THE ANGRY TROBAIRITZ w/ Amanda Lehmann

Music's Misogyny: A Series

Being a woman in music is one challenge; being a woman in Prog is an entirely different one. My ten-year tenure as the host of the Night of the Prog festival at Loreley allowed me this experience. Yeah, I met women backstage, but the man-woman ratio was skewed, and I believe this is due to exposure. Music teachers, let’s get your favourite prog artists out there to your female students. Today’s guest would be a perfect way to begin.

The day I met Amanda Lehmann, a vocalist, composer, guitarist, and keyboard player who fearlessly crosses genre borders, was when she was a guest with Steve Hackett at Loreley. This collaboration provided a wonderful opportunity for many of us watching to become acquainted with Amanda and then to explore her work further, which is fortunate, as Amanda is a talented solo artist recognised in PROG MAGAZINE’s 2021 Prog Reader’s Poll as one of the Top 10 Female Vocalists.

Her website offers a deeper dive into the extensive details of her career.

And now, without further delay, and with a touch of my inner emcee, please put your hands together for Amanda’s take addressing misogyny in music.

Photo by Michaela Ix.

How do you set boundaries with collaborators who don’t respect your time, ideas, or autonomy (for example, production decisions)?

It is hard, but you have to do just that – set boundaries, and stick to them. You have to stay calm, take your time, keep your voice steady and low. Try not to be defensive, hard though it is in these situations. Be reasonable, assertive, calm. Easier said than done, but it is helpful to have a centre ground to aim for.

What’s a “red flag” behaviour in the industry that women are often told to “brush off”?

Unwanted physical or verbal approaches. I am happy to say that I very rarely experience this nowadays. I think attitudes have improved over the years; I think men are more aware that these behaviours cause offence. But certainly it used to be expected that you just brushed it off. Less so now, which is a good thing, although I suspect it still happens far too often, particularly to younger and less experienced musicians.

Have you ever been dismissed or talked over in a creative discussion because of your gender?

This has probably been one of the most common challenges I’ve experienced. I don’t experience much direct misogyny, but being dismissed or talked over has happened too often. It is like being invisible, irrelevant and feeds imposter syndrome and other confidence issues. It also makes it very hard to cut across, as you have to overcompensate to be heard, which can in turn come across as dominating or “over emotional”.

What’s a time you had to prove your competence in a way your male peers didn’t?

Since releasing Innocence and Illusion in 2021, I found myself having to work harder than I expected to demonstrate that I wasn’t just the songwriter, singer and guitarist, but that I had also played other instruments, programmed many parts of the album, and was deeply involved in its musical structure and production. There often seemed to be an assumption that my male collaborators had been responsible for much of the creative and technical work, which unintentionally diminished my own contribution.

Since then, I’ve become much more open about my creative process on social media, talking about the different instruments I’m playing, the programming, production and recording work, so people can see more clearly the breadth of what I do as an artist.

What’s a stereotype about female musicians that you actively reject?

That you’re there as “eye-candy”, which says to me that looks compensate for talent. In my experience, I have got where I have got to through hard work, like the other musicians I know.

How do you find or build community with other women in music?

I’ve met some wonderfully supportive women in music and really value those connections. Like any profession, there can also be competitiveness, but for me it’s about finding people who see each other simply as musicians and support one another, regardless of gender.

What’s a boundary you’ve set that made your work life healthier, even if it was unpopular?

Stage clothing. Making the decision and setting the boundary that I was no longer comfortable in mini dresses and skirts and that I was much more at ease wearing jeans like the rest of the band. I’m always happy to dress up for stage, it’s part of the job and makes me feel good too, but it has to be comfortable for me. Interestingly, I didn’t have the resistance that I thought I would get when I made that decision, and it also felt to me that I was taken more seriously by my audiences.

What’s something male allies in the industry could do to better support women?

Male allies could be more aware of unconscious misogyny. Perhaps make mental notes of when they overlook women as musicians, or don’t listen to them in a studio or live rehearsal setting. I believe these actions are not intentional, but if guys could look out for it, it would make a huge difference (and if women also could check their own unconscious assumptions too!)

How do you handle it when women are pitted against each other in competitive spaces?

I try to avoid these situations. I don’t like being in competition with other women just because we are all women, it seems bizarre and unhealthy and encourages an “us and them” attitude generally and reduces the idea of us all being musicians together. I’m not keen on musical competition anyway, although I realise that it can be a good way of lesser-known bands and artists getting seen, and I have found it useful even though it’s stressful.

How can fans better support female musicians beyond just streaming their music?

Again, remember us! When you are thinking of your guitar hero, or your favourite drummer / keyboard / bass player, etc., please think laterally and include any women you might think are fab. Women are often thought of in the vocalist category but forgotten when it comes to instruments. This is hugely the case in prog rock!

I would like to finish by saying that I’ve worked with – and continue to work with – many men who have been absolutely brilliant colleagues and allies, acknowledging women, listening, collaborating and treating people with respect, irrespective of gender. To all of you, thank you. You are greatly appreciated!

This interview has been edited and formatted for clarity.

Photo by Dave Abbott