The Politics of Women's Music: A Conversation with Linda Tillery and Mary Watkins

Abstract

Women's came into being in the early seventies, in response to a political movement that needed artistic expression. The political movement gave women musicians both an understanding of the ways in which they were shut out of the male-dominated music industry and the collective consciousness to organize. The results are recording and distribution companies, concert production companies, a music circuit whose audience is mainly women, and, to a certain extent, a distinctive women's sound, characterized by accessibility, intimacy within musical groupings, woman-identified lyrical themes, musical eclecticism, and the musical integrity that comes from not trying to reach mass audiences. Linda Tillery and Mary Watkins have been part of the music circuit almost since its official beginning, the foundation of Olivia Record Company in 1973 in Washington, D.C. Both Tillery and Watkins have performed a variety of roles in the music industry, with Olivia based in Oakland, California, with Redwood Records (founded by Holly Near), and on their own labels. They have produced records for other musicians, provided musical support on the albums of other artists, and released solo albums featuring their own music. Both of them seem to be constantly on the road, and both of them continue to grow and change musically as they collaborate, not only with each other, but with different configurations of musicians whose styles and traditions confront and influence one another.