Today is the start of a new EatKS journey
Today is the start of a new journey,
After several years of not doing any EatKS (Everything and the Kitchen Sink) shows, it is time to rebuild again.
Many of my listeners will remember my beast of a website, EatKS dot net (in 2014), that had not only had the shows on that site but also the playlist was hyperlinked so that you can purchase the tracks yourself! And also, the show was on two other music sites AND iTunes.
I had to build a site (with help, of course) in the first three years of doing Everything and the Kitchen Sink; I had encountered racism at one radio station and another, passive-aggressive treatment because I wouldn't put my hobby before my career. I learned that the gatekeepers in the music scene, no matter how subtle…. were REAL and not only for people getting paid but also for the DIY hobbyists. If I wanted to continue sharing my love of music with others, I needed a place where I could do it safely without worrying about it being held "hostage" by some man that didn't like I was holding them accountable for their actions.
After struggling to get my chronic illness under control and a serious battle with depression, I just threw in the towel and gave up. It was one of the most heartbreaking events in my life. I had poured all my heart and soul into my show, writing my musings and collaborating with others. It was tough to let go.
Then back in 2020, I tried to bring EatKS back to life at a new site that would be less work for me. I LOVE sharing my love of music with others. It's been a struggle over the past many years because I will not play nice with microaggressive people in the music scene.
I am fortunate enough that my show has always been a hobby where I can stand up for marginalized communities either in public or privately when I feel like a music site owner, music writer or music "curator," and sure, it gets me blacklisted in the music scene. Still, it's different from where I get my paycheck from.
I was angered that SO MANY people in the scene just couldn't be bothered to address all the sexual harassment/assaults that continue to be uncovered in the music scene. The same men and women had no problem publicly calling out Cosby, Weinstein, Ghomeshi, and Kelly but stayed silent for others like Manson and Butler.
I burned A LOT of bridges in the music scene because I cannot, with good conscience, be fake with people that pick and choose when to get up on a soapbox and be a public ally to SA survivors. Being an ally doesn't mean you pick and choose which men or women to call out. You call out ALL or none. I have more respect for true centrists that just stay the fuck out of the discourse altogether.
People don't seem to understand that you can create art and be a horrible person to others. Both these things can be true. And it is really, really important to stop covering up a man or a woman's abuse for the sake of their artistry. We will never rid the world of this type of abuse if we don't allow a space where everyone can critically talk about it.
After reflecting on why I stopped participating in the DIY music scene, I realized that I shouldn't stop because of the hypocrisy of people in the scene and that even a tiny amount of EatKS is better than not existing again.
I want to collaborate with a new generation of women and marginalized individuals in the DIY music scene. We will create and hold space for others in the DIY music scene. As Joe Strummer said