Analysis

Metropolis Music promoter Raven Twigg (she, her, they) reflects on her coming-out story and how her move Having transitioned in the live music industry, tour manager Laura Nagtegaal (she, her, hers) to London allowed her to work with other like-minded souls and create the Women Connect collective. shares her unique perspective of the industry’s ongoing sexism problem.

This is my first Pride where I’ve felt proud to be a queer woman. Pride is about embracing your LGBTQ+ friends, colleagues, family, and neighbours not only for one month but all year round. I’m so pleased to be able to align my own identity within my work. Metropolis Music has an impressive roster bursting with diversity and inclusivity, and it’s just organically happened that way. Our team (which feels more like a family) is reflective of the real people of London in 2021, and we’re able to filter that into the artists we naturally are drawn to. From guitar bands, to non-binary soloists, we have a beautiful spectrum of music to promote nationally. Prior to my work with Metropolis Music, I’ve worked in offices around the world from Manchester, UK to Sydney, Australia, which have been predominantly white and cis-gendered males. My coming-out journey was delayed significantly, and in retrospect, I realise that it wasn’t helpful for me to work amongst those environments. For me to feel comfortable in an office environment, I needed to see more people like myself. Fortunately for me, I made the move to London in 2018, swore I’d only last six months before I was craving the Northern soul I’ve grown up with, but instead I ended up meeting my now girlfriend and have never looked back. In 2019, myself and four other music biz friends, Alex Ampofo (Metropolis Music), Sian Pescow (Metropolis Music), Bre McDermott-King (Sony Music), Becky Stainton (Sony Music), birthed a networking collective named Women Connect. Together, we have raised money for Galop, Refugee Women, Solace, MIND, and hosted events highlighting issues such as period poverty and mental health within the music industry. Before we were forced to take a break from physical events due to lockdown restrictions, we’d just celebrated our first birthday by throwing a bash at the Sony London offices and tied it in with International Women’s Day. We heard from “My sexuality, gender, or my pronouns, amongst many other things, don’t affect my capability to do a good job, but rather offer an alternative angle” 14 iq-mag.net

Once upon a time, there was a girl who felt terribly guilty about not being grateful for her male body, so she censored herself and subconsciously found so many incredible panellists and had a special performance from Izzy Bizu and DJ Ashleigh Simone. We always make sure our events are inclusive and free to attend. As a collective herself the manliest job around; working in the live music we have such different backgrounds, and it works harmoniindustry. That woman is me. ously together. Back in 1995, I rolled into live music, and by 2002 I went Fast-forward to 2021, we have now hosted an online Back full-time. Most tours I did were as guitar tech, tour to Basics series with PRS Foundation; brought free manager, or a combination of the two. mindfulness and yoga sessions; and collaborated By the time I was nine or ten, I first “knew” with CTRL Shift on an event to teach folx DJ that the doctor delivering me had made a mis- skills and so much more. take (assuming that what’s between my legs It’s through collectives like ours that I’ve defines me), and soon after I began repressing been able to feel comfortable enough in my own myself and my feelings; replacing them with skin and be inspired by the people I’m seeing lethargy and robot-like behaviour. around me. And that’s what we intend to bring It was only in 2016 that I could accept myself to our following, too. By showing budding music for who I am, and from then on, all sorts of “self” professionals panels filled with people who look like feelings grew stronger (esteem, worth, confidence, care) them, sound like them, and are a similar age to them, rathand all of that culminating in self-love. As of Valentine’s Day er than offering the perspective of CEOs of huge companies, 2017, I closed the book on my previous persona, and by the which makes achieving career dreams feel so unreachable. time Easter 2019 rolled around, I was done with the medical I hope to see in the future, as the world awakens to the beauside of transitioning. ty that’s within it, effortlessly inclusive global organisations Both on and behind the stage, my transition went smooth- who recognise the power they have to fill their teams with ly at first; all my regular bands accepted Laura with open gender-diverse people, queer folx, and other people from mararms. The two warmest responses came from my colleague ginalised communities. My sexuality, gender, or my pronouns, and fiancée: “Today you’re my boyfriend, tomorrow my amongst many other things, don’t affect my capability to do wife,” and from a few friends: “No, you didn’t become a wom- a good job, but rather offer an alternative angle. Artists that an, you were always one!” organically enter my radar, are different to those that enter the When all those bands swapped the stage for the studio si- radar of my colleagues, who also offer an alternative angle. multaneously and I had to find new ones, I noticed how – as We are all fabulously different in our own huge ways and a transgender woman – sexism, trans/homophobia, and toxic that’s the truly beautiful thing about Pride month. It’s the opmasculinity seemed to seriously jeopardise my career. I went portunity to learn, educate and grow together as human beings. from being hired before I’d even finish saying “yes” to sud- We’ve come a long way from the Stonewall Riots over 50 denly being asked for a resume and not getting hired. years ago, but there’s still a way to go. Get clued-up on queer I got subjected to the same kind of sexism women are sub- culture, listen to queer artists and podcasts. Watch queer jected to... my skills, experience, and films and tv shows, make those around you feel included rathopinion were decimated. er than othered. Make them feel proud. I did not build a more than 25-year career with smoke and mirrors. I have proven and valuable skills, I just happen to be a woman – a transgender woman. 16 iq-mag.net I should hope that on the reverse end of that, with the same bigoted and archaic way of thinking, trans men end up on the good side of things. Cisgender men and women swapping signatures in the office experience exactly that: male to female – downgrade; female to male – upgrade. And no, transgender people don’t cost the employer more money, health care, availability, time, and loyalty. While our names and what is or isn’t in our underwear may have changed, our skills did not. If anything, you’ll be dealing with a mentally stronger and more self-empowered and actualised person; therefore you’ll be dealing with a more desirable person to have on your crew. It is surprising how conservative and reluctant our supposedly progressive industry still is with regards to anyone who is not a white cishet male. What I, as a trans person, experience, is way broader than just my being trans: I am “no longer” a white cishet male. Still, knowing that I had the courage to look in the mirror, all pretense stripped, and accept myself for who I am, absolutely obliterates the negative sides. And as a bonus, I actually like looking in the mirror nowadays. And today, I have boundaries, respect them, and communicate them. Take it or leave it. In the times before, I’d bend over backwards. Things are definitely getting better in the live music industry, but we still have a long way to go. Twenty years ago, if a woman was on tour, she’d most likely be doing merchandise or wardrobe. More and more tours I am on, women are in leadership and fader-pushing positions – and tours are better because of it. The silver lining to Covid-19 pressing pause on us is that we can, and do, (re)write the rules of engagement. We had better follow our own advice, though. We need to hire for skill, professionalism and kindness, rather than for convenience and status quo (ie white cishet males). And we, the marginalised, need to want to be visible. “Visibility will, inevitably, lead to awareness. Through awareness, the path to acceptance can be found, and followed.” Thousands of

