Last year, a new festival held their first event in the Bay Area in California. Doll Fest describes itself as “a celebration of the feminine energy, friendship, and community gathering together in support of one another.” This year, Doll Fest is back! Volume II will be held in Oakland, CA on March 28th and 29th with a pre-party on the 27th. And the lineup this year is just as jaw dropping and inspiring as the last.
We wanted to get in on the action, so we’ve asked the amazing bands a handful of questions about the festival including who they’re stoked to be playing with and what they think a festival of this caliber means to our scene.
We sat down with Grey Starr of Oakland, CA-based Goth/Alt band Pretty Frankenstein who shares the importance of festivals like Doll Fest. The diverse lineup offers both the artists and show-goers representation, inclusivity, and the comfort of being in a room with likeminded individuals. Check out the interview below and grab your tickets to Doll Fest today!
Interview
What does playing a femme-only festival like Doll Fest mean to you personally?
It means a lot to me to be on a lineup like this. Often times, I’m the only trans femme on a bill, let alone the only Filipino or Iranian artist, so to be able to play something as inclusive as this fest is an honor.
How does playing a festival like this shift the energy—on stage or in the crowd?
There’s times for a lot of us when we’re not sure what kind of crowd we’re playing to and if people will get what we’re putting down. Knowing you’ll be on the bill with, and playing to likeminded individuals is very refreshing and I think that could only help with feeling more energized. Like, we all know how shitty things are right now, so being able to put on a show for our people makes us want to put on the best one we can!
What would you want a younger version of yourself to feel seeing this lineup?
I think it would have been awesome to see this amount of representation in a festival growing up. So, I think a younger me would have been pretty stoked as the queer teen I was.
What does “taking up space” look like for you as a femme musician?
I think being completely unapologetic as a transgender Filipino/Iranian in a band, in the time we’re in, is an act of defiance. Currently, there are horrible things happening to people of my background in the countries my elders migrated from, and constant hate towards trans people from literal lawmakers, so to be able to use my voice this way is something I don’t take for granted.
Who are some femme artists—past or present—who have inspired you or paved the way?
Growing up I wanted to be like Joan Jett or Brody Dalle so bad, haha. If you listen to us and hear me go “ow!” In any song, that’s Joan. But aside from her, Odetta Holmes inspires the fuck out of me. Her voice is immaculate and amazing. Brittany Howard gives me chills every time I hear her voice as well. Tori Amos was a big influence for me lyrically. Ruby Ibarra is always an inspiration as a fellow Filipina and Bay Area rapper. I’ll also give a shoutout to my mother, Edwina, who is in my band, for paving the way for me musically. Being supportive, and showing me great music as a kid. Also… The Last Dinner Party is a band I’m super into right now.
How does your identity influence your music, performance style, or the stories you tell?
It’s pretty much our entire thing musically. I don’t know how to write things I don’t identify with to be honest. If a song of ours isn’t spooky or goth (which I am), it’s gonna be about my queerness or something I’ve been through.
How does your lived experience show up in your lyrics or live performance?
It shows up in the lyrics by it being almost a source of therapy and getting all the fear, anger, and every other emotion out. And in the live performance, I mean, I have really bad anxiety and panic attacks, and for me, the stage has always been the comfort zone. Something happens where I’m the most of who I am on stage and performing live. Making our audience feel that comfort to just let go is always my goal.
What is one local or regional band near you that you want the whole world to know about and want them to play Doll Fest?
Hmmm, cemetery sex, rat bath, Sara and the Safe Word, tsunami bomb, Tears for the dying, Vosh, Frankie and The Studs, punk funk mob, mostly mesh, Josie cotton, well hung heart, Dark Chisme, there’s so many, I can keep going with a very long list. Screaming Females to headline would be a fucking dream! That band is phenomenal!
Have you experienced moments where being a femme artist shaped how you were received in the music scene?
Absolutely! I’ve been queer most my life, and I transitioned in 2020, but it really did change the way we present our live shows and kinda helped us see the types of events we wanna say yes or no to. To play on a bill where I won’t be misgendered by the other acts or people running things is always nice, haha.
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