Nita Strauss , guitarist for Alice Cooper , spoke about the dilemmas of being a woman in the music industry, especially in rock, which is still a male-dominated field.
The artist specifically commented on using sensuality as a way to promote her own work. “I think it’s important to embrace who you are as a woman, especially in this industry, but in any other as well,” she said in an interview with radio station 95.5 KLOS (via Ultimate Guitar) . “I spent a lot of time trying to figure out where my role was in all of this and I went to both sides of the spectrum.”
The "two sides" she refers to are completely opposite approaches that female artists tend to adopt, whether in the objectification or denial of sensuality.
“I did things that made me think, ‘You know what? I feel like I don’t need to expose myself so much.’ And then I went in the opposite direction, [thinking] ‘I need to be more covered up to be taken more seriously, I can’t wear makeup or feel pretty, [I’ll] wear an oversized men’s shirt to be recognized as a guitarist. And I’m not like that either.’”
In Nita's view, the solution lies in being yourself. “I think you just have to be true to yourself. I think it’s important to be a woman and embrace your femininity. And some women are ready to go out and be sexy – to be a sexy, tough woman, to do what you love to do,” she noted. “And there are some who don’t want to embrace that part and don’t want that, and that’s okay. I think the most important thing is to be authentic.”
Currently, Strauss is promoting his solo single "Dead Inside ," featuring David Draiman , vocalist of Disturbed .
READ ALSO: Nita Strauss on the beginning of her career: "They constantly took advantage of me"
