Equalise My Vocals: A conversation about gender inequality in NZ music

Ngā mihi nui!

Firstly I'd like to thank everyone, including the Spinoff for supporting the Equalise My Vocals crowdfunder to get this mini-summit off the ground. Gender Equality in New Zealand music is something we can start addressing as a community. We are now looking to stage a panel event, public talk and afterparty in the first week of May in central Auckland (just in time for NZ Music Month - how bow dat!)

As our small team starts pulling this one-off event together (with some great resources and support now behind us) I do believe the conversation can start now. So I will be doing a supporting interview series for The Spinoff with a wide range of women, transgender and non-binary people, within all sectors of New Zealand music talking about their experiences. Equalise My Vocals is about sharing stories, pooling knowledge and experiences, while building a rolodex of resources for those who might need them in the future.

I think this project is simply a starting point, the event and this interview series doesn't claim to be a solution to the intense issues we raise - I think a 'catalyst contribution' is more realistic. It will take a collective effort from local music as a whole if we want to see shit improve for all genders long-term. Now more than ever, we need to be changing the conversation and passing the mic. I hope Equalise My Vocals leads to a lot more mic passing in future, including my own, ha! More updates to come!

– Coco Solid