Artists have often been the underdogs of society, and women artists have traveled a particularly rough road. In an industry dominated by men, female musicians in the United States have moved towards the forefront over the last several years, sparking a veritable explosion of talent. This past year, American artists Jewel, Alanis Morissette and Lauryn Hill put women's voices and viewpoints into the eye of the general public and should bring home their fair share of Grammies this month. In France, less mainstream artists like Clarika, Juliette and groups like Dolly, Les Elles, and the Castafiore Bazooka are following in the footsteps of their anglophone singer-songwriter sisters. So what is the status of the female musical artist at the close of this millennium? French Trip Hop artist Louise Vertigo's recent solo album titled "Femme Fin de Siècle"signified her reconciliation with femininity. Vertigo states, "I think that France is a very conservative country. As a woman it is much easier to do variétés." Paris-based American singer-songwriter Nikki Matheson notes more gender differences in the French music industry. She adds, "Being a woman makes a difference because France is a very visual country and you can be told by a record company that you're not pretty enough to sing." About differing points of view concerning song writing, Matheson states, "Women tend to write more directly about certain issues. It's always been like that since the woman troubadours. Someone like Suzanne Vega can vocally understate something very difficult like 'My name is Luka,' about a battered child in a way that's just a little bit more acceptable to people. Women seem to be able to address these problems but to get them across in a more hopeful way. They are also starting to write for male artists." Two of the women performing in the Les Femmes S'en Mêlent festival see their role in music from a more personal point of view. New York-based actress/singer/songwriter Eszter Balint declares, "My record is not a woman's record because of the label; it's just a woman's record because I'm a woman. It's a really personal record." Today's female artist seems to know exactly what she wants. Singer/songwriter/producer and Icelandic compatriot of Björk, Magga Stina, says the secret lies in believing in herself. Stina states, "I have a very strong policy in my way of presenting myself. I could never follow anything. It's gonna have to be me or not me. It has to be my way, take it or leave it." That might sound a bit brash, but Stina also gives generously of herself to her audiences. She concludes, "I look at every concert as an operation. You just have to dig in, like surgery. I open my heart and you can dig in." |