To highlight some of the acts that are awaiting festival and headline show bookings, a number of ’s partner agencies have submitted details of LGBTIQ+ artists on their rosters. In addition to the talent showcased in the following pages, we have also compiled tracks for a special Pride Playlist, which includes submissions from ATC Live, CAA, ICM Partners, FMLY, Hometown Talent, ITB, Mother Artists, Paradigm, Primary Talent, Progressive Artists, UTA and WME.

AGENTS Zoe Williamson & Christian Bernhardt, UTA

Known as the larger-than-life ambassador of New Orleans bounce music, Big Freedia is a nationally recognised hiphop artist, performer and TV personality. In addition to releasing her own critically acclaimed EPs – 3rd Ward Bounce (2018) and Louder (2020) – Big Freedia has appeared on several high-profile projects, including her cover of Judas on Lady Gaga’s Born this Way The Tenth Anniversary album (June 2021).

She also appeared on Beyoncé’s Grammy award-winning Formation and on Drake’s Nice For What, always bringing her distinctive voice and signature catchphrases to her work.

In 2011, her ascension in the music industry was chronicled on the highly rated reality show, Big Freedia Bounces Back. She was the official host for the 2019 Met Gala IG live-stream red carpet event, and a host on 2021’s Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve TV show. Known by her fans as the “Queen Diva,” Big Freedia is a loud-and-proud advocate for racial and gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights.

Big Freedia’s highly anticipated EP Big Diva Energy will be released in July 2021.

JERRY PAPER (US) AGENT Joren Heuvels, Hometown Talent

Jerry Paper is Lucas Nathan. Jerry Paper is instant coffee, bullshit jobs, weekly therapy sessions, crises of conscience, corporate mascots, 5-MeO-DMT trips, jokers down on their luck, surveillance, a jacked dad high on meth at a child’s party, apologies, trash cans, cacti, and the magic of words.

From its initial days as a DIY solo synth project in the early 2010s to its current incarnation as a five-piece band, Jerry Paper has always been the earthly conduit for the wild and uncanny imagination of its creative mastermind. Lucas began performing under the alias Jerry Paper in 2012, releasing their latest album Abracadabra via Stones Throw Records in 2020.

JOHN GRANT (US) AGENT Rob Challice, Paradigm

When 2017’s BBC Proms season at London’s Royal Albert Hall presented the Songs of Scott Walker (1967-70), bringing to life some of the most glorious, rousing and poignant songs of their era, it was almost a given that John Grant would be one of the select chosen interpreters. He was a perfect fit, possessing a similarly glorious dulcet baritone to Walker and an equal command of melody, depth and power, with lyrics that scoped out across love, pathos, tragedy and resilience with poetic candour.

Grant has collaborated in film, with songs chosen for Andrew Haigh’s film drama Weekend, HBO TV series Looking, and Daisy Asquith’s Queerama, which documented a century of LGBT+ pride and persecution. His own repertoire includes three outstanding solo albums to date, starting with 2010’s Queen Of Denmark (MOJO magazine’s Album of the Year) and 2013’s Pale Green Ghosts – which helped earn him Attitude Magazine’s Man of the Year award in 2013. 2015’s Grey Tickles, Black Pressure was a top five album in the UK, showing how Grant continues to broaden his audience.

Live, he is simply a great entertainer, whether playing as a duo, or with a full band, or a band plus orchestra, such as the Royal Northern Sinfonia or the BBC Philharmonic.

If this wasn’t enough, Grant might win awards for best singing multilinguist; alongside his mother tongue he speaks fluent German, Spanish, Russian, and now the incredibly difficult language of Iceland, which led to him providing the English translations for Icelandic superstar Ásgeir’s album In The Silence.

Grant toured with Elbow in Autumn 2017 and released his acclaimed fourth album, Love Is Magic, in October 2018. His incredible journey continues ever-upwards. Magazine 19