Why feminist rocker Kim Gordon wrote a song from the perspective of an alt-right man
The Sonic Youth founding member talks about her new solo album on Q
Kim Gordon has been a huge influence for many feminist artists, ranging from the riot grrrl punk movement to the films of Sofia Coppola.
But the Sonic Youth rocker decided to look at the world from a man's perspective in a song from her new solo album, The Collective.
I'm a Man is about a man involved in right-wing political and extremist groups. Gordon cites U.S. Senator Josh Hawley as a major inspiration for the lyrics, as he is quite outspoken about how feminism has destroyed masculinity.
"I thought that was pretty funny that he saw himself as a victim," she says in an interview with Q's Tom Power.
Gordon decided to get into the character as one of these men when writing and singing the song. She asked herself: "What does it sound like to have a man complaining about this?"
Some lines from the song include: "So what if I like the big truck?" and "Don't call me toxic / Just 'cause I like your butt."
Gordon says performing this song on the album made her more "empathetic" toward these men's feelings — even if she doesn't agree with them.
"Some men just want a big truck, you know?" she says. "I don't want to be judgy about it. I want other people to feel like they can decide."
WATCH | Official video for I'm a Man:
Conceptual music is nothing new for Gordon. The 70-year-old has been making conceptual art since she started off as a visual artist in New York in the '80s. She used to create art exhibits in people's apartments, describing them as "psychological interior design."
Gordon befriended artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Dan Graham. Without these people, she may have never formed Sonic Youth.
Graham created a performance art piece that needed an all-girl punk rock group and invited Gordon to play in it. Miranda Stanton was also in this band, and the two became friends. Stanton then introduced Gordon to Thurston Moore, her Sonic Youth bandmate and now ex-husband.
"I basically see myself as a visual artist who plays music," Gordon says.
Her creativity continues to bring her new fans. Younger folks have been creating awe-inspired reaction videos to the new songs on The Collective. But Gordon doesn't like when people use the word "icon" to describe her.
"The word 'icon' brings to mind something that's completed and frozen in a certain way," she says.
And Gordon doesn't plan on stopping any time soon.
"Well, what else would I do?" she says. "It's still a real challenge to me, making art."
The full interview with Kim Gordon is available on our podcast, Q with Tom Power. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Interview with Kim Gordon produced by Lise Hosein.
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