Alanis Morissette has revealed that there was no “sisterhood” of female artists in the ’90s.
The Canadian singer-songwriter has opened up about starting her career in the male-dominated music industry.
“In the ’90s, there was no sisterhood, kumbaya thing going on. It was quite the opposite, actually,” the 50-year-old told W Magazine. “The pervasive messaging was very much: You pick a lane, and you stay in it. And if you step out of your lane, it’s career suicide, which is total bulls**t.”
Acknowledging that the industry has evolved since then, Alanis explained that “there are all these allowances for us to be multitudinous”.
The Ironic hitmaker recalled that in the early years of her career, she was often the only woman performing at festivals.
“I was on these festival bills with 342 men, and I was the only woman,” she said. “The male bands would move around where they were on the evening’s poster, because who cares? It’s Alanis. She can play before me.”
Alanis continued, “And then I’d show up and I would put my foot down, and they’d be super gaslighty, like, ‘Oh, she’s a diva.’ In moments like that, I was just like, God, where is the f**king powerful divine feminine?”
Because she didn’t have any mentors when she came up in the industry, the singer tries to be one for emerging female musicians.
“So now, when I’m in a position where it’s flipped and maybe a young artist will have my phone number, I make sure that I respond like a motherf**ker,” she told the publication. “I want to be available for those who may need me…”
