Music as activism- or, how I was radicalised by Alanah, Beth and Ciara of Problem Patterns, and you can be too
Being an activist is like having a vision for how you think the world could be better, and then taking steps to create change and make that a reality. If you think about it that way, even just existing is activism. As Rebecca Solnit says in ‘Hope in the Dark’ (which I really recommend btw), “We write history with our feet and with our presence and our collective voice and vision.”
Because there are the obvious ways to be an activist - voting, donating time & money, protesting - but there are so many other ways we can use what we've got to bring about political and social change. The biggest one for me is music.
It hasn't always been that way. In my mid-twenties, when I first met Alanah, Beth and Ciara, I wasn't aware of the rich history of punk, feminist and activist music. Then Alanah linked me to a playlist where I heard my now favourites Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Bratmobile and L7 for the first time. Beth lent me her copy of 'Girls to the Front' by Sara Marcus, getting me all excited and inspired by the Riot Grrrl scene. Ciara taught me by example how to practice feminism, real feminism and solidarity with women, not the stuff you learn about in books. And they changed my life, because I learned that activism isn't just the work individuals do to tear down oppressive systems; it's also the work we put into building a community of like-minded people around us who can work together to tear down oppressive systems, encouraging each other and lifting each other up when we fall or get discouraged.
One of the, I think, most underrated forms of activism, is speaking up and letting your friends or family members know about the issues that matter most to you. We all have so many connections to people who care in varying amounts about different humanitarian, social and environmental issues, and we could learn so much from open, honest conversation, clear up misunderstandings (and also learn when our worldviews are incompatible lol). But these conversations are difficult to know where to start. Music makes it so much easier, for me anyway.
Writing this, I got curious, so I went on a fact finding mission - what do the men in my life think about our political / activist music? - men I’ve been mates with for like 15 years at this point. They all said that it had deepened their understanding of feminist and queer issues in some way. One told me some songs opened up conversations between him and his wife which helped him understand things better. Another said, "It's definitely made me think about my own preconceptions and subconscious prejudices more. It's not always a comfortable listen, but it's the good kind of challenging."
Another mate said, "It's not struggles I've had to ever deal with personally but it does raise awareness. Like Lesbo 3000 (being called the d-word) or Letter of Resignation (being queer and growing up in the church), it's things like that where I've never thought about it before and it's cool you're making songs about it. I like Mediocre Man the most. It kind of wants me to strive to be better."
Interestingly, another mate said, "I think what Problem Patterns has made me realise is that mellow and fun people on the surface have a lot of anger and frustration deep down." It's true, we do. And justifiably! All of Problem Patterns’ songs begin from a place of real anger. Like how dare TERFs treat our trans siblings the way they do? How dare our government pick and choose between who they save to their own financial benefit? And why are so many men in music treating us the way Ciara outlines in A History of Bad Men Part II (which is just the realest song on the album, she really holds nothing back there, an actual personal attack)? I could go on and on.
Ultimately, like Alanah, Beth and Ciara have done for me, I hope our music inspires other women, queer and marginalised people to pick up instruments and write songs that make them feel better about the state of the world. I also hope that people who listen take note, and then take action against injustice. And I hope (and know) that people find solidarity in our music. Lyrics that were written for ourselves as a kind of therapy and a way to deal with how we feel helpless in the face of injustice and prejudice have become a beacon for like-minded people - people who refuse to push their anger down, who actually care about how others are treated and aren’t afraid to show it. We absolutely love the community that has formed around us and having a party at our gigs. There are still so many things we are angry about, but we want to celebrate the fact that we’ve got each other as we work to change the world for the better. As Kathleen Hanna said, “We’ve got to party for our right to fight.”
Ok, one last quote from one of my “man friends”, which I would never say myself because I do not take compliments well. "Problem Patterns taught me that there isn't a contradiction between having music that sounds great and is lots of fun but also has a serious message! You can give a shit and rock out at the same time." So I’ll leave you with some of my favourite songs that as an activist give me hope and solace, that encourage me to keep going, have taught me more about political and social issues (because I’m still learning every day), and make me believe again and again that together we can make things better. I hope they, and Problem Patterns, do the same for you. So yes, this is my soundtrack to the revolution, if you will. From bands who give a shit and rock out at the same time:
X-Ray Spex - Oh Bondage Up Yours!
JD Samson, MEN - Who am I to feel so free?
Gender Chores - Fuck the Patriarchy
Bratmobile - Gimme Brains
Post Punk Podge & the Technohippies - Post Punk Election Party
Bob Vylan - Pretty Songs
Minutemen - Untitled Song for Latin America
RM, Wale - Change
Dream Wife - Somebody
Bikini Kill - Double Dare Ya
About the author - Beverly Boal is a member of Problem Patterns, a Belfast Based feminist queer punk band.
Listen to the album Blouse Club
Photo credit yanbourke.com
