In this episode of Femmecult Radio, I interview writer, filmmaker, artist and all around effective troublemaker, Jex Blackmore. She is well known for her confrontational performance art pieces which are usually held in civic spaces. Her work addresses the links between moral religious rhetoric, sexuality, and political policy.  [Religion] is a powerful form of manipulation where even the act of questioning is deemed sinful and something you can be condemned to an eternity of punishment for. It has a profound effect on the capacity for people to be curious, and inquire and challenge the established power structure. From Femmecult Radio Episode 018, Interview with Jex Blackmore “Sanctions of the Cross” was a response to an anti-choice protest held at a Planned Parenthood location in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Good Friday. The procession was a testament to the burden of oppressive mandates endured by women who are forced to consider the religious opinions of the legislature while making personal family planning decisions. (from www.jexblackmore.com) She has often been the target of protest by the Catholic Church for her outspoken and confrontational work. She has also been called a tireless crusader for bodily autonomy, in that her work seeks to interrogate oppressive social institutions and ideas that undermine reproductive rights, and the freedom of women to choose what happens to their own bodies. She has been featured in many publications including TIME, Vanity Fair, Washington Post, NPR, Cosmopolitan and Salon, and was featured in the 2019 documentary “Hail Satan?” Her reproductive rights advocacy has ranged from disrupting anti-choice rallies to debating the Westboro Baptist Church and her recent exhibition in Detroit, “Sex Militant”, was listed as one of the best art exhibitions of 2019 by the Chicago Reader. …you have this systemic oppression of people who are not...

Emily Esperanza is a non-binary filmmaker and artist whose work questions the conventional narrative of storytelling to bring progressive ideas into focus. Their work has been screened at festivals all over the United States and has won many awards of excellence. Their 2018 film Make Out Party was the official selection for several film festivals including the Las Vegas Queer Arts Festival, and also winning the award for most innovative short film at the 23rd Annual TWIST Seattle Queer Film Festival in Seattle, WA. Make Out Party (2018) Esperanza is currently working on a feature length film called LOTERÍA, drawing from experience producing films that explore themes of youthful rebellion and the celebration of underground culture. Our conversation gets into everything from the importance of presenting familiar archetypes and heros clothed in different skin to their experiences of developing and listening to intuition while on set. Please join me, your host Christina Broussard aka SciFiSol Music, for this conversation with an innovative young filmmaker who uses their brilliant directorial eye to create works that have already been compared to many notable cult film directors of underground cinema. Take a look at Esperanza on Vimeo as well for more information about her work. Thanks for listening! You can subscribe and listen to the Femmecult podcast on Mixcloud, iTunes, Spotify, and Stitcher and our hosted episode page. Make Out Party (2018) Additional credit for material used in the podcast: Make Out Party (2018) and SPIDER AND FLY (2013). The song featured in the excerpt of MOP is ‘Riot’ by Glamour...

Anna Jordan is a trans-disciplinary artist based in Berlin, who focuses her work in the digital electronic realm as a painter, video artist and electronic musician. Her auditive work is released under her moniker, The Allegorist, for which she has 2 albums out now, and she is quoted as saying its format mixes all styles and genres and sets no limitations… Anna Jordan, The Allegorist Her most recent album was released in 2018, on Detroit Underground, is called Hybrid Dimension I a full length audio visual masterpiece that features music videos for each track on the album. One of which is being screen at international film festivals, and is  entitled Humandroid Lovers, so please find time to view that before or after the podcast to expose yourself to a beautiful example of her work. We are so excited to have her on the podcast in which she talks about her inspirations, perseverance, some technical aspects of her productions, and her artistic motivations. Thanks for listening! You can subscribe and listen to the Femmecult podcast on Mixcloud, iTunes, Spotify, and Stitcher and our hosted episode page. Find Anna Jordan online: www.annajordanproject.com...

