Rising star presents special Kerrang! shows ahead of International Women’s Day talking to female rockers about sexist stereotypes
Is breakfast too early to headbang?
Rising star Sophie, who also presents on Radio 1, hosts a week of special Kerrang! shows ahead of International Women’s Day on Sunday March 8, talking to female rockers who challenge stereotypes about the scene.
“I struggled with the sexualisation of women in rock growing up,” Sophie tells i. “The fashion of fishnet tights and leather came from a very old school male perspective.”
“I had to find my own identity and now women in metal are owning their own sexuality. It can be thigh-high boots or baggy, unisex clothes.”
Did Sophie experience racism as a woman of colour in rock?
The presenter is from Ugandan, British and Polish heritage and used to scan festival crowds for any BAME girls to bond with.
“It was a rarity to see black metal fans. If you can’t see it, you can’t be it. But the number of black women in metal is growing massively,” she says.
“As a broadcaster, you can be whatever you want to be in the rock scene as long as you know the music.”
Who’s flying the flag for International Women’s Day?
“I talk to Skin from Skunk Anansie (and latterly The Masked Singer) about being the queer leader of hard rock band in the 90s, she’s an absolute idol.”
“And The Nova Twins (“females of colour playing heavy music” described as “seismically distorted”) are carving a new path today.”
“We’ll also have a female single of the week, plus a female album of the week.”
It promises to be heaven for headbangers of any gender.
