Today, I want to talk to you all about a subject that I hold very dear to my heart: music. I grew extremely fond of the art form at a young age; with my dad playing Elvis tunes on his guitar in our basement accompanied by my 6 year-old high-pitched voice trying to sing along. I began to perform in plays in my local acting company, went on to study opera in high school, then joined an award winning a cappella group called the Nor’easters in college. Without the influence of music on my childhood, prepubescent, teenage and now adult life, I would not be the person I am today.
These two passionate ladies feel the exact same way. My dear friends, Demi Ramos and Jessie Litwin, two young artists new to the music scene, live to create music that shares their stories. They are incredibly hardworking musicians that can truly be deemed as inspirations for other young women aspiring to write, create, and perform their own, original music.
Demi Ramos, a New York City born and bred artist, can be seen roaming the streets of the big apple with her guitar and rugged leather jacket. She is a classically trained singer from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts, but takes her own music to the next level in head-banger, rocker songs. Her music aspires to unite, to bring strangers together that would not otherwise be present in the same room, for their shared love of music.
Jessie Litwin is a Providence, Rhode Island born singer/songwriter who, since the young age of 10 years old, has devoted her time to writing beautifully crafted compositions that invite listeners to learn more about her personal life experiences. You can catch her performing around the city of Boston in her blue ripped jeans, white tee, converse sneakers and heavenly soprano voice. Her music speaks from the heart, shedding light on some of her rawest, most emotional moments that will make you fall absolutely in love with her voice.
After getting the scoop on these two artists’ musical journeys, I could not believe my ears when they told me of the cold hard truth about being a woman in the music world: it is easier being a man. All women know that statistically speaking, men get paid more, receive more competitive jobs and by nature, are regarded as superior to that of women. However, it was hard for me to hear of how rocky the road has been for these two female artists who want to be recognized for their music, not their gender.
Me:At some of your more recent shows, what other musicians were performing alongside of you?
Demi: “90 percent of the time, I am the only female playing out of 4 or 5 ensembles. With Rock music being a male dominated field, I used to be afraid to pick up a guitar in a room full of people. Now, its my favorite thing to do.”
Jessie: “At Thunder Road and The Met, I was the only female performer. There were three artists at Thunder road and four at The Met, so there was definitely a gap.”
Me: Are you encouraged to play up your sex in your performances for audience members?
Demi: “Absolutely. I remember one of my first times on stage; an older man who happened to be there praised me. Immediately after, he mentioned “…and if you wore some makeup, it’d look so much better on camera!” On other occasions I’ve been told by other men that it would be of benefit to the band’s esthetic to include more “sexual vibes” in my performance. On stage, I do not perform. Whatever happens is organic. If I wanted to sell sex, I’d invest in a different industry.”
Jessie: "Like do people tell me to flaunt it? Yes. I'm always told to show my body when I perform - make sure I wear something form-fitting in videos. Wear those cool new heels I bought. Take time on hair and makeup. Make a video without my guitar so my body shows instead of hiding it behind my instrument (which, is arguably more important to my music than my midriff). When I play for an audience, I do take some time on my hair and makeup and whatever makes me feel good because I want to feel strong and confident when I play. But I can't play in heels - really only my converse. And I'd prefer to be wearing a beanie and jeans. I've always told my friends I've performed with in the past that the most beautiful thing they can wear is confidence and they should always decide for themselves what they're going to look like on stage. I actually had a dress and high-heeled boots on at my last show and my mom was coming to that one, so I called her from backstage and asked her to bring me the sweater, jeans, sneakers, and a hat I had been wearing that day. I changed in about 25 seconds before sound check and felt much better. I don't know if that's because I felt out of place in a dress and heels when all the other performers were men in hats and plaids with beards that reached the top of their guitars, or just because I didn't feel comfortable. I don't think they were judging me in any way, but I kind of felt like I wouldn't be taken as seriously by all of them if I was dressed like that, which I think was again something that I assumed that wasn't really true. Regardless, I was much more comfortable and felt much more like myself after I changed. And loop pedals are hard in heels - I'd rather sound better than make sure my calves look toned.”
Me:What would you tell little girls today looking to be the next big thing? How can they stay inspired?
Demi: "Not to make art to be the next big thing. Create for pleasure. Read “Play To Live” by Alan Watts.”
Jessie: “I'd ask them if they have any insight on how I can become the next big thing, because I have no idea. I don't think anyone knows how to become the next big thing; everybody has their ideas: dress like this, sound like that, record tons of videos, play gigs, don't play too many gigs, blah blah blah. Just stay true to yourself, have confidence in the music you produce, and love what you do. If you do that, you're bound to inspire someone along the way, and that alone is what keeps me inspired.”
After speaking to these ladies, I even felt inspired to possibly put my own thoughts on pen and paper and begin to write music. Despite the obstacles these two incredible musicians have faced, their immense love for music keeps them extremely focused and driven to succeed in the music industry.
Music is a world for everyone: men, women, transgender, homosexuals, heterosexuals, bisexuals and everyone else on this planet. It is truly a remarkable industry, a place where no one can say you are right or wrong, or judge you based on the color of your skin or the gender you identify with. With the help of Demi and Jessie, along with other aspiring musicians, we must work toward preserving the magic in the music while keeping the gendered rhetoric out.
Check out Jessie's new music on Spotify and iTunes, titled Stripped. Follow facebook.com/jessielitwinmusic & jessielitwinmusic.com to learn more about her.
Keep on the lookout for Demi's new project, titled "B-Side (Underage)" coming soon. Follow https://www.facebook.com/demibandmusic/ to learn more about her.
