The Hilarious, Tell it Like it is, Harmonium Playing, Epic Shilpa Ray (& her happy hookers)

[the_future_modernes]

Myspace


Shilpa Ray

Shilpa Ray Filthy and Free

Emmy The Great introduces Shilpa Ray and her Happy Hookers

Watching Shilpa Ray live is a difficult experience to describe. Spin calls it the equivalent of your first punch in the face. Time Out New York calls her the 'Best Lead Singer who Doubles as an Air Raid Siren'. I only saw her for ten minutes, four years ago, but I haven't forgotten a second. Maybe that's the best indictment I can give of her talent.

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Now she's back in solo mode, having formed and disbanded her own acclaimed garage-blues act, Beat the Devil. Beat the Devil were awesome, but Shilpa Ray and her Happy Hookers is even more so. There's a ten inch due out soon, but for now you can make do with the music on her myspace page (myspace.com/shilparay), and sporadic youtube footage that shows her in her element, beating the crap out of some song against the body of a giant squeezebox.
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When did you first start writing songs on the harmonium, and what was it about the medium that attracted you?

I've played the harmonium since I was 6. My sister and I had to take voice lessons in classical indian music and that was one of the instrument you had to play for accompaniment. I first started writing songs on the harmonium at 22. At first I play it by default, now it's become my sidekick. Most people have these wild expectations as to what a harmonium is supposed to sound like. All it's really supposed to do is create drones so you can layer other sounds against it. Like gesso on a canvas. Not every instrument has to be a lead instrument.

Do you find songwriting a solitary process or do you need to be around people to gather inspiration?

Solitary

You work in a big department store in Manhattan, which you write rather scathingly (and amusingly) about in your blog. Has this or any other job informed your music in any way?

I've been working in retail since my late teens. I'm now in my late 20's. Being a shopgirl is my trade and a huge part of who I am. It's greatly influenced how I see and deal with people. I remember this girl from Germany coming up to me after a show really confused, and saying, "your music, it so working class." My reaction? Thank God!
Yes, darlings. She REALLY is that awesome!

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The sexualization of women in metal

[the_future_modernes]

Stylus: Women in Metal

aryn Crisis darted around a low-rise platform with her signature look: a dress, combat boots, fishnets, and boxer shorts, her multi-colored dreadlocks hanging over her delicate, elfin face. As Karyn threw squeals, screams, and growls in front of her band Crisis, she noticed one plump male audience member in a baseball cap shadowing her every move. The height of the stage in that cramped Connecticut venue put the man at eye level with Karyn’s genitals, which he took as his cue to reach out. Karyn spurned his advances by ignoring him. In retaliation, the man threw some beer at her, and when it landed on Karyn’s upper thigh, she decided to take action. Arching her shoulder back and tightening her fist, she swung her mic chord around like a whip to hit the crotch-grabber dead in the face with her microphone. After the show Karyn found out that she had broken his nose.

When Karyn smashed that man’s face at the El ’n’ Gee it was 1996 and she was the “only female on any tour, any show, anywhere,” in the metal world. This has changed over the last decade. One year ago this month, Karyn appeared inRevolver magazine as part of the cover story titled “The 13 Sexiest Chicks in Metal.” Karyn and the others completed a series of “totally naughty interviews,” answering questions such as “Who’s the sexiest man in metal?” and “Is playing live a sexual turn-on?” The responses ran next to pictures of these “molten maidens,” which varied in degree of sexual appeal. Implicit sensuality came from Karyn, her lengthy red, blond, and black dreads lying limply against the round of her hips and emphasizing her slender 5'1" frame. Wearing a sleeveless shirt with a shield-shaped print, she raised her bloody arms overhead to wield a large knife.MORE

I just find it really irritating that I can find way more lists of the sexiest women in metal and other parts of rock than I can of the most talented women in rock.

Emily Haines of Metric, Broken Social Scene and Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton

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One of my favourite bands, Canadian band Metric is fronted by synthesizer-using, keyboarding contralto vocalist Emily Haines. Their music is classed as indie rock and New Wave, according to the all-knowing Wikipedia. They have won at least 2 Juno's (Canadian Music Award) for their work so far, and have shown up on soundtracks to movies like Scott Pilgrim:

Metric: Black Sheep

and Twilight:

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Bif Naked: Canadian singer, actress, label owner, motivational speaker...and the list goes on.

[the_future_modernes]

Bif Naked - "I Love Myself Today" Her Royal Majesty's Records (Thats her label)

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