In terms of gender equality in the music industry, we’ve still got a long way to go. More and more festivals, media, and concert halls report and write about it. It’s a hot topic but change comes slowly. Behind the scenes there are still only few women* who fulfil leadership and other positions.
On 7 and 8 March, female programmers and artists will take over Brussels’ prominent venues Ancienne Belgique, Beursschouwburg, C12, FFORMATT, LaVallée and VK.
Nine bookers gather their forces to present a weekend with female line-ups only, bringing together different genres, venues and organisations.
- Intersections, as in the circuit between six venues.
- Intersections, as in the intersectionality feminism needs so bad.
- Intersections, as in the mix between music genres.
- Intersections, as in the connection between female programmers.
To reinforce this message, we assigned Laisse Les Filles Tranquilles to take a closer look at the music industry. Together we launch the campaign ‘Create An Inclusive Industry’.
**anyone who identifies herself as a woman
"In a world where everything is focused on the individual, a music industry in which competition takes the upper hand, it is so inspiring to find like-minded programmers and be part of a collaboration in which passion, enthusiasm and supporting female artists/curators are central" Astrid De Sterck - music promotor at AB
“Music is an experience. So for me it's important if we can support each other in this. It shouldn't matter if artists are female, locals, friends or artists from around the world, as long as they make cool stuff and can contribute to that experience.” Maïsha Amany - music promotor at AB
“All we did is basically gather our forces to create something bigger together, rather than on our own. The industry is too hard not to work like this.” Souria Cheurfi - founder of Psst Mlle and editor-in-chief at VICE Belgium
"When we challenge the imposed belief that womxn must be competitive with one another -by doing the complete opposite-, one can start to hear the backbone of a rotten system teeter. For me personally, it almost feels like an act of rave-ellion." Noemi Cano - founder at Missfitte
"Womxn and their energy keep surprising me; even though we are constantly pushed down and learned to feel inferior, our creativity always finds a way to bubble up and express itself. We do this through alternative and atypical ways in a society that is so result-driven and competitive. This collaboration between venues, promoters, artists and genres is the perfect example of that, and I’m very happy to be able to be part of a mouvement showing that alternatives are still possible!" Rrita Jashari - DJ and music promotor at VK
“The system wants us to be individuals easy to manipulate, well then we build collectives impossible to corrupt!” Diana Barreto - DJ and co-founder of Tropical DJipsies and Festa Afrotuga, co-organiser of Rebel Up and Giraffes & Penguins
“I’m thrilled to see so many womxn are part of the music industry as musicians, DJ’s, organisers, promoters, technicians, communicators... I hope many more will follow.” Gilke Vanuytsel - music promotor at Beursschouwburg
“Intersections is not just group of womxn active in music getting together and showing that ‘we can’, it’s also a way to foster collaboration between cultural institutions and independent female-lead initiatives.” Sara Dziri - DJ, music producer, co-founder at Not Your Techno and founder of Souk Sessions
“As womxn, let’s stick together and do the thing that sits on our ribs. Let’s collaborate and do the thing that writes happiness in our bones. Let's move on with our dreams and passion for music and art in general” Yasmine Dammak - co-fondatrice de Not Your Techno
“As a selector, I try to highlight the roles that womxn play and have played in historically white cis-male dominated environnements such as the punk, post punk and industrial scenes, where they often ended up invisibilized or considerated as less important.” Marouchka Payen – DJ
