Celebrating Women in Sound: Inside the Sapphic Spring Equinox
Glimmering disco balls, a maypole and glittery streamers greeted guests as they entered the historic Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club to a heart-shaped stage. Unmissable is a section set aside for tarot readings. There’s no confusion on the nature of this spring equinox. “Is anyone gay here?” asked first act, Louella Lucas, with the answer “everyone” almost sung back from somewhere within the crowd. Later, Rachelle of Comic Sans joked that it was “obvious everyone here is gay.” This was the Sapphic Spring Equinox, an event handpicked by the members of Woman Wept to showcase women and non-binary talents across various genres. Three of the four acts (Louella Lucas, Comic Sans, and Woman Wept) also teased upcoming singles and EPs.
To kick off the night, singer-songwriter Louella Lucas charmed the crowd with humour and songs, including a preview of a song to look forward to, coming out later this year. Lovella’s songs, accompanied by her keyboard playing, were bittersweet (described by her as ‘sad songs’) and silky as they reflected on the romances in her life, from situationships to relationships, to breakups and love songs. The audience was even graced with her first ever love song, beautifully melodic despite being written at age fifteen. Ultimately, Lucas’ silky performance warmed the night up for the upcoming artists.
Next up was Comic Sans, ‘like the font,’ the band declared. A five-piece punk band, described as “very lesbian’ by audience members, blended acoustic elements such as a trumpet and drums with electric guitar, anti-patriarchal lyricism and humour. Make no mistake about thinking Comic Sans is limited to this, as their set included a rap from lead Rachelle and guitarist Loz to introduce each member of the band. Cheers erupted from the audience as the band played punchy songs, with hard-hitting and unique instrumentals that even promoted a mosh pit within the crowd. Towards the end, the lead singer could be seen within the crowd, building up the energy for Woman Wept, condemning I.C.E, and declaring freedom for Palestine, Congo, and Iran.
The last band of the night, quartet Woman Wept, the organisers of the event, jokingly introduced as ‘orchestral’ by vocalist Sophie, is probably better described as a punk band with a lot to say about the patriarchy. The energy was felt by the crowd as dynamic riffs, vocals, and heavy kicking drums sang out to them, and band members danced around the stage. Unsurprisingly, from a band that organised an event to showcase the talents of individuals of marginalised genders, and to advocate for more diversity in music events, their stance on feminism and liberation was clear. Songs ranging from fast and rageful sad and slower paced, and even jazzy vocals, shared contempt about toxic masculinity and harassment were echoed across the room with listeners applauding in solidarity.
The Sapphic Spring Equinox was concluded with a club night where DJ Lusay brought throwbacks to a crowd of excited dancers. It is evident that the selection for the night was carefully curated as vinyl was Lusay’s medium of choice. The crowd came together in glee as they excitedly boogied to the well-blended tunes and had an opportunity to dance around the maypole.
In Conversation with Louella Lucas
Shortly after her set and right before, and during, our interview, Louella is complimented by an audience members who commend her for a well put on set and an amazing sense of humour. The excitement and passion for her work are heard from her while she thanks the audience members for the compliments.
What does it feel like to be on lineups such as tonight’s?
It feels “amazing” as there “aren’t enough spaces in London that platform female led lineups”. Nights like these create a safer, more supportive, and better vibe than some other spaces.
Is there any kind of support or energy backstage compared to other events?
Being a female artist backstage can be scary and isolating, but at events like these, the atmosphere is warmer, with more people willing to spark up a connection.
Have you discovered any other artists tonight through events like this?
Yes, I discovered Comic Sans tonight during soundcheck and downloaded their songs as they’re amazing.
What makes a night like this unforgettable like this for you as a performer?
I love having an attentive audience where I feel listened to and can even make jokes with the audience.
Do you think nights like this are still needed?
We can always have more nights like this that platform any minority or oppressed groups.
What should we know about your upcoming single and when does it come out?
I’m hopefully releasing a couple of singles in the summertime which will be available everywhere!
in Conversation with Woman Wept
Shortly after their performance, the members of Woman Wept were corralled into the spacious green room of Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club. Slightly muted by the double doors upstairs, DJ Lusay’s mixes created a rhythmic background to the pleasantries being shared. Woman Wept consists of Sophie on vocals, Nallie on bass, Grace on drums, and Fin on guitar. It should be noted that their passion for the other acts on the night did not go unmissed during the interview.
How was the band formed?
Woman Wept, with the name decided at Black Honey’s album release party three years ago and blessed by Izzy, started with Nallie who was looking for a guitarist and met Fin at a Black Honey show. Soon after, Sophie who was also looking for a band online, merged ideas with the group, along with Grace who had just moved to the UK. From its inception, the group’s ethos reflected building community spaces and events like the Sapphic Spring Equinox.
What does it feel like to share a lineup made entirely of women?
The lineup made room for not only women, but also nonbinary people too. It was very important to create a lineup like this as we found that the environment at other events could be unwelcoming to queer audiences. As a result, we wanted to create a safer and inspiring environment for people who don’t fit the “straight white male” stereotype of musicians and crowds.
Is there a different kind of support or energy backstage compared to male dominant lineups?
Yes, as events of this nature always create a supportive backstage environment.
Do you think that creative connections can be made at events like this?
Yes, events like this make it easier to find collaborators and make friends with other artists. There are programmes across the globe that exist to influence these connections. Venues like Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club are especially helpful in providing the opportunity to build community in an otherwise “big and unfriendly city” such as London as they support artists to put on community events such as every step of the way. Also notable is Brixton Windmill as that was where we were able to meet Comic Sans and Morocco Bound where we found Louella.
What makes a night like this unforgettable for you as a performer?
Nights like these are “about the journey” and “start[s] with the first conversation”. All the efforts of the band, from conception to finding the night’s performers, came together. It was amazing that people were there to have a good time, relate to our songs, and enjoy our music. It also felt like a “full circle” moment for the band and our musical journey.
Do you think nights like these are still needed, or should this just be the norm now?
Yes, nights like these are still needed with “up and coming bands” to create bridges between those who identify with queerness and creating a safe space for them to connect.
So, what’s the future of the band?
The band has an upcoming single, ‘Bite the Bullet’, and half joked about hoping for an upcoming slot on the pyramid stage at Glastonbury coming up in the future. At the moment, there is a fundraiser out with War Child where listeners can donate.
