Roniia, en concert à Limoges (Festival les Femmes s'en Mêlent) Photographies © Sonia Marques
Chanter au milieu de nul part, tout n'est pas perdu. Je ré-écoutais mes démos de Kate Bush, sans me douter que Nona Marie Invie s'y poserait aussi un peu. Des louanges aux abandons, sauvages mémoires de filles.
Le festival Les Femmes S'en Mêlent célèbre la scène féminine indépendante depuis maintenant 16 ans. A sa naissance en 1997, il ne s'agissait alors que d'un unique concert parisien, le 08 mars, journée internationale de la femme. Gardant cette même idée de départ mais s’affranchissant de cette journée de célébration, les Femmes S'en Mêlent s'étend désormais dans toute la France et sur plusieurs soirées à Paris et Grenoble. Porté avec passion et curiosité, reconnu pour son éclectisme et son exigence, le festival met en avant des artistes innovantes, téméraires, affranchies et profondément singulières. Prenant appui sur une scène féminine de plus en plus riche et variée, il s'est développé au fil des années pour devenir un rendez-vous européen incontournable. Tirant partie de sa renommée il accueille de nombreuses artistes internationales et fait la part belle à la découverte et à l’émergence de nouveaux talents. Les Femmes S'en Mêlent, hormis ce subtil jeu de mots dénotant avec un certain plaisir la présence de plus en plus importante des femmes dans la musique ; est un festival militant, solidaire, défricheur et indispensable.
Nona Marie Invie: I grew up reading feminist authors and participating more in women’s rights groups and actions. Women that I met in high school and college encouraged me to become an independent woman reaching for my dreams. I wouldn’t be able to write if it weren’t for the poems of Gloria Anzaldua. And I probably never would have sang in front of anyone if I hadn’t started out singing Hole and Babes in Toyland covers. I think a lot about women who have worked hard for their success in music and beyond and they inspire me to keep working harder and writing better songs. Kate Bush is an example of an amazing woman who started writing early and was able to keep control over her career, even when tempted with a big label deal. And women like Chan Marshall and Mary J. Blige are examples of women who have overcome addiction and still make amazing records. I am always searching for female role models who are working hard and leading healthy, sustainable lives. I usually look to my friends who tour without abusing drugs and alcohol for support. But it is hard for me to find accessible role models for the way that I want to live as a touring musician.
(...)
I’ve noticed that I am often the only woman performing at show out of all the bands. I wonder if other people notice this; if this changes the way they watch our band and other bands. I usually have the most fun watching other women sing and play music. Most of my closest musicians friends and muses are women. Women are magical. It’s true. Sometimes it feels powerful and important to be the only woman singing at a show. If I wasn’t there it would just be a bunch of guys on stage. When I first started going to shows it always bothered me when there were no women performing. I found those shows to be boring. I found myself seeking out bands with more women in them. Now I put pressure on myself to sing and perform better because it feels like people might be paying more attention, or paying attention in a different way to our music. I know that my voice and music stands out amidst all of the male voices.
