Why We Should ALL Be Wearing Black On Wednesdays - An Interview with podcaster Yasmine Summan

Yasmine Summan is a multimedia Journalist, Social Media Manager and Podcaster with an undying love for Metal and emo culture. They use their platform to uplift and have been outspoken about the lack of representation within the music industry.  

I got to interview them about the industry and their new podcast On Wednesdays We Wear Black. 

MR: What inspired you to become a writer?

YS: Being a writer always came naturally, I was really bad at Math so I thought writing couldn’t be a bad shot, huh?

MR: During the course of your career, what have been some of the ups and downs that you have encountered?

YS: It’s hard to say because I’m still so new to the game! I’d say just getting my foot in the door was the hardest part, now I have friends who understand me and are fighting my corner - I feel a lot safer.

MR: You are always amplifying female artists on your TikTok - do you feel like womxn in Rock often get ignored?

YS: Oh absolutely, not just women but generally any minorities. Even the women that do make it are usually white, that’s nothing against them. But rock and metal NEEDS to diversify even further, we need women of colour and trans women at the front of rock and metal right now. 

MR: Tell me a little about your podcast On Wednesdays We Wear Black. 

YS: Well, it’s a place for the misfits and underdogs. Anyone who doesn’t feel like they belong, we got you! It’s just a little hub for women and non-binary folk to feel included.

MR: What inspired you, Soph K and Alyx Holcombe to create it?

YS: We just didn’t feel seen and wanted a place to make other people feel like they belong. It came from our own struggles of not feeling seen enough to be totally honest.

MR: I know in my personal experience people are often shocked that I love Rock and Metal because it is often seen as a genre for white cis males ONLY. 

MR: Do you think there’s a stereotype attached to ​POC who work within the music industry, especially within Rock and Metal music genres?

YS: Yes, there absolutely is this stereotype, but it’s slowly changing. There’s this idea that women and anyone who isn’t a man can’t be angry, that we’re all soft and delicate – the same stereotype is put on gay and trans men too. But non-cis white males are just as angry, just as fed up and we want to scream about it too. There are more faces coming into the scene at the moment who aren’t straight white dudes so it’s changing the overall idea of what it means to be into rock and metal.

MR: On your podcast you cover an array of topics such as sex, racism and non binary experiences - you have given a voice to a lot marginalised groups of people, what do you hope to achieve with this podcast?

YS: Just to create a space for us that isn’t controlled or filtered by the cis white male gaze, a place for us to be our authentic selves.

MR: What advice would you give to womxn who want to break through the boys club of the music industry? 

YS: I personally don’t like the term womxn or womyn, so to anyone that isn’t a cis-gendered man: it won’t be easy but I promise that slowly there are more spaces opening up for us. Put your work out there - that’s the first step. 

You can’t be in the industry if you don’t put yourself out there!

MR: What do you think is the biggest issue today facing womxn your age?

YS: I think the biggest issue facing anyone that isn’t a cis-gendered man right now is being taken seriously, people think we’re just angry because we’re young and sensitive. Men’s voices are typically listened to and well respected, but I’m just seen as a bitch. I’d rather be a bitch and embrace that then let anyone walk over me.

MR: What is your biggest accomplishment (or biggest mistake)?

YS: Phew, there are many mistakes. 

I’ve misnamed band members, got the wrong band in reviews, I’ve done it ALL. Very glad I did that at the start of my career and not now, stepping stones and all that, hey?

The biggest accomplishment is hard to say, honestly getting the main New Noise feature in Metal Hammer with Nova Twins was BIG for me. But I’m sure even more cool stuff will come along!

You can follow Yasmine here