Rachael Fahim on creating a safer, more inclusive space
Eora/Sydney-based pop-country artist Rachael Fahim has just revealed her stirring new single, City Girls In The Country. She has penned an opinion piece for us:
We’ve all had an experience in our careers where we’ve felt overlooked, challenged or targeted by the big machine and those working under it.
It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that we are all just people attempting to make our way through an already challenging environment. There are certainly differences in the expectations and standards placed upon us as individuals, regardless of gender – though as a female artist in a genre (country music) that is still so heavily male-dominated at the top end, I’ve often found myself questioning if my career may have progressed further if I were a male artist and would that journey have felt so mentally taxing? Would my mind still carry the weight of past grievances? Would the mistakes and lessons learned along this path have been as impactful or simply brushed off because the top dog didn’t feel the same need to flex a bit of raw misogynistic muscle?
Over the last few years, we’ve seen a considerable rise in awareness, and the conversations have certainly started about the condition of the music industry; there are champions out there fighting for a change seeking to end toxicity.
I think this is important because the more these things are brought to light – the more freely artists can express themselves openly. As a result, we will hopefully see increased honesty, accountability and openness in the music industry.
I’m not seeking gratification for offering an opinion here, but am offering another voice alongside my fellow artists who simply deserve better, a voice that advocates for acknowledging the gaps in the scene where artists may be lost, an advocate for creating a safer space, a more inclusive space for us all, where artists of all genders and backgrounds can speak up.
Hopefully, we can all work together to help make our industry a better place for future generations.
Keep up to date with Rachael on Instagram.
