Confidence and connection are at the heart of She/Hear, a new monthly jam session for women at 1078 Gallery.
The new event is spearheaded by Erin Wade and Julia Murphy, members of the Chico band Diamond Snatch Factory.
The session is designed to be accessible and welcoming for women to develop their musical skills and learn from each other.
"I wanted to create a space for other women to experience this and be able to learn in a fun and supportive environment."- Erin Wade, Diamond Snatch Factory band member
“I wanted to create a space for other women to experience this and be able to learn in a fun and supportive environment,” Wade said.
Wade hopes to share her knowledge and experience and, hopefully, inspire other female musicians do the same. She says that spirit of paying it forward is something she grew up seeing during the Riot Grrrl movement, watching punk bands like Bikini Kill.
“That's probably been rolling around in my mind for all these decades,” Wade said.
The power of learning together
Wade considers herself a relatively new drummer with about three-and-a-half years of experience. The idea for She/ Hear grew out of her own time playing with others.
Wade is an instructor at Butte College, and joined a pop ensemble course alongside students, which provided invaluable experience she said showed her how powerful teaming up can be.
“I just learned so much that I could really see how being in a band or playing with other people really advances your learning a lot quicker than just trying to play on your own or trying to play along with music,” Wade said.
That sense of connection pushed Wade to create She/ Hear.
A low-pressure space to jump in
Attendees are encouraged to bring their instruments. A standard drum set and a few amps will be available for use.
“We're hoping we'll have a smattering of different instruments, and we've got a couple of songs that we are throwing out to work on,” Wade said, “And we'll kind of feel it out with whoever shows up and go from there."
She said all levels of musicians are welcome.
“I think that music can be a really vulnerable endeavor, sharing your thoughts as lyrics, or sharing your own voice, when maybe you haven't done that before. It takes a lot of courage, and I think that that can be a little bit easier in a women-only space.”- Erin Wade, Diamond Snatch Factory bandmember
“Would love to have young women and people who have never been in a band before,” Wade said. “Definitely open to all different levels and ages.”
The session will include help with gear, conversations about band life and open jam time.
“I think that music can be a really vulnerable endeavor, sharing your thoughts as lyrics, or sharing your own voice, when maybe you haven't done that before,” Wade said. “It takes a lot of courage, and I think that that can be a little bit easier in a women-only space.”
The first jam session is 6-8 p.m.Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the 1078 Gallery.
