Elis Paprika says that many times, when she went on stage, they wanted to tamper with her amp or guitar pedalboard without her permission, because they believed that, being a woman, she had no idea how her instrument worked. She was also repeatedly told that no girl would teach a man how a show worked. And there are other similar stories, but she prefers to focus on what she thinks is worth it.
With more than two decades in the music industry, this Mexican rock singer and songwriter accumulates, like so many other women in the media, a history of sexist discrimination which, despite everything, has only strengthened her projects on and off the stage. And it is that things have not been easy for her. About her Her two obstacles: being a woman and being independent (from the big record labels).
That’s why she is excited in an interview with Mexican sun, because for the first time in a national festival there will be a stage dedicated exclusively to the presentation of women’s projects. Furthermore, all the technical staff behind it is also made up of women.
This is Portamérica, an event that will be held in Guadalajara on November 12 and which will feature the Equal Spotify Stage, where Elis Paprika, Pahua, Mexico Jazz Crew, Mare Warning and Guaracheras will perform. The rest of the lineup is made up of La Santa Cecilia, Porter, Vetusta Morla, Siddhartha and Instituto Mexicano del Sonido.
“It has been a tough and bumpy road, with a lot of learning. (Have this scenario) is the achievement of an eight plus year job with several other women in the industry. In reality, there is no shortage of women in music, but rather a lack of visibility”, says the interpreter, who through her Now Girls Rule initiative has promoted work networks, workshops, camps and many other meetings that combine participation and female strength. within the Latin American music market.
One of the companies that has supported her work is Spotify, the streaming music platform where, in fact, there are more men than women in the catalog of artists. This, however, is not unique to this service, but to the entire industry, which has lacked gender equality for decades, notes Alejandro Grajeda Artist & Label Partnership Lead for Spotify.
“Since its inception, Spotify has been dedicated to empowering female creators, but I think this Equal program gives a little more meaning and continuity to the visibility of women on the platform. Spotify has long realized that the vast majority of artists who are on the platform are men ”, specifies the manager.
Elis Paprika has always been aware of the gender discrimination faced by women in the music industry. However, it was only when she worked hard on issues such as management or bookings, which are fundamental to the promotion of any artist, that she realized that there are also girls who do not know that there are certain trades or professions out there. inside the market. In other words, women needed more impetus in areas such as manufacturing or administrative and technical management positions.
“There are a lot of women who are doing things and not being made visible. When I was a girl and started in music, I always thought that I would go to the United States, to tour around the world, because my references were American or European artists. But then when Rita Guerrero, Julieta Venegas and others came out, I said, “Yes, I can do it here.” It’s important to have references of Mexican women doing things,” shares Paprika.
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“There are so many jobs that many girls don’t even know exist, but I can say that, in the 18 years that Elis Paprika has been here, I have seen an absolute change. There are already many women working as bookers, managers, producers, but we have yet to recognize each other and know that we are doing things right, even though I know it is a process that takes years. It’s very inspiring, it’s not about going back,” she says.
Spotify’s Equal program doesn’t just operate in Mexico. It is a global initiative present in 184 countries and promoted by 400 ambassadors. Equal playlists, which cover a large number of music genres performed only by women, already amass 13 million listener hours worldwide.
