In advance of their Sunday, Aug 10 performance as part of the Levitt VIBE Indianapolis concert series at the Tube Factory artspace (1125 Cruft Street), Girl in a Coma’s Stephanie “Phanie” Diaz took time out of the band’s touring schedule to offer insights on music, art and the capacity for social change. The band has been deeply involved in social issues affecting the LGBTQ and Latino community since their origins in 2006, and Where Words Ignite Words is deeply thankful to Phanie and the band for their grace in sharing the following responses to our questions. This Sunday’s event runs 12-3 pm with Girl in a Coma headlining this free event at 2 pm.
What is the exigence — the purpose — which compels your music?
We are driven by not only our love of creating but the fact that we are able to experience how our art has affected those who have listened. It’s the highest compliment to become someone’s life soundtrack sparking up certain bookmarks in their lives. Also the fact that our music has become generational. Parents who listened to us when they were younger and showed their kids our music and their kids actually being fans!
If art is a unique tool in addressing social ills, what is it about music that provides you the ideal platform?
What’s amazing about art is you have created something that some people can identify with or have sparked a feeling in them. Art can make you cry, art can make you mad but most importantly art can make you change. Music is art , it can spark a revolution. As a fan of other musicians and music I take into account what message they are bringing to the platform . You have people who believe in your music and therefore they support it and you have this base listening. Music is the art of expressing what others can’t put into words sometimes . It’s a huge platform to give voice for the voiceless and to give them back their story
What artists and musicians would you point to as being major influences in your own music and politics?
So many! Bowie to Jeff Buckley to Alice Bag to the Slits, and of course Joan Jett!
Think of the person in the world you might most disagree with. If you could get them to listen to your perspective, through your art, what would you most want them to hear, to consider, to know?
That we are all one . There is no superior race . There is no superior being. Everyone has a right to be given a chance to better themselves .The use of common sense is a great tool. Love is love . Being kind and taking care of one another can go a long way.
And what would you like us to know about our own voices and capacity to bring about social change, in these times?
Realize that your voice matters and that we are the 99%. If we bond together with love and strength then they can’t make us vanish and they won’t put us in cages. Use your voice for yourself, for others and as a unit . We will come out ahead.