Kate Nash Speaks About Feminism and Authenticity

Posted on Mar 15th 2010 8:30AM by James Lawrenson
Comments

Kate Nash has spoken about the importance of feminism to her in an interview ahead of of the release of her new album, 'My Best Friend is You.'

She said, "It's really important to be a strong role model. It's one of my main things because I feel I've been exposed in such an extreme way to a lot of sexism. I've become aware of being in a very male-dominated industry where a door opens and it's like, 'Oh hello, it's 12 men and me. Again.'"

One reported incident was a drunken heckler shouting "Get your m--- out" at a London Barfly gig in September 2007, which lead to boyfriend Ryan Jarman (lead singer of the Cribs) launching a pint glass at the offender. He missed.

Speaking to Bang Showbiz, Nash said, "I actually think it's so damaging when I hear people saying, 'Oh it's so great - all these young female artists are doing so well.' I'm like, 'No, because big manufactured labels think that's what sells.' So they invent a bunch of pretty girls to do something alternative and build their indie careers when they've been signed to a major the whole time. It's annoying that it's seen as a good thing when it's as bad as before when there were no girls - because the image that is being sold is false."

Authenticity is clearly bothering Nash at the moment. Nash admitted to being a fan of 'proper' pop music. She said: "I don't mind shiny pop people, I don't mind Girls Aloud because they don't deny who they are and you're not in danger of buying into something that's not real."

She has little time for bands of the Pussycat Dolls ilk, saying: "They're called Pussy. Cat. Dolls. You don't need to say anything else really. It's encouraging sexualisation and sexuality in young kids, and I think that's a bit weird. When I was young I was listening to the Spice Girls and Destiny's Child. I was singing 'Independent Woman' and 'Survivor', and it was all about Girl Power and being with your friends. I don't think I was singing, 'Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me?'"

'My Best Friend Is You' is out April 19, with first single 'Do Wah Doo' out April 12. You can see a video of that song here.

She is also touring around in March, April and May, and can be seen at the following venues, on the following dates:

Berlin Admiralspalast im 101, Germany (March 18)
Dublin Academy, Ireland (April 7)
Machester Deaf Institute, England (April 16)
Birmingham Hare & Hound, England (April 17)
London Village Underground, England (April 22)
The Mod Theatre, Toronto, Canada (April 26)
Great Scott, Boston, Mass. (April 28)
The Bowery, New York City, N.Y. (April 29)
The Music Hall of Williamsburg, Williamsburg, N.Y. (May 1)
The Lincoln, Chicago, Ill. (May 3)
First Avenue, Minneapolis, Minn. (May 5)
Neumos, Seattle, Wash. (May 7)
Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, Calif. (May 8)
El Rey, Los Angeles, Calif. (May 11)