TOKiMONSTA isn’t afraid to get loud. Urging for greater inclusivity, she’s amplifying the power of her voice via social media to make noise. “I was never one to state my opinions on society outwardly. It wasn’t what I thought musicians should do,” explains Jennifer Lee, artist’s real name. “However, times are different now.” In an e-mail interview, Lee talks about the music industry’s shared responsibility in elevating artists from different backgrounds and highlights a series of “checks and balances” within the ecosystem. She also dishes on French artist Dombresky’s remix of her song “Come and Go.”
Photo Courtesy of Bethany Vargas
Thanks for taking the time to chat with 6AM amidst these wild times! Has organizing LOSTresort been keeping you busy on top of making music?
Quarantine times have made it somewhat difficult for me to be creatively productive. I think it’s a common sentiment for many people who are relegated to staying home during this time of social and political disarray. The show allows me to have some semblance of regularity in a very irregular life. It’s quite nice to have social interactions with new people every week and offer that experience to all my viewers.
RT SO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY CAN SEE THIS: When public gatherings resume, venue and festivals PROMOTERS / BOOKERS please do your part to BOOK MORE WOMEN, BOOK MORE POC, BOOK MORE DIVERSITY. I’ve been touring for 10 years and this industry hasn’t progressed enough.
— T᷈O᷈K᷈iM᷈O᷈N᷈S᷈T᷈A᷈ (@TOKiMONSTA) July 4, 2020
A recent tweet of yours caught my attention, and it’s so critical we continue being vocal on creating change in terms of inclusion when in-person live events become a thing again. It’s easy to fall back into old habits, but how can we hold each other accountable to ensure this doesn’t continue happening? Does change start at the local level or do we need to see the big music promoters paving the way?
It has to be a series of checks and balances. Musicians have a responsibility to mentor diverse artists. Managers and agents should take on diverse artists as a part of their roster. The press have the responsibility to highlight diverse artists in their articles, and the promoters have a responsibility to book diverse artists. This is at all levels, small and large.
To clarify further, I don’t mean any random diverse person, but talented ones who really deserve to be highlighted in an industry that tends to ignore them. For every talented socially and ethnically-privileged male musician, it is very likely there is an equally talented female, POC, queer, etc musician. Let’s seek them out and encourage a wide range of amazing music we can all enjoy.
Dombresky just recently released a remix of your track “Come and Go.” Is this your first time working with the French DJ? Have you guys actually met before or just virtual friends–the latter tends to happen often!
I love the rich history of French dance music and its impact on the rest of dance and electronic. Dombresky is an artist I still have not met in real life (definitely internet friends) but am looking forward to meeting at some point.
Shout out to the girls out there trying to be themselves in a world where ppl r trying to shut them down.