INTERVIEW – Mollie Coddled @ Manchester’s Year’s End Festival
14 December 2023
After perusing through an impressive record collection and grabbing a coffee, I settled down for an interview with Beau Bennett and Caitlin Pinkess to discuss their new space, She’s The Moment, designed to create a safe space showcasing women in the music industry.
How did you guys come up with the idea for She’s The Moment?
Beau: She’s the moment was sort of something we came up with at uni for one of our modules and it was sort of a hypothetical thing that we thought would be really cool to create as a business. I got really into female empowerment and supporting women in the industry while I was at uni, and that’s kind of how it all came about as we were both really into it. We kinda were thinking we’ve always supported each other at our gigs, and we’ve always really rooted for each other even though we’re both doing the same thing, and there should be
more of that in the industry. The women on our course were phenomenal and breathtaking. There was such an amazing pool of women on our course and I think we all really inspire each other. I did my dissertation on breaking down the barriers that women face in the industry and I think it’s really sad that people always say there’s this problem, that problem and how are we gonna change it? And I wanted to ask yeah how are we gonna change it? I don’t really like thinking about the negatives unless there’s a solution. And there are
solutions, they’re just not focused on right now.
What solutions do you think there are to the barriers women face in the industry?
Beau: Such a hard question because there’s so many. Something really important for me is gender roles in music. You see a lot of female vocalists, but you don’t see many female drummers or producers, or female metal artists and it all comes down to gender roles, and as a kid what instrument you’re pushed to more as a female and a male. I am very folky and play guitar and I fall right into that category , but at the same time I do love it, however I wonder if I had been pushed to play electric guitar or drums, would I maybe be more inclined to do that? It’s the same for guys as well, it’s just about having that wider pool of options and I think it is an issue for me, the sort of roles that were put into society but also in music. Once you see it you can’t stop.
Caitlin: It’s hard because I think it’s hard to find the right role models when you’re young and in school. The industry has a very male focus and you don’t see a lot of male artists in the industry shouting out or supporting women. I think it’s hard when women grow up in school and already have that fear and doubt installed into you. It doesn’t start in the industry, it starts with young girls being told they can’t do things in a patriarchal society.
There’s definitely more unseen obstacles that people don’t really notice. The lack of female role models, and how nerve wrecking it is to go into a room full of men all the time and them not taking into consideration your disadvantage in the room, and not always choosing to reach out.
Another thing is that there’s a lot of slandering of women in lyrics which is so disregarded which I think is a massive thing, can you not write anything better? I have favourite artists where I love their music but some of their songs are so disrespectful. Also, female headlines in festivals, where are they? Where?
Is this your first event for She’s The Moment?
Beau: This is the first ever event and it has come around really quickly, and as it’s our first event I’m very aware that there will be so many things we learn, and there will be so many things that will change next time. I’m just hoping it’s a nice wholesome inclusive event. Even if there’s nobody in the room, it’s about the love of it and the craft of it, and we wanna start from the passion. Tonight we have lyric sheets on the table and they are from our song book so you can see the process of these songs, just focusing on the human element because nowadays there’s so much pressure on being a product and selling yourself.
Do you have any goals for what you want to do with the space/event going forward?
Beau: It’s definitely still developing, but I think the more we do these events the more we think of what to add. But for me doing a networking event as well where everyones able to chat and really meet each other properly. My ultimate goal is to kinda combine the two, and have a networking event and a gig. So feeling like people might book tickets for the gig by themselves not really knowing anyone, and then come to the gig to see some incredible music, network with some amazing woman and go home with 5 new contacts. Meeting females in the same position as you, at the same stage of their life is so important.
Caitlin: One of the things I really want with She’s The Moment is I really want men to come to the gigs, because there’s a lot of really cool girl clubs going on at the moment, but it doesn’t go as far if we are in an echo chamber. I really want more men to come to the gigs and learn about supporting female artists and not feel attacked. It’s not our job to take care of them and their egos, but I do want to create a safe celebratory space. It’s so important that we all take care of women in the industry, making sure that they are heard and looked after, and given equal opportunities.
Beau: We all need to work on it together. Everything can be so separate a lot of the time and when female equality is brought up, people get a bit nervous around that topic for sure. I don’t want this space to be intimidating for anyone, I want it to be really welcoming and open peoples eyes to things that could be happening. As women you feel a bit unsure if you should be here, but you absolutely should be in these spaces.
Artist Profiles:
Chloe Harman
Chloe Harman’s set was full of haunting vocals and a powerful sound, similar to the mournful and encapsulating Radiohead style. When speaking to Chloe, she spoke about how a lot of her writing is driven by grief, and often finds that she writes her feelings down in a song before realising she’s feeling them. Chloe performed one of her songs using a loop pedal, showcasing not just her talent but her skillful musicianship. Each song she played was filled with raw emotion and her stunning voice suited the intimate live setting.
Favourite Artists and Inspiration: Troye Sivan, The Neighbourhood, Radiohead, Ariana Grande
Lyrics You Wish You Had Written: Present Tense by Radiohead.
First Person to Hear Your New Songs: Myself on my voice notes, or my twin sister. My dad loves making house music and my mum loves to listen to music, they’re big critics who keep it real with me. I really appreciate it.
Dream Collaboration: Radiohead or Coldplay.
Dream Venue: Maybe an open air venue, somewhere with a pretty view.
Caitlin Pinkess
Listening to Caitlin sing it felt like Amy Winehouse merged with King Krule, where she graced us with her impressive vocal range and control. Lyric sheets were scattered across tables, and I got to see Caitlins songbook pages come to life in a sound that I could listen to for hours. A soulful performance filled with candid lyricism left hairs on end, with a personal favourite of mine being a song written about her sister which was evidently written with immense love in mind.
Favourite Artists and Inspiration: Mahalia, Carole King, Taylor Swift,
Joy Crookes, Eloise, Raye.
Lyrics You Wish You Had Written: ‘Sometimes it’s like someone took a knife, baby, edgy and dull, And cut a six-inch valley through the middle of my skull’.
First Person to Hear Your New Songs: Tends to be mum, sometimes she’s brutal, she’ll be honest with me. Also more recently my boyfriend.
Dream Collaboration: Raye, or maybe Adele
Dream Venue: KOKO Camden
Beau Bennett
Beau Bennett’s performance was full of sunshine and nostalgia, filled with themes of growing up and finding herself. Beau had a truly stunning voice, resembling that of Maggie Rogers. Beau’s songs made you feel connected to her as a person, as she invited the room to share not just in her music but in her fresh songs written about her recent experiences. The perfect ending to an intimate show, that was over way too soon.
Favourite Artists and Inspiration: Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac, Taylor Swift, Lizzy McAlphine, Olivia Dean, Raye, Joni Mitchell.
Lyrics You Wish You Had Written: ‘Time wont fly its like I’m paralysed by it’ and ‘I’ll follow you down ‘Til the sound of my voice will haunt you’.
First Person to Hear Your New Songs: Caitlin is usually the first person we send each other songs. Since doing that and sending her my songs it’s been really good pushing me out of my comfort zones. My mum is also one of the first people I show.
Dream Collaboration: Would have to be Taylor Swift. Or maybe Holly Humberstone.
Dream Venue: Union Chapel or Glastonbury is also a massive goal.
