Spotlight On: BIG JOANIE

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S SHERO IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

There must be something in the air as this is the second week in a row that we have a trio in the SHEROES Spotlight. This week, it’s a UK band that has been at it for the better part of a decade. With a new record deal with the iconic indie label Kill Rock Stars, they join a trailblazing lineage of bands like Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney. But, as our guests will point out in today’s conversation, something that the riot grrrl movement and DIY punk has been sorely lacking is not only women, but even more so, women of color. Big Joanie is here to lead in changing that narrative. Back in 2013, frustrated with the lack of intersectionality in the DIY punk scene she was in, guitarist and songwriter Stephanie Phillips put up a post online looking for bandmates to start a Black feminist punk band. Drummer and vocalist Chardine Taylor-Stone joined soon after, along with their first bassist, and Big Joanie was born. The debut EP Sistah Punk arrived in 2014, and a couple years later, their current bassist Estella Adeyeri joined the band. Outside of Big Joanie, Stephanie is a freelance music writer and activist. Estella works with Girls Rock London, and is part of the collective behind Decolonise Fest with Stephanie. Chardine chairs the equality commission at Musicians’ Union, is a prominent voice in the LGBTQ community, and is working on a book about Black feminism. In other words, Big Joanie is changing the world. With their sophomore album and Kill Rock Stars debut Back Home just out in November of 2022, and their first US tour starting up in March, I am thrilled to welcome Big Joanie as this week’s SHEROES In The Spotlight.

SHERO BIRTHDAYS: We celebrate the SHERO birthdays of Cat Power on 1/21, and the late great Etta James who would have been 85 on 1/25. Plus, Happy Birthday to Lucinda Williams on 1/26!