#618 What about her?

This week we journey back in time to look at Sydney’s music scene through the eyes of three different women. 

You can hit it as loud as you can

First up, we hear from musician and music mentor turned academic, Hannah Fairlamb, about rock boot camps and gender equity.

Produced by Mel Bakewell, with music by Ferus Cut Blue Dot Sessions.
You can learn more about Rock Camp here.

What About Her?

Frances Swan co-wrote What About Me (A Moving Pictures Song), the 1982 classic Australian anthem, during a decade often described as a boy’s club. Christa Hughes rejected gender expectations in the late 90s and early 2000s, touring with Machine Gun Fellatio. Today, up-and-coming Milly McPherson has been making waves in a rock and roll circuit, inspired by the women who came before her.

Join Zara Upfold, as she explores the expectations and successes of these incredible women, the sadly predictable reactions of a male dominated music industry, and asks What About Her?

Frances Swan played her original music live in front of an audience for the first time on the 25th of November. Milly McPherson is currently raising funds to re-released Milly’s song under her own name, alongside a new album and a short film. Finally, Machine Gun Felatio have recently reunited and Christa Hughes has been performing in the band for the first time in 20 years.

Produced by Zara Upfold, with support from Phoebe Adler-Ryan and Evana Ho.

Songs Played (in Chronological Order)

What About Me, Gary Frost & Frances Swan – Frances Swan

Beer Drinking Woman – Christa Hughes, Dick Hughes

Mutha Fukka On A Motorcycle – Machine Gun Fellatio

Milly’s Song (Live Recording) – Milly McPherson

Blue Moon – Frances Swan 

Sound Effects

ES_Digital, Call On Speaker, No Answer, Russian Voicemail, Plastic, Modern, Office – Epidemic Sound.wav from Epidemic Sound.

All The Best Credits

Executive Producer Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Producer Mel Bakewell

Host Madhuraa Prakash

Episode Mixed and Compiled by Emma Higgins

Image credit: Lindsey Vassallo