Words by Jordan Royal
I host a community radio show called Sonic Alien on 4ZZZ in Meanjin/Brisbane. It’s a program, like the ethos of 4ZZZ, that is dedicated to amplifying independent artists and underrepresented voices. Both 4ZZZ and Sonic Alien are about building a scene that feels like home. That idea of care and belonging is what inspired Alien She: a female-fronted event presented by Sonic Alien to celebrate women and gender diverse creatives in music, with all profits going to One of One.
When I first walked into 4ZZZ, I felt like I had found a second home. I had never been a part of a space that was so welcoming and accepting. At 4ZZZ, it doesn’t matter where you come from, how you dress, or who you are; everyone is welcome. That sense of community and inclusion has shaped so much of who I am and everything I have done since.
Outside of 4ZZZ, though, the broader music industry can feel very different. I’ve worked across a few corners of it from radio to stage management and PR. Many of my most challenging and confronting experiences have stemmed from being a young woman in spaces still largely dominated by men.
Live music should be safe and open to everyone, but too often it isn’t. Harassment remains far too common, especially for women and gender diverse individuals. I’ve had moments at gigs where I couldn’t physically move away from someone who was grabbing me. What makes it harder is how normalised that behaviour is. It’s as if buying a ticket means that you’re accepting the risk of being groped. That should never be acceptable. As a gig-goer, it’s also disheartening to see so many all-male lineups. It reinforces this boy’s club mentality and can make crowds feel even less safe.
When I worked as a stage manager at a festival, I was the only female backstage. People would come up to me and ask for the stage manager. When I said it was me, they would almost always look surprised. My directions were often taken with a grain of salt, second-guessed or questioned. It felt like I had to work so much harder to earn the respect that men were automatically given. One night, a musician started asking me invasive questions about my sexuality. When I tried to redirect the conversation and was clearly uncomfortable, he eventually asked me to leave with him. I had just turned nineteen, and he was at least twice my age. I was alone backstage. I didn’t feel like I could report it because the people in charge were men, and I didn’t want to be seen as difficult. So, I said nothing. What hurt the most was that he didn’t see me as a professional in the space but as an object. It was a moment that reminded me I would probably always have to fight harder to be taken seriously in this industry. I think about that experience a lot.
Even in small ways, gender bias seeps in. For a long time, I didn’t include my pronouns in the email signature for Sonic Alien. My name, Jordan, is androgynous, so I thought if people assumed I was a man, they would treat me with more respect. Even if that isn’t true, the fact that I thought that says a lot about how much still needs to change.
Alien She grew out of all those experiences, part frustration and part celebration of the women and gender diverse creatives doing such incredible work in the music industry. It’s named after the Bikini Kill song because I have always admired their defiance and strength. The event is happening November 7th at Season Three and it brings together four amazing female-fronted Meanjin bands: tomorrow’s forecast, Alison, sourpuss and Dirty Harry. They’re all artists who make me so grateful to be a part of the Meanjin music scene and remind me why I love what I do.
All profits from Alien She go directly to One of One, a not-for-profit organisation that supports and amplifies the voices of women and gender diverse individuals in music through storytelling, mentorship and events. I am deeply grateful for the space they have created and the light they continue to shine.
Through both Sonic Alien and Alien She, I hope to create spaces where everyone feels accepted, welcomed and loved for exactly who they are. I want to create the same feeling I had when I first walked into 4ZZZ of being safe, seen and encouraged to unapologetically take up space.
