'Females In Metal' Book Author Interviewed

December 7, 2008

Metal Portal recently conducted an interview with Marta Samitowska, who recently launched a publishing company called Muse(ic) Books through which she is planning to release a series of books on female-fronted metal artists. Her newest 134-page book, "Through My Eyes, In Their Own Words - Females In Metal And Beyond - Part I" features portraits and in-depth interviews with:

* Kari Rueslåtten
* Amanda Somerville
* Anette Olzon
* Monika Edvardsen
* Irene Jansen
* Manda Ophuis
* Laurie Ann Haus
* Ellen Schutyser
* Dawn Desirée
* Sabine Dünser (interviewed before her death)
* Maja Konarska
* Diana Serra
* Franziska Huth
* Marta Batinic
* Paulina Maslanka

The book costs 10.60 euros, including the tax service and shipping costs. Orders can be emailed to: [email protected]. It is possible to pay via PayPal.

For more information, visit www.museicbooks.nl.

An excerpt from Metal Portal's interview with Samitowska follows below.

Metal Portal: Some time ago you've released the first part of "Through My Eyes, In Their Own Words - Females In Metal And Beyond". How did you actually come up with an idea of writing series of books about female-fronted metal artists? Did you wake up one day with that idea in your mind, or what?

Samitowska: The more I got into this genre, the deeper I went, the more I realized how many talented females in metal there were. So the idea to write a series of books about women in metal wasn't born in one day. I became aware of the fact that there's so much talent out there, and that it would be nice to promote it a bit more. First I was planning to publish just one book, but the ideas kept coming. I was discovering more and more fascinating bands and artists, and at some point I just had too much material for one book only. Now I have enough interviews for part II and even III. I'm also working on another project: female-fronted metal seen through male eyes. But I don't want to reveal too much yet.

Metal Portal: "Through My Eyes..." isn't actually your first book about women in metal music. Could you tell me something about "Power And Majesty" which was written some time ago?

Samitowska: "Power and Majesty" was written in 2004. It was totally self-published and self-financed. The booklet contained four chapters; each dealing with a different theme: the beginnings, singing, songwriting and image. For this project I interviewed some of the better-known female singers in metal: Cristina Scabbia, Liv Kristine, Anneke van Giersbergen, Floor Jansen, Simone Simons, Sarah Jezebel Deva, Angela Gossow, etc. I think it was maybe too early for me to write such a book then. Right now I think I know way more about metal, the whole scene and also about writing in general. So some of the things I would have done differently now. But still, I am very proud of it and the booklet definitely contains many interesting quotes from the featured ladies.

Metal Portal: Don't you have some kind of impression that you write books about women to prove something? Maybe just to refute some negative stereotypes about women in metal?

Samitowska: That's correct. It is not just an impression. It is my goal. I want to show that women in metal also have lots of interesting things to say; that they're creative, intelligent and strong. And that they're definitely no puppets in what seems to be a male-dominated genre.

Metal Portal: What do you think about the common opinion about ladies in metal being nothing but a bunch of whores?

Samitowska: It's the same as saying that everyone who listens to metal is a satan worshipper. After taking a closer look at the genre, one realises that all such prejudice is just rubbish. And not only when it comes to metal. I hate this kind of generalizing.

Read the entire interview from Metal Portal.

Find more on
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • reddit
  • email

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).