Portland self-described ‘Electrohaze’ artist Darkswoon (Jana Cushman) makes brooding tunes that get deep inside your head. She blends gritty exotic guitar melodies with sharply danceable distorted beats– an electrifying foundation for soaring vocals that peak into your soul. A magic light emanating from the fog and the trees, her sound is not one that is easily forgotten. Check out this music video featuring a track off of Darkswoon’s most recent release Silhouettes, Necromancer by Portland, OR video artist Christina Broussard. Visit Darkswoon online:...

Fiona Soe Paing has just released an impressive 12 song debut, via Colliderscope Records, complete with visual art by Zennor Alexander to accompany it. Alien Lullabies has been getting rave reviews and it’s no surprise. Her unique sound channels a super funky futuristic blues-tronic vibe that sets itself apart in an effortless blending of styles. Soe Paing has an impressive grasp on storytelling through song and ‘Ballad of the Two Sisters‘ is one example, in which her expressive voice and lyrics capture a longing and sadness that allude to a haunting tale we can only continue to unravel within our own imaginations. It’s this type of cinematic minimalism that is so alluring; with just a taste our senses can’t help but be enveloped by her sound. Soe Paing draws from a rich sonic palette merging well thought out sound design and electronics, with traditional instruments that make for a quite hypnotic strain of electronica. She captures a playful vibe on ‘Roller Ghoster’ showing that she has an easy grasp on the genre of dance music, yet takes it a step further by deconstructing the arrangement to create the aural simulation of being on a carnival ride. Read an interview with her on her creative process from Creative Scotland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzIvUGuIVzk Soe Paing is also a part of the Female Pressure network and talks about the importance of bringing more attention to female artists in her recent guest article on Female First Magazine. Alien Lullabies is available to purchase on all the major digital outlets, and you can also get physical copies via her bandcamp page. Have a listen and support this fantastic work of art....

Patti Schmidt, curator for MUTEK electronic music festival, talks about the politics surrounding raising the visibility of women in electronic music.

Midnight Magic is a nine piece live disco band based out of New York City that features Tiffany Roth on vocals, and is comprised of a horn section, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, and a live drummer and percussionist. They give a excitingly modern perspective on retro space disco.

This in depth interview features 2 live performance videos of Midnight Magic performing in New York City at The Cameo Gallery. In the interview, Tiffany talks about her history and training as a vocalist, some of her influences, and also goes into how Midnight Magic develops song material including compositional techniques and touches on their creative process. Please tune in to this entertaining conversation that gives a glimpse into the evolution of an artform from the perspective of the charismatic and talented front woman, Tiffany Roth.

Mysterious newcomer NEYBUU sent Femmcult a music video trailer for her upcoming single, Squirt Cherry.

Doris Schmid, video artist and Christina Nemec, author, composer and label head of Comfortzone Music speak with Femmecult about the process of collaborating for the music video, Uruguay Lovely Maldita.

Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth comments on the necessity of the feminist voice in politics surrounding the recent imprisonment of Russian punk band Pussy Riot’s Nadezhda...

Artist and visionary, Kirsty Mitchell creates magical wonderlands captured through photography. A passion for art in her early years propelled her studies in fine art leading her to train in ‘Costume for Film and Theatre’ at the London College of Fashion. Completing a degree with honors in fashion design including internships with Alexander McQueen and Hussein Chalayan in her words has “affected [her] greatly.” Mitchell worked in fashion until 2007, but when personal illness struck, it brought about a genuine need to really express herself. She “used to say I had never truly ‘looked’ until it was through a lens…life was different, more beautiful, more sad, and extreme in every sense of the word.” The tragic death of her mother in 2008 brought about a need for escape from reality and this is when photography engulfed Mitchell “becoming an overwhelming passion that [she] could not stop.” Wanting to create images that echoed the belief in wonder generated by the stories her mother told her as a child, Mitchell combined her various backgrounds to “produce tangible pieces of my dreams.” She left her career in fashion behind in 2011 to focus purely on her photography and to great acclaim. She has been featured in countless publications and is doing her first solo exhibition at SWI gallery in London which goes from September 11-15, 2012. Visit Kirsty online to learn...