Scowl‘s fantastic 2023 EP Psychic Dance Routine is one of our favorites of the year so far, and they’ve spent the last few years building their reputation as a powerful live band as part of tours with Touché Amoré / Vein.fm / Militarie Gun, Show Me The Body / Jesus Piece / Zulu, The Bronx / The Chats / Drug Church, opening for Limp Bizkit and Circle Jerks, and headlining shows, with dates with Militarie Gun and MSPAINT still on the horizon. Vocalist Kat Moss has now issued a statement in response to those who have called her and the band an “industry plant” due to their success. In a tweet quoting Bikini Kill’s “White Boy,” she writes, “I am sick of hearing the phrase ‘Industry plant’ every single time Scowl experiences success. Our friends bands-bands commonly full of men, will sign brand deals, have a song in a commercial, get a co-sign from massively successful musicians, etc… yet I never read whisperings of whether or not they deserve those successes, whether or not they are valid enough, GOOD enough, or worked hard enough to be deserving of that success. Is our success never valid enough for you? Why is this competition created between us and our community, specifically femme-bodied individuals? A competition I never participated in, a patriarchal competition I challenge by questioning my thoughts, actions, and insecurities every single day.”
She continues:
The message I receive is that I am not granted independent success as a woman. Am I never grateful enough? Hard working enough? Confident enough?
I’m grateful to be a part of a community we have ALWAYS contributed to lifting. By the way it isn’t that hard to do… If you believe in yourself and your friends you’ve done half the work! If you believe in your scene, walk through that door, buy that t-shirt, and maybe even gather up the confidence to make a new friend or dance along to your favorite song you are CONTRIBUTING to something bigger than yourself. Starting a band was the best decision I ever made, it saved my life in many ways and it helped me find confidence in myself that I never believed I formerly had.
I am happily part of a scene filled with beautiful, intelligent, unique and inspiring people. A scene that could have never blossomed without every single individual.
Is it so hard to believe that a woman-led band can be a hardworking and organic success?
Is it so challenging to grasp a woman’s success that you have to create a fantasy that the music industry had a hand it? An extremely male dominated music industry by the way…
We talked to Kat for an episode of the BV Podcast; listen to that below, and pick up Psychic Dance Routine on clear/red cloudy vinyl with a screen printed b-side, limited to 600 copies, in the BV store.
Scowl are in NYC next for sold out shows on September 29 at The Meadows and September 30 at Saint Vitus, both with Militarie Gun and MSPAINT.
