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 Gossip are best known for their infectious dance punk music, their often controversial lyrics and their charismatic singer, Beth Ditto. But behind the larger-than-life frontwoman are two other band members. One of them, out drummer Hannah Billie, took some time to chat to CHERRIE writer Alice Clarke about what it’s like to hear other people’s remixes of your songs, pop like Mentos ads and the links between being a female drummer and a lesbian.
Hannah, could you tell me a bit about your new album?
It was produced by Rick Ruben. It’s the first time we’ve ever worked with a big-time producer and had actual time and resources to spend on an album, so it was a very grown-up process for us. But it was positive and this amazing growing experience to make the album, and we’re all really excited about it. There’s lots of love songs, there’s some gay stuff on the album, there’s a lot of gay imagery with the cover, and the title is tongue-in-cheek, but it also has deeper meanings. We like to confuse people.
What’s the meaning behind the title, Music For Men?
It came from Beth, who was at a show watching her [female] friend perform, and there were all these men in the audience trying to interact with her and take up a lot of space and shouting and trying to heckle her and stuff while she was trying to perform. So Beth was like, “Uh! This is so annoying! This is totally music for men! They think it’s totally for them and they’re taking up all the space in the room and it’s not about the performer.” So that’s where she came up with the title. It’s also just the idea that a feminist band is making a record called Music For Men. It’s sort of a joke, but also we’ve entered into this new realm of major label world and there’s all these men in suits around, and it’s this new world from the punk background we grew up in. And my face is on the cover. It’s butch imagery, a homage to Morrissey. A butch on the cover is our punk statement.
Do you ever feel overshadowed by Beth?
No. People love to ask about that in the media. If she’s on a million magazine covers, it’s because they’ve asked her to be there. She’s the frontwoman. Mick Jagger is the focus of the Rolling Stones, but no one asks whether he’s overshadowing the Rolling Stones. The front person is the focus for the media, but we’ve always been a really tight band and we’re making all the music together.
How do you think Music for Men compares to your last album?
The last album was recorded and mixed in 10 days, so it was a reflection of what we were doing at the time, and also a reflection of time constraints. We didn’t have the money or the resources to spend a lot of time with each song. It was just like, “There’s the song and that’s as far as it’s going to go – we’ve got one guitar”, and it’s just like we weren’t experimenting with different sounds. On this record, we’re interested in doing more dancey stuff with synths and we’ve never been in a situation where we could be like, “Hey, we want this to happen, we want this sort of sound” and it could totally happen. So we’re like, “Wow! I want my drums to sound like Queen on ‘Another One Bites the Dust’.” It felt like we had all these resources at our disposal, and it really helped shape the sound because we had time for everything, and the songs evolved after a long period in the studio, instead of just laying down whatever we had at the time. But I think it still maintains the minimalism that has always been a part of our band.
Is there a song you feel closest to?
I have a few favourites. I really love ‘Vertical Rhythm’ because it’s just creepy and unexpected. And I loved ‘Love Long Distance’, because of the dark house pop sensibility of it, and that one has been doing really well live.
There aren’t many chick drummers in popular music. Why do you think that is?
I think that it’s discouraged. I think that a lot of women don’t start playing because it’s a boys’ club, and for me it was hard to stay confident and stay self-assured. When I first started playing I encountered a lot of sexism, and still do. I’d show up and people would sort of lower expectations because of my gender. Girls are discouraged from playing, just because there aren’t many others and it’s scary to be the odd woman out.
What do you think the best way to encourage more female drummers would be?
When I first started I didn’t think it was different for me to be playing. I was just like, “Oh, my guy friends are doing it, that’s something I wanna do”, and just do it. You can’t be discouraged by people’s expectations or their negative stereotypes about you. Just do it and have a pioneer spirit. Because people are gonna judge you, and people are gonna lower their expectations. Be as good as you can be: maybe you’ll change minds.
So basically being a drummer is like being a dyke?
In that it’s the same idea where you have to be comfortable with who you are. And be confident so that people’s negative judgements don’t affect you. Because if you pay attention to all those crappy things people think or say about you, you’ll just be down-trodden, and I think you just have to be confident in yourself.
You merge a lot of genres into what you play. What’s your favourite?
My approach is really simple. I just like to be the heavy backbone of the band. Some of my previous bands have been weirder drums and more showy, but with this band and just when I play at home, I just like to be that backbone, really solid and not a lot of fills. I listen to a tonne of hip-hop music, a lot of my inspiration for beat, because it never really changes but it’s so powerful. I take a lot of inspiration from that.
How does touring affect your love life?
It’s not easy. Both Beth and I have been in long-term relationships for many years. I’ve been with my partner for four years and she’s been with hers for eight. It’s something that you have to be really strong together to get through. You’re away from home a lot; you need to communicate, you need to keep the lines open, and you and your partner have to be really strong.
Does she come with you on tour?
She does. Not a lot, but like, over the summer. She’s been to Australia, Japan, Europe, a couple of other places. It’s always nice to have the opportunity to bring a partner along and to experience all the crazy stuff that you’re experiencing.
How has being out and proud affected the band?
I’m not sure. We’re always ourselves and that’s what people find refreshing about the band. Even if we’re about to enter this scary, mainstream world, we try to be ourselves as much as possible – and out and proud is who we are. We’re not putting on any masks. We’re just being ourselves and being proud of it and confident, and I think that’s what bands did for us when we were growing up. Riot girl bands gave us the confidence to start a band. And so we’re trying to show our audience and show people that might be listening that it’s okay to be yourself, it’s okay to be different. You can be a band of outsiders and still be successful. It’s all about being yourself.
Can you tell me a bit about the song ‘Men in Love’?
It is like a Mentos commercial, sort of. It’s super-poppy but it’s just a blunt celebration of gay love. It’s our first major-label record, but we still wanted to really drive that gay message home and write a song about blatant gay love. That’s all it is! A celebration!
What’s it like to hear your songs remixed?
I think it’s really cool. I think it’s another way to experience your music. You hear other people’s interpretations and it gives you a new perspective on the song. Nathan always picks special people to remix it. He likes their work and I think it’s really cool for people to hear another side of it. Sometimes they’re good and sometimes I’m like, “Eh?” but I think it’s a cool artistic collaboration.
Music For Men available in all good record stores now.
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