Hen Hoose: New album sees Scottish female and non-binary artists join forces to level the playing field

Equaliser is the fitting title of a new album produced entirely by Scottish female and non-binary writers, performers and producers.

The album was brought together in lockdown by new songwriting collective Hen Hoose, founded by singer-songwriter Tamara Schlesinger.

Released on November 5, it showcases talent that deserves to be given a platform among festival line-ups and album credits so often dominated by men.

Schlesinger, who can’t wait for people to hear the finished product of long studio sessions via Zoom and in person, hopes it’s a step forward in levelling the playing field.

“I’m so excited and so proud of the project and everyone involved in it,” she said.

“The stats speak for themselves in terms of the disparity in the industry still. I think it’s been incredibly empowering for all of us involved in terms of upskilling and pushing ourselves as writers and producers.

“I think it’s also really important for young girls to see women in roles they want to be in and to believe that they can achieve that. That’s why these kinds of projects are really important – it talks about and highlights the problem.”

Adele might want you to 'Go Easy' on her, but @IAMKP and @GoodDogSuse just want you to 'Go Easy' on yourself. This one warms my heart and it will do the same for you. The album is out on Friday. Pre-order the (delayed) vinyl here: https://t.co/e68t7cGrBF ❤️ pic.twitter.com/WSwvmvKEdC

— HenHoose (@Hen_Hoose) November 3, 2021

The album features an array of talent including Karine Polwart, Emma Pollock, Amandah Wilkinson (Bossy Love) and Carla J Easton.

The finished album’s material was mixed by Susan Bear and mastered by all female production team Novasound.

Schlesinger hopes the album is a stepping stone for change, saying it’s a shame that a project like this has to exist in the first place in order to highlight the problems.

“The dream is that you don’t have to title something as an all-female or non-binary project, it’s just a project that stands on its own,” she said.

“I hope the impact it leaves is that belief that if you want to do something you can achieve it.

“Although we’ve all been out there doing our thing as artists and musicians I think we’ve all been very aware of the fact there aren’t enough slots at festivals for us and there aren’t enough record deals for us, and I really hope this goes some way to addressing that issue.

“Also, if we take things into our own hands we can make the changes. I think there’s a lot of talking about what we need to do – this is actually taking the action. Hopefully more people in different realms in the music industry will stand up and make some changes as well.”

With much of the past couple of years spent in lockdown, many creatives were forced to rethink what they did.

For some, sadly it meant giving up on their musical dreams. For others though, it meant re-skilling, diversifying and getting to work on new music.

“In many ways, I wonder whether this project would’ve happened had lockdown not happened,” Schlesinger said.

“The fact we were at home remotely producing tracks and not in a studio with men predominantly behind the mixing desk, it meant that we took on roles we wouldn’t normally take on and proved that we could do them and for whatever reason weren’t crediting ourselves before.

“Lockdown has a lot to answer for, in a positive way, with this project. It’s given people the chance to assess their futures and their careers.”

Collaboration was key for Schlesinger in bringing the project together. Also included within the project are Beldina Odenyo Onassis (Heir Of The Cursed), Elizabeth Elektra, Inge Thomson, Jayda, Pippa Murphy, Rachael Swinton, Suse Bear, and Sarah Haynes.

And to mix things up a bit, Schlesinger made sure to match together artists who maybe wouldn’t normally work together.

“I think all of us would probably say that we’ve learned something new through this project,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how far within our careers we are, you’re always inspired if you’re working with others.

“It’s pushed me in a different direction with my production. You can get stuck in your own sense of self and do your own thing all the time. Collaboration has been amazing.”

Hen Hoose will pitch the album’s compositions for film, TV and other opportunities. Some of the music has already been heard in Scottish Government vaccine campaigns, as well as adverts for Caorunn gin.

In addition to the album and new revenue streams, what the project has created most of all is a community of creatives who are collaborating, not competing.

“We had these listening parties on Zoom where we’d chat and discuss each other’s work,” Schlesinger said.

“It has created this community and connection where you feel you can reach out to each other.

“I think it’s always been that competition between female artists – there’s only one space for this pop star or whatever – and to be honest there probably was because there weren’t enough publishing deals or record contracts or radio slots for women.

“I think what we’ve done has in our own way addressed that issue. It’s been the most supportive network you can imagine and I think, if nothing else comes out of it, that’s such an incredible thing to have.”