q&a: jennifer kingwell (the jane austen argument)
What’s a girl (or several) to do when there are so many wonderful front women in the world? Why, get them together for a night of solo performances, of course!
Lip had a chat to Jennifer Kingwell of The Jane Austen Argument about Ladies Singles (an event comprising an impressive line-up of five solo women musicians happening in Melbourne on Thursday), and women in the music industry.
Describe your sound in five words or less.
Lush, piano-based cynical melancholia.
Was there a particular moment or artist that made you want to pursue music when you were growing up? Who were your early influences?
There’s been a few – but one very clear moment in particular, in which I decided to play music the rest of my life, was the first time I heard someone perform Rachmaninov’s Prelude in D. I was completely transfixed. It’s still one of my favourite pieces, to play and to listen to.
Who do you most admire?
People whose actions speak for their beliefs.
Do you think it’s important for female artists/musicians to support one another?
I think it’s absolutely necessary, yeah. That’s partly why Xen Pow (from A Lonely Crowd) and I decided to put together Ladies Singles, other than just wanting to play an awesome show.
What can we expect from your set at Ladies Singles?
Some old tunes, some new tunes, and a pretty radical departure from form in the shape of a shiny new RC-30 loop station and what I can create with that, a keyboard, ukulele and vocals. I’m pretty excited, but also kinda terrified – it could quite easily all go so very terribly wrong. Equally, it could be amazing. We’ll see…
Do you prefer playing solo or with a band? Does your own style of performing change based on whether you’re on your own or with others on stage?
There are things I love about both, I don’t know that I’d say I prefer one over the other. With my band, The Jane Austen Argument, there’s something about the way that Tom (my bandmate and co-writer) and I interact onstage that gives every show a quite intense energy. I think what’s interesting about playing solo shows is that I have the freedom – and the responsibility – to try and create a different type of energy, at that same level of intensity.
A song I wish I wrote/played is…
There are so many! Right now, it’s Kim Boekbinder’s ‘Open/Avocado’. And everything on Grimes’ latest LP, ‘Visions’.
I couldn’t live without…
A toothbrush. And my record player.
The best advice I ever received was…
Never to give away your power.
Do you think the music industry treats female musicians differently to male musicians? Do you think it’s more difficult for women to establish themselves?
I think that women musicians are put under a lot more pressure to either conform to a pop princess stereotype, or be placed in the ‘quirky, crazy, elven child’ box. In either case, I think that the achievements of women musicians, especially as composers and producers, are definitely and consistently overlooked in the industry. But I do think that that’s changing.
I think the main thing is to encourage persistence – everyone suffers humiliation and rejection at some point in pursuit of a musical career. It’s a given! But culturally I think that girls are less encouraged to ignore people who laugh at them or tell them they can’t do something, and that makes it harder to take yourself and your dreams seriously. Basically I’d like to see teaching girls to say ‘fuck you’ to the establishment to be a part of the curriculum from primary school. It’s a very valuable life skill if you learn how to wield it carefully.
Is there anything you’ve always wanted to be asked?
“How did it feel collaborating with David Bowie and Janelle Monae on your latest record?”
Ladies Singles is happening this Thursday at the Phoenix Public House in Melbourne. Be sure to check out their website or facebook event page for all the info, and head over to moshtix to get your tickets!
