[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:01.93,0:00:03.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So often,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.12,0:00:05.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll take a fitness class,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.09,0:00:07.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or I'll go to a music venue,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.95,0:00:11.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or, really, anywhere that plays\Nmusic in the background,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.31,0:00:14.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'll find myself loving the rhythms
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.36,0:00:16.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the melodies and the beats ...
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.36,0:00:19.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then I take a second\Nto listen to the lyrics,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.98,0:00:23.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lyrics that, for example,\Nplace us in a position of subservience
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.62,0:00:26.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we would never tolerate\Nin any other context.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.88,0:00:31.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'm aghast at the degree to which\Nwe normalize sexism in our culture.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.18,0:00:33.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I listen to this music and I'm like,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.62,0:00:36.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't want to have to turn up\Nto the sound of my own oppression.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.77,0:00:42.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, music is one of the most\Npowerful forms of communication,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.72,0:00:46.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it has the potential\Nto either uplift or oppress.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.57,0:00:51.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Music caters to the emotions.\NMusic caters to the soul.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.05,0:00:52.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Music opens up our soul.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.79,0:00:55.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It opens up our channels\Nto receive information
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.17,0:00:57.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about somebody else's walk of life,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.03,0:00:59.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to inform our own roles.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.19,0:01:03.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And while I have no problem\Nwith male fantasy,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.38,0:01:05.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what I do have a problem with
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.53,0:01:11.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that, according to a recent study,\Nonly 2.6 percent of all music producers
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.31,0:01:12.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,identify as women.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.81,0:01:17.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That means an even smaller percentage\Nidentify as trans or gender nonconforming.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.67,0:01:19.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And why does this matter?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.52,0:01:22.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because, if we don't own\Nand control our own narrative,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.95,0:01:26.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,somebody else will\Ntell our stories for us,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.14,0:01:27.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they will get it wrong,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.98,0:01:31.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,perpetuating the very myths\Nthat hold us back.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.56,0:01:35.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'm not here to tell other people\Nhow to make their music.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.06,0:01:39.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I am here to provide\Nand design the alternative.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.25,0:01:43.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One strategy I take in my music
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.45,0:01:48.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is making uplifting, energetic,\Npercussive global beats
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.50,0:01:50.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and placing lyrics on top of them
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.26,0:01:53.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that genuinely describe\Nmy life's experiences
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.84,0:01:56.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without contributing\Nto the oppression of anybody else.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.15,0:01:59.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's funny, because it's the same reason
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.43,0:02:03.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as to why we excuse\Nso many problematic lyrics;
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.23,0:02:05.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's because we love\Nhow the beats make us feel.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.14,0:02:11.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,An example of this is my song\N"Top Knot Turn Up."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.02,0:02:16.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music: "Top Knot Turn Up")
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.08,0:02:35.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Sings) I turned off my phone's\Nnotifications so I have more time /
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.03,0:02:38.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No bubbles to trouble\Nmy clear state of mind /
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.66,0:02:40.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One thing to know, \NI'm not here to please /
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.78,0:02:42.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hair tied up, I do it properly /
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.71,0:02:44.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My time is not your property /
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.25,0:02:46.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I'm productive like my ovaries, \Neyy! /
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.55,0:02:49.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Give a grown girl room to breathe,\Nbasic rights and her liberty /
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.98,0:02:53.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Free from insecurity\Nthat the world's projecting onto me /
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.56,0:02:55.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Please do not trouble me\Nwhen I am focused /
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.62,0:02:57.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The future is female\Nyou already know this /
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.68,0:02:59.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm fighting against\Nthe corruption on SCOTUS /
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.90,0:03:02.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Turned up in my top knot\Nsince when I first wrote this /
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.79,0:03:07.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a top knot turn up\NIt's a top knot turn up, turn up, turn up.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.30,0:03:11.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a top knot turn up\NIt's a top knot turn up, turn up, turn up.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.12,0:03:14.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a top knot turn up\NIt's a top knot turn up, eyyy.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.62,0:03:16.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a top knot turn up.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.75,0:03:18.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Music ends)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.18,0:03:22.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want us to keep making\Nsex-positive, beautiful music
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.46,0:03:24.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about joy and freedom.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.65,0:03:26.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want us to embrace our own pleasure
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.50,0:03:28.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just as much as we embrace our own pain.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.60,0:03:30.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want us to celebrate the authentic,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.02,0:03:32.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nuanced,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.39,0:03:35.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,multidimensional aspects\Nof our human existence,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.58,0:03:41.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,rather than perform false narratives\Nof degrading sexuality
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.72,0:03:44.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in order to feel accepted or loved.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.29,0:03:47.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And another strategy\Nthat I take in my music
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.21,0:03:50.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to combat the misogyny\Nthat exists on the airwaves
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.15,0:03:53.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is to visually depict the very world\NI wished we lived in.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.91,0:03:56.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the music video\Nfor my song "See Me Thru,"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.50,0:04:00.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is like a vibe-y,\Nqueer electronic R and B song,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.78,0:04:04.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I cast two of my dear friends,\NAnia and Dejha,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.86,0:04:08.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to play the role of the lovers,\Nbecause they're married in real life.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.56,0:04:11.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what you don't know\Nis that they also are behind the camera
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.93,0:04:15.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,concepting and directing\Nthe entire video.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.21,0:04:24.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Video) Heyyyyy ohhhh\NMy emotions were tired
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.68,0:04:30.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Music should be safe \Nand accessible for all to experience.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.19,0:04:33.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As you can see, it's not about\Nlosing the sex appeal or swag
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.07,0:04:34.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that music has,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.30,0:04:38.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's about writing messages\Nthat infuse tenderness and positivity
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.07,0:04:41.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into music that motivates us\Nand challenges us.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.71,0:04:45.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And while we as musicians\Nabsolutely have the responsibility
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.20,0:04:47.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to make music that isn't disempowering,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.99,0:04:50.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the consumers can be\Npart of the change, too.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.43,0:04:52.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Firstly, we get to choose\Nwhich songs we want to mute
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.02,0:04:54.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and which songs we want to turn louder.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.94,0:04:58.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We get to say, "I respect myself enough\Nto say I don't want to listen to this,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.86,0:05:01.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I don't want this to be\Nin anybody else's space, either."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.76,0:05:04.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Secondly, we can simply ask ourselves:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.06,0:05:06.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Does this music or this message
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.11,0:05:08.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,contribute to the oppression\Nof somebody else?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.34,0:05:09.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why am I tolerating it?"
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.54,0:05:13.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And finally, we can all be choosing\Nto make playlists or DJ-ing music
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.72,0:05:17.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that provides the right vibe or mood\Nthat we're looking for in that moment
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.30,0:05:19.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without the problematic messaging.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.68,0:05:20.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why does this matter?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.92,0:05:24.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because it's teaching algorithms\Nin our streaming systems and our world
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.38,0:05:27.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,exactly what it is that\Nwe do want to listen to,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.44,0:05:31.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,creating long-term change\Nand a feedbacking mechanism
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.36,0:05:33.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that impacts the entire industry.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.97,0:05:35.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is not a message
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.48,0:05:38.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for just a small group of people.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.52,0:05:41.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a message that affects everybody,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.25,0:05:45.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because when we project and liberate\Nour most vulnerable genders,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.26,0:05:46.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we liberate everybody.