The conversation.

Firstly, take a big breath everybody. Every single one of you. Read the review, not just the reaction. It is not a bad article. Yes, it does have a few negative barbs. It's a review. 

We must all realise that we do experience music within a small community. This is a blessing and a curse. I love having a family and a community, the ability to know I can wander into shows and say hello to someone. It is a safe scene, and that is much more than one can say about many that exist. The safety of the scene was never in question.

BUT. We cannot just rest upon this community and think that there is not more we can work towards. This is NOT a comment towards Andy or Poison City, but at our wider music group as a whole (even music full stop! All the bullshit 'top lists' are always male dominated). You would be kidding yourself if you did not realise that it is an extremely male dominated scene. This is NOT a critique of any men, this is a fact. It just is. But it is also a scene that has more potential and more ability to be inclusive than most others I have encountered. This is why I am here. This is why I persevere. That is why it attracts so many strong women.

So what we have is a foundation of number inequality, and a set of ideals that embrace equality. This means, that women and men from all ends of the sexuality spectrum need to continually work towards promoting their idea of the best possible family we can make. No one does this for you. You do it yourself. The more girls that get out there and start a band, or get behind the mixing desk, or design posters, or book shows... the better. Deep heat? They were my favourite band of Friday, because they were badass and inspiring. The more proactive people, of all genders, that promote our ideal community, the better it becomes. That is why it is flourishing, and why I hope it will continue to.

I have spoken to numerous people at one time or another who have become disillusioned with the 'scene'. Haven't we all? Within any group of people there will be politics and flawed human interaction. But if we all remember why we got here, how we got here to begin with, and know that there are multitudes of people out there that love, support and will continue to attend, play, book, create, mix... then we make the community we want. I don't quit just because I see something I don't like. I speak out, I change it, and I create the world I want to live in. I think both the writer and Poison City both do this too. No one can get complacent. It can always be better.

This is why I was saddened to see some of the reaction. Fuck you who have jumped to a personal attack. I saw one tweet that simply said 'Feminist bullshit'. This I will not stand for. The article said some things you didn't like, so respond in a constructive manner. If you get defensive then nothing good comes of it. You stop the conversation, and we can always talk more. We can always be more inclusive. We can always reach out more. It has always been about the music, so dispense with the normies, the kids, the oldies, the bros, the boys and the other devisive labels. 

Everyone should be welcome. We all know that, it's a no brainer. Let's continue to encourage the conversation and create the community, the family, we want. We're in it because we believe in it.