there’s been an amazing and positive backlash against this in music lately. I’m seeing so many girlbands looking out for each other and starting up amazing collectives together. I wanted Female Fronted Drawn Together to be a little contribution to this movement, and a space through which I could thank each of these women and just share a little love.
Find Julie on Instagram
For all those who support putting women on stage, and turning up the volume
