We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stells Di Rossi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stells below.
Stells, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
More so than you’d think.
One of the most interesting things that I’ve experienced is how people that are not used to seeing someone like me perform in a rock music environments reactions. For some reason many people still tend to want to use pigment association with music genres in a post segregative era like a bad social habit.
At first they see a plus sized woman of color and an acoustic electric guitar and go straight to assuming the band is a blues, folk or R&B/soul act- we are actually alternative rock.
Once we perform, they still seem confused and a lot of people assume the genre of my music based on stereotype and stigma. Sadly for some reason a lot of people can’t accept that we aren’t folk rock, we aren’t metal or punk – it’s just alternative rock. It’s like they would rather it be anything else than what it actually is because of stereotypes- like being different and changing the rules is not ok, but that’s who I am. I’m a black female alternative rock artist.
Stells, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I was pretty much born into the arts and music, I come from a family that has generations of artist.
I am mostly known for my music. I’m the lead singer and songwriter for the international alternative rock band Method to the Madness. I also sometimes make musical cameos to show love to my creative brothers and sisters by lending my voice, guitar, bass or fiddle from time to time. The band has been touring and recording since 1999. Played international music festivals both in person and remotely online.
I’m a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, artist on canvas, fashion designer and model as well; but more than anything I love music with all that I am.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One of the things most people don’t realize is how frustrating the music industry is toward women. The music industry majority male dominated, women make up a very small percentage.
The social norms of rock music tend to lean more toward men and sadly women of color in rock are extremely rare. They often confuse pop stars or try to mention one or two women of color that attempted to migrate beyond racial stigma; but there aren’t very many in the alternative and hard rock genre- and of the few, almost none are plus sized.
This creates a bias and a lot of “gatekeeer” mentality in the boys club. Being female, playing harder music automatically you’re labeled angry. But the double standard for men it’s alright to perform or write emotional music and not as widely accepted as a woman.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
My entire career I’ve dealt with social disease and stereotypes for breaking the norm.
At first the racism, body shaming and negative back handed compliments used to really hurt. But as my skin grew thicker doing what I loved, I realized rather than internalize- I could use my talent and art to challenge the intolerance and prove arrogance and stigma wrong.
Music and art have a way of transcending how humanity feels. It’s what feelings sound like. So by writing about these scenarios and feelings it helps others know they aren’t alone. And it helps others relate to begin to open up.
Contact Info:
- Website: Check Out Method to the Madness on ReverbNation! – http://www.reverbnation.com/open_graph/artist/7252146
- Instagram: @getalittleloco
- Facebook: @getalittleloco
- Youtube: @getalittleloco
- Other:
You can check out original music by Method to the Madness on your favorite global streaming platform! And don’t forget to check out my official podcast radio show THOR Radio on your favorite podcasting platform.Band merch can be found here:Art abs Home Decor based on my original paintings can be found here:
Image Credits
THOR Media Productions