Six years ago, singer VV Brown was on the verge of collapse. After two decades of enduring racism, sexual harassment and “male ego” in the music industry, she had hit rock bottom.
“If I hadn’t walked away, I think I might have died,” she told Sky News. “I was addicted to sleeping pills, I suffered from depression… There was a moment where I tried to leave.”
Brown is an indie-pop singer-songwriter who rose to prominence with “Shark In The Water,” a hit single from her 2009 debut album Traveling Like The Light. She subsequently released two more albums in 2013 and 2015 before telling fans in social media posts that she was done.
Image: BLiM
“I have been silent, silent [myself] It led to so much separation,” she says now. “There was definitely a sense of bypassing the male ego in order to feel like you could have a career. “
Sexual harassment happens every day, she said.
Not from every producer and executive, but enough to make her understandably wary that certain men “offered deals and I turned them down but felt pressured that if you didn’t say yes, it might affect you.” career”.
‘I have an obligation to wear my gender identity on my sleeve’
Singer VV Brown supports Black Lives in Music research into bullying and harassment in music industry
After moving from London to Northampton to raise a family, Brown realized there was a lot to unpack mentally. She met us at the family-run Grandbies cafe not far from where she lives and said that today, thankfully, she was in a better place.
But as a black woman, she sees her experience in the industry as very different than that of white female artists.
“I couldn’t be who they asked me to be because… it was very much through a white lens. As a black woman, I had an obligation to wear my gender identity on my sleeve.
“I would have white friends, musician friends, and they wouldn’t wear the same thing, and I would always ask, why am I hanging this rope that’s supposed to be wrapped around me… and you’re already, you know, a little different ?
“Wearing shorter skirts and being told to dress provocatively to sell my sex appeal to punters is something I encounter all the time.”
Dr. Charles Beaumont is the CEO of Black Music Lives. Image: BLiM
Brown says she experiences sexual harassment and racism on a daily basis, and says the microaggressions are “diminishing” of her identity – like during a photo shoot with a “prestigious magazine” where they pulled my hair and muttered, “We’re going to What to do? “What to do to her?” ‘”, and “Wearing braids and wigs is encouraged” – more public examples include “People within my team or public yelled at me and called me horrible words”.
The singer is now speaking out to encourage other black women working in any job in the music industry to take part in a national survey into bullying and harassment launched by Black Lives Matter in Music, an organization dedicated to eradicating racism in the music industry arts organization.
Once completed, BLiM’s Charisse Beaumont said legislation would be informed by the work of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA).
“We will present this evidence to the government in the hope that they will act on it,” she said. “This data is important.”
read more:
Metallica frontman has Lemmy’s ashes tattooed on his finger
Why are thousands of video game workers out of work?
Follow Sky News for all the latest news from the UK and around the world
Now, she can lecture, write and make music when she wants – returning with Am I British Yet? Last year – Brown said it took her years of therapy to move past her experiences.
The mum-of-two daughters said the idea of them wanting to work in the music industry “terrified” her.
“Racism, objectification, misogyny, patriarchy… but ultimately they have their own journey and if they want to do that, I equip them to make sure they are as ready as I am or even more rebellious than I am.” ” She jokingly added that she only did it so “they could bring the whole industry down.”
Is the UK music industry overdue for a #MeToo moment?
Bullying and harassment investigations in the music industry can be completed through the Black Lives in Music website.
Follow us on Google news ,Twitter , and Join Whatsapp Group of thelocalreport.in
