Women's Heavy Metal from Alexandria

Heavy Metal can take many different forms. Sometimes the songs have a simple structure and there's lots of screaming and cursing. But in other cases there are nuanced melodies, the singing is almost opera-like, and soothing love songs are part of the repertoire. How would you describe your own style?

Mascara: We would say that we play 'pure music', and we avoid swear words or Satanic ideas. Our music is a mixture of Heavy Metal, western sounds and of course our oriental roots. And then the violin always adds a touch of classical music. In our songs, we speak out about everything that affects us. Emotional confusion, drug addiction, misunderstandings, prejudice – all the things that move us in some way.

Music is always a form of personal expression as well. To what extent are you able to live out your feelings in your music?

​​Mascara: We would go so far as to say that we can only truly express ourselves through music. When we're really angry, sad or happy – we write music.

Alice Cooper, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath are among the fathers of Heavy Metal. Who are your intellectual mothers and fathers?

Mascara: As we all have different musical tastes, we are influenced as a band by very diverse musicians. But we all agree that Killswitch Engage is an incredibly impressive band. We love everything about their music.

The lyrics of Heavy Metal songs are often about violence, hatred, anger and provocation. What do you sing about?

Mascara: We have songs in which we talk about war and drugs and how these things have a negative influence on our world. But we also sing about issues that interest women, such as emotional insecurities, or how it feels to be harassed on the street.

Dress plays an important role on the Heavy Metal scene. For you as well?

Mascara: No! To see us, you'd never think we play Metal music. We are totally normal people; we look completely ordinary, even though each one of us has her own style. But we don't stand out from those around us.

You are one of the first Heavy Metal bands in Egypt to consist almost entirely of women. What kind of prejudices do you come up against?

Mascara: First of all, there were our parents, who even today still consider the whole thing to be a weird scene with weird people – which they happen to be right about, incidentally…

It took people some time to realise that we don't take drugs and are quite conservative on some issues. The whole Metal scene is after all automatically associated with drugs and alcohol.

And as a band we also have to struggle with some preconceptions. It took two international festivals – in Sweden and the United States – to show people: Here we are, we exist, we are original – and yes, we are able to play music!

You've been well known on the Egyptian rock music scene for several years. What's so special about this culture?

Mascara: The thing that defines rock culture everywhere is the attitude. It's loud, you have to take notice and listen. It grabs your attention. It's "heavy". It rocks!

Which band would you love to share the stage with someday?

Mascara: We've basically already played with all the Egyptian bands we like. But at the moment we're considering playing with the electro band Neyobird. Their composer and keyboardist, Wael, could record all our songs with us; that would definitely give us a new sound.

What are your plans for the future?

Mascara: We want to play in Germany. We have already done so many interviews for German magazines and it seems like the people there like our music. And at the Sweden Rock Festival we also got good reviews from Germans. So Germany is next up on our schedule. Naturally we also want to produce our album, but we need more money for that.

What is your message to young women who would like to achieve success with Heavy Metal?

Mascara: We advise them to really work hard and to attend the workshops offered by Fathy Salama. We know that they have nothing to do with Metal, but some musical basics are helpful when it comes to composing and playing.

Also: avoid male teachers, unless you take courses at an official institute.

The Internet is full of free learning material. People, in particular males, often have a totally wrong impression of female Metalheads and tend to stereotype them. So avoid, avoid, avoid that – for your own good.

Interview by Kristin Jankowski

© Goethe Institute/Qantara.de 2011

Translated from the German by Jennifer Taylor

Qantara.de editor: Lewis Gropp