thejulieruin:

The first time I was in a recording studio was in 1989 when my band Viva Knievel recorded 4 songs in Minneapolis while we were on tour. It was almost the 90’ s, and,  being ahead of the curve, we were all freaked out about being documented, plus digital cameras didn’t exist, so I would’ve never thought to photograph the recording process back then.

Why would you? There was no Facebook or Tumblr or band websites back then. Maybe you’d want to document being in the studio for personal reasons, so you could remember, but it seemed like such a pain to me. Buying the film, bringing the camera into the studio, dealing with grouchy hungover bandmates who didn’t feel like having their pictures taken.

Also I was 19 and totally freaked out about being in the studio. It was horrifying when the engineer would solo my voice and force everyone to listen to me shrieking acapella. It’s still hillarious to me remembering that in the 90’s I routinely demanded to not have anyone put reverb or “any other shit” on my voice because I felt it was the equivalent of airbrushing and I wanted to sound like a real girl, not a girl dipped in honey. It’s funny because I was so nervous back then about what people would think of my lyrics and how weird my voice sounded that I can’t believe I refused any attempt at making myself sound more appealing. I just had to let it be painful.

So on Saturday I was walking to the studio to record with my new band, after not having recorded for like 6 years and I was thinking of everything that’s changed. I use reverb now. I’m not as obsessed with “realness” anymore and I am way more excited about recording than I am nervous. I was walking to the studio on cloud nine actually. I wasn’t worried about not sounding good or impressing everyone with my vocals. I was more excited to do my best to inspire the band while they were recording their parts, and just really happy about our songs.

I was also thinking about this thing my Mom told me once about how everyone thinks you are staring at their pimple when really they are worried about their own pimple AKA we are all insecure and once you realize that it, is so much easier to stop caring and just move on, into the moment.

So I brought my camera to the session and didn’t really know what to do with it. I didn’t wanna kill the vibe by taking pictures of Kenny and Carmine and Sara and Kathi while they were playing so I took some self portraits of me fake singing and waiting around, which is a lot of what happens in the studio.

Nowadays everyone in bands records everything. Here we are eating sandwiches, putting new strings on our guitars, holding a koala up in Sydney. I’ve written tour diaries and posted snapshots myself  a zillion times now but still it’s hard for me to get used to.

I think I’m gonna try and take more pictures though and stop being so weird about it. I am so excited about our record and I know someday I’ll be happy if I took a couple pictures of the whole thing. Who knows I may even put some of them on Tumblr!!!

Kathleen

konekotablets:

“Herstory Repeats:” Kathleen Hanna
Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA
March 30, 2011

I love you for posting this!

tulletulle:

Yoko Ono hung up in Kathleen Hanna’s pink office. (Elizabeth takes the best iPhone pictures.)

Grrrl Sounds: The Kathleen Hanna Project

I’m so excited about this film project ‘The Kathleen Hanna Project aka Who Told you Christmas wasn’t Cool?” and glad it’s being made by someone [Sini Anderson] with her own story of combining feminist art, activism and the contradictions of public attention.

fuckyeahkathleenhanna:

And that’s what the revolution is a lot about, fighting those things that keep us divided, and listening to each other and not saying “this is what feminism is” or “this is what a girl band is” or this is what this is”. But just opening up a discourse for women and saying that it’s really important that we’re girls and it’s really important that we’re doing things and we’re claiming that what we’re doing is important.

MoMA | Riot on the Page: Thirty Years of Zines by Women

Made by a wide variety of artists beginning in the 1970s, zines—short for magazines—are low-budget, mass-produced publications. Women were at the forefront of the zine movement, using them as artistic and, often, political platforms. In many ways zines fall within the tradition, dating back to the French revolution, of political pamphlets: inexpensive, mass-produced publications about current issues and events. In addition to visual artists, musicians, writers, fashion designers, and filmmakers have all been active in the zine movement, which in recent years has moved online.

I’m having momentary total emo about riot grrrl finally being recognized as an art movement. Not like “us girls” necessarily looked out for validation from art heirarchies anyway but, you know, emotional moment.

Reblog if you think Kathleen Hanna and zinsters are the art awesomness!

Le Tigre : On Tour

“Le Tigre: On Tour” is a concert film shot by Carmine Covelli and directed by Kerthy Fix. It  follows our band across 4 continents and 10 countries and  provides an unusual peek into our lives as touring musicians. The film edits together 20 shows from our  2004-2005 world tour along with backstage footage and interviews. The movie highlights our motivations and the many ways we attempted to use humor when confronted with the inherent sexism and homophobia of the rock world.

It is 70 minutes long.

Internship Opportunity « Kathleen’s blog

Punk Feminist Band Le Tigre is looking for a summer intern. The internship takes place in NYC from June- August and hours are flexible. Tasks include, internet research, web maintenance and odd jobs related to our upcoming DVD release. Our dream applicant would be self motivated, organized, good at social networking and have their own computer. This is an unpaid internship but we will be happy to fill out school paperwork if you are a student. Must be able to put in 10-15 hours per week.  Please send letter of interest and/or resume to: letigreinternship@gmail.com

Julie Ruin T-Shirt Design Contest « Kathleen’s blog

Every band I’ve been in has a t shirt, except poor Julie Ruin. So I thought it would be fun to have a T- Shirt Design Contest (thanks to lesley arfin for the idea). So here’s the deal, design a tee shirt and send it to me tshirtcontest@kathleenhanna.com and if you win you will get a hundred bux and a super special cd mix made by me.

!! I bet a few of you also have thought a zillion times what great t-shirt slogans those Julie Ruin lyrics are. Gonna enter?

FEMinist pirates « Kathleen’s blog

Women on The Waves is hands down the most successful blend of art and activism I have ever witnessed and finally someone is making a movie about them….I could write a blurb about it but it won’t be as inspiring as the trailer for the film is. Seriously check this shit out, it is beyond amazing

http://www.vesselthefilm.com/Vessel/Preamble.html

It really is. I’m reblogging now in a lingering Blog for Choice Day mood, but the idea is genius, from the film statement;

There is a ship that sails through loopholes in international law, providing abortions at sea to women with no other safe option.

These Dutch feminists Women On Waves have been doing this since, I think 99, and they don’t do anything illegal but they draw a whole lot of attention to reproductive rights while actually helping the women they meet.

noteasybeingred:

Kathleen Hanna has donated her zines, writing, and letters to the NYU library. The Kathleen Hanna Papers will become part of a newly announced Riot Grrrrl Collection. via

*books trip to nyc*

I’m so glad her work’s being archived. I feel like by operating in punk and young womens mediums, she’s been even more misinterpreted than is usual for feminist artists…although maybe she will get her Yoko kudos with time.

bloodythumbs:

seaponies:

sexismandthecity:

The world

via www.grassrootsfeminism.net

dude, i totally made the cutest cardboard valentine for the cutest vegan boy i was so in like with.. like 4 years ago. on the valentine i included typewritten lyrics from this song <3333333

Cold coconut ice-cream!

p.s. I couldn’t find the original at grassrootsfeminism to credit the artist, the style looks familiar though. Anyone know?