Problem with Current Music Industry

• Speaker experiences loving rhythms/melodies but being disturbed by sexist lyrics
  • Lyrics place listeners in subservient positions unacceptable in other contexts
  • Culture normalizes sexism through music
  • Music = powerful communication form that can uplift or oppress
  • Music caters to emotions/soul, opens up soul, informs roles
• Only 2.6% of music producers identify as women
  • Without controlling own narrative, others tell stories incorrectly
  • Perpetuates myths that hold women back

Artist's Alternative Approach - Musical Strategy

• Creates uplifting, energetic, percussive global beats
• Places lyrics describing genuine life experiences without oppressing others
• Example: "Top Knot Turn Up" song
  • Lyrics about turning off phone notifications, productivity, personal boundaries
  • "My time is not your property"
  • "Future is female," fighting corruption on SCOTUS
  • Maintains energy while avoiding problematic messaging

Vision for Music Industry

• Continue making sex-positive, beautiful music about joy/freedom
• Embrace pleasure equally with pain
• Celebrate authentic, nuanced, multidimensional human existence
• Avoid performing false narratives of degrading sexuality for acceptance

Visual Strategy in Music Videos

• "See Me Thru" - queer electronic R&B song
• Cast real-life married couple Ania and Dejha as lovers
• Same couple also concepted and directed entire video
• Demonstrates world speaker wishes we lived in

Consumer Responsibility and Action

• Choose which songs to mute vs amplify
• Ask: "Does this music contribute to oppression? Why tolerate it?"
• Create playlists/DJ music providing right vibe without problematic messaging
• Teaches algorithms in streaming systems what listeners want
• Creates long-term change and feedback mechanism impacting entire industry

Broader Impact

• Message affects everybody, not just small group
• Protecting/liberating most vulnerable genders liberates everybody
• Music should be safe and accessible for all
• Not about losing sex appeal/swag, but infusing tenderness/positivity