Some time ago, when calling out industry plant bands, I was attacked on Twitter by an editor from one of the biggest music magazines in the UK for not being supportive towards females. He was not able to comprehend that a feminist like me, would rebel against male created all female bands where each member was unhealthy skinny, blonde and white, weren’t writing any of their songs and the only topic they sang about was being in love with a cisgender boy. He also went as far to comment on my personal pictures (but of course), commenting on my age and couldn’t help himself to criticize the type of artists Indieterria supports – mainly women in rock and metal music of all colours, sizes and in many instances, queer. He took a special swipe at metal bands, calling them the worst on Earth. I don’t want to disappoint him and his buddies so here is another review that will probably give him an apoplexy attack.
Cinnamon Babe x OTEP single cover
Despite being a music journalist, the dude definitely knows nothing about music. If he knew, he wouldn’t be calling metal bands awful, he would just be quiet. Metal music is one of the biggest markets in the world, bringing billions in global revenue. Spotify’s own research shows that listeners enjoy heavy music more than pop and were returning to listen to the bands recommended to them. Since 2019, metal has been crowded the most listened to genre of music and the streaming in that category rises each year by whooping 150%. Metal heads are also the happiest people in the world and at this moment both UK and the US are enjoying a renaissance of nu metal, heavy metal and goth metal. This makes me incredibly happy. The main thing is, the artists of colour are given a platform for their creativity and are no longer only expected to make rap, ska or RnB music. From Hollywood A-listers (Willow Smith, Paris Jackson) to newcomers such as Nandi Bushell, ALTBLKERA, Bob Vylan, Nova Twins, Big Joanie (in the UK) and Cinnamon Babe, Jade The Serpent, Spirit Breaker, Jesus Piece (with the amazing Aaron Head) or Pleasure Venom (Audrey Campbell) in the US, heavy music is finally becoming more equal and inclusive. Just like Cinnamon Babe said on their first single – they are taking their culture back.
We have written about the lead singer Stormi Maya and Cinnamon Babe quite recently – we reviewed their single “Bad Dog” in June and it was our song of the month on our blog. Today, we have the opportunity to write about the band again. This time, they released a collaboration with the legendary OTEP and their song is called “The Man”. A word of warning Mr Very Important Editor – the song is feminist, condemns toxic masculinity and is performed by two women. Please stop reading at this point, it may be hazardous to your fragile little ego.
Stormi Maya in “The Man” video
Cinnamon Babe was founded only a few years ago but OTEP has been around a long time. The band is a project of Otep Shamaya, American rapper, singer, actress and writer. They released their first album in 2001 and for the past 20 years, they have built a legendary reputation as one of the most politically and socially conscious bands on the alternative scene. We are including links to OTEP’s social media pages and Wikipedia entry at the bottom of this review, please have a read, their career is truly spectacular.
Putting two outspoken, brave female musicians together resulted in sparks flying out in every direction. “The Man” is a fast paced, deeply meaningful track with catchy melody and a chorus that will install itself in your head and live there rent free for months. This is a dream single for rock radio stations all over the world – the song sends an important message while being very radio friendly (minus a bit of explicit language at the end). Of course, because it has strong feminist lyrics, upon its release, it already ruffled some feathers of the right-wing pundits and followers of the debunked Alpha Male theory where men are born to lead and provide and women are reduced to caring and kitchen duties. Just take a look at the comments under the video or tweets directed at Stormi Maya – you will immediately know what I mean. The hate flowing from some keyboard warriors (almost exclusively the Y chromosome holders) is unbelievable. And if you add to the mix that Stormi is an artist of colour and Otep Shamaya an unrepentant lesbian (and vegan!!), the abuse they receive is a sickening concoction of racism, homophobia, misogyny and toxic masculinity. Pass the bucket please.
Stormi and Otep Shamaya
The single is titled “The Man” and as one commentator eloquently described it, it is a wish list that every woman has at some point in their lives. I cannot agree more. “I wish I had a dick cause what I’d say would stick” sings Stormi and it reminds me how many times I had exactly the same thoughts in my mind. Women are being criticized not because they are incoherent or lack some skills, but because of their gender. What we say, especially the word “no”, is not taken seriously enough. Guys do not have this problem, what they say is what they do and nobody questions their mental or social abilities. It just goes. The same with what they wear, where they go at every time of day or night, how they behave – it is never questioned, just widely accepted, even if the behaviour is erratic or vile. Sometime ago, a drunk bunch of guys got their weenies out in the middle of the street and urinated on flower bed in the Manchester city centre where I live. When police officer arrived, he fist-bumped the culprits and told them to leg it. You know, boys will be boys, the lads had just a tiny bit too much to drink and nothing really happened, right? The criminal damage, indecent exposure, harassment of young girls at the nearby bus stop – nothing mattered cause a man in uniform was covering for other guys. But when women were furious and went to organize a vigil for the brutally murdered Sarah Everald, they were pepper sprayed and arrested. “I want to rip off those tits” is another line from the song that will resonate with all women. Just because we have breast, somehow it is an excuse for some dudes to harass us in the streets. Maybe if we didn’t have them, we would be left alone?
Another comment that really got me thinking found resemblance between “The Man” and “I Wish” by Skee-Lo with “The Man” apparently being the feminist version of Skee-Lo’s hit song. Nice try bro, but a big no. If we actually look at what Skee-Lo wish for is to be “tall, bold, have a girl with a kid I could call”, nowhere near what Stormi Maya and Otep sing about in “The Man”. Don’t get me wrong – what he wishes for is also important (family, self-assurance) but those are things that can be obtained by just being a decent human being. What women want is to be able to decide about our bodies, about our health care, being able to wear what we want without being harassed, beaten or raped. We want to go out and not have to carry a heavy pack of keys to defend ourselves. We want to just live, be safe, be respected. Skee-Lo laments that he is not tall enough to play basketball, women want to survive a late-night trip to the grocery shop. How is that relatable? It shows how badly guys misunderstand what women truly want. It sadly reminds me of the famous quote by Margaret Atwood – “Men are afraid that women will laugh at them. Women are afraid that men will kill them.”The best thing would be if the world just left women in peace. If we were able to live our lives like we want to without fear or guilt being imposed on us, we wouldn’t be singing songs like “The Man”. We would be happily going about with our existence. But I don’t think the world will change anytime soon, so be ready for another generation of very pissed off females. We are sick of men’s bullshit and we are not going to be quiet. We don’t care if you like hearing our grievances or not, but well-behaved women rarely make history. And we need to make history for a better future.
So keep on shouting ladies. Loud and clear for every dude in the back that is still stuck in a previous century.
You can follow Cinnamon Babe/Stormi Maya on socials:
https://www.weaudition.com/stormij
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8598252/
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CinnerBabe
https://www.instagram.com/cinnamonbabemusic
https://www.tiktok.com/@ultimatecinner
https://twitter.com/CinnamonBabe304
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0A64Cmp7_vsAbzTO5hYVXg
Follow OTEP online at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otep
https://otepsaves.me/
https://www.facebook.com/otepofficial
https://instagram.com/otep_shamaya
https://twitter.com/otepofficial
http://girlgoesgrrr.tumblr.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6iswhpc2w6na3lS1vehFXF
“The Man” is released on 20th of July 2023.
More info:
https://www.metalsucks.net/2023/07/20/cinnamon-babe-and-otep-use-nu-metal-to-take-on-the-man/
https://brutalplanetmag.com/cinnamon-babe-partners-with-otep-on-new-single-the-man-video/
Rita Dabrowicz
Indieterria 