Lzzy Hale , frontwoman of Halestorm , reflected on the sexualization of female artists in the hard rock scene, especially in the band's early days.
For several consecutive years, the guitarist and vocalist was voted one of the "Sexiest Girls in Metal" by Revolver . In an interview with the Riff X , transcribed by Blabbermouth , Lzzy talked about how this was a way to gain media attention for Halestorm.
“Many years ago, when we were starting to tour and trying to get attention for the band, I got involved in a lot of situations like that… And, in many ways, I felt a little alienated because I’ve never been someone who completely exposes myself, you know? I’d show up [on those sexy lists] and I was the only one fully clothed. But yeah, you’re kind of forced to do that if that’s the [desired] magazine, to get attention for your band and talk about the music and everything else,” she said. “But yeah, we’ve been totally sexualized over the years.”
In Lzzy Hale's view, there's a possibility of changing the narrative when the artist speaks her mind in her music, as this shows she's more than just a sexy girl. "For me, you can flip that and express what you think in your songs, and thus always have the last word on the subject, so to speak," she explained.
A friend of other women in rock and metal, such as Amy Lee and Taylor Momsen , the Halestorm frontwoman notices a positive shift in the presence of women in the scene, both on stage and behind the scenes. “That has definitely changed. Just a few years ago, I was probably the only woman at one of those festivals, and that’s no longer the case. I’m very proud of that and it’s wonderful to see all my colleagues achieving success,” she concluded.
Whether or not to use one's own image to gain more attention and career opportunities in music is a constant dilemma for women, especially in male-dominated musical genres. In 2021, guitarist Nita Strauss also spoke about the subject, emphasizing the importance of authenticity. Read more here .
In 2023, Lzzy Hale featured on "Violence No Matter What ," a single from the latest album by the band AVATAR . The artist described the song as "an opportunity to express my anger against the horrors of this world."
Halestorm's most recent release is the album Back From The Dead (2022), which showcases a stronger and more organized side of the band. Wikimetal had the opportunity to talk to bassist Josh Smith about the project. Check out the full interview.
