I started covering She Rocks Awards in 2015, 2019 and then this year. The event has never failed to inspire me. Honoring female entrepreneurs and artists in the music industry has brought significant impact on society especially to us women. With its 10-year-anniversary. Laura Whitmore, founder of The Women’s International Music Network said, “It’s really exciting and grateful that we can be back in person and seeing everybody energizes me. I’m super stoked to have this evening foe everyone to enjoy and be inspired.” She added “Women need to come together and create a bigger voice for everything that’s going on. I think it’s gratifying to see that there are more women in the industry, more female performers, more women behind the scenes, women in audio and I just want to help continuing snowball that effort. It’s something I’m really passionate about.”
The event started with inspiring women who walked the red carpet. The first I got to interview was Shelly Peiken. Peiken is best known for co-writing the US No. 1 hits “What a Girl Wants” and “Come On Over Baby” by Christina Aguilera and the number 2 hit “Bitch”. Additionally, she has also written for/with Britney Spears, The Pretenders, Celine Dion, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and more. On the red carpet, Shelly remarked that she was there to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the song “Bitch” and supporting Meredith Brooks as a recipient of Trailblazer Award. “I haven’t seen Meredith in years and I’m feeling kinda weepy. It’s 25 years. It just kinda goes by really quickly,” remarked the multi-platinum Grammy nominated songwriter. Check her website here.
Honorees:
Carmen Vandenberg (lead guitarist and one half of the GRAMMY®-nominated rock duo BONES UK) dressed in all white suit said, “I feel very privileged, very excited, very honored. Not sure I was quite ready for it. I feel like I still have a lot to do in my life. An award like this is nice and kinda reminded you are in the right path so I’m grateful.”
EveAnna Manley is an entrepreneur who owns an audio manufacturing company. EveAnna leads her design team to produce legendary designs such as the Manley VOXBOX® and Manley FORCE® 4-channel microphone preamplifier. EveAnna talked about how she was excited to receive the Mad Skills Award. “I’ve been coming to She Rocks Awards for quite a few years and it’s amazing. I guess I get to go on stage and give a speech tonight.”
Lyndsey Parker is the music editor at Yahoo Entertainment and host of the daily SiriusXM Volume show Volume West. We have a big things in common: we are Gen-Xers, and we are both passionate about the music we grew up , the 80s. I asked Lyndsey what it was like to be an honoree this time as compare as being almost a regular host of She Rocks Awards. “In some ways it’s more nerve-wracking to be receiving an award and having to give a speech than giving up the awards. For the first time I get to sear in the audience and eat food and drink and hang out with my family and watch it from that point of view instead of being backstage. You know I’m a little nervous but at the same time I’m gonna have a little bit more moment to relax and enjoy this as a fan. But yeah, at the moment I just feel pretty calm but I’m pretty sure when I get to the podium I have to give a speech…you know I might get emotional”
What’s her word of advice to young people who’d like to be in the music industry and be a host?
I think in any industry whether it’s music business what I do for a living you need to be adaptable and nimble because you might start in your career of thinking that your career is mapped out in one way. The industry has changed so much. The internet was kind of new when I started. When I took my first job at launch.com people were asking me what a website was. Social media didn’t exist. And if you work for yahoo for 20 years which I have, you see a lot changed. When I started off I wasn’t hosting podcast. There was no such thing as podcast. I wasn’t doing on camera stuff when I first started. I was just a text gal. The one opportunity is to diversify when I do …I was willing to do it. And I think whatever business you’re in you have to be not so rigid like ‘No I only do this thing’. You gotta take opportunities when they come and you know your whole career might change. I’m in my best time of my career right now.
And what’s on her bucket list?
Number one on my bucket list is Madonna. I want to interview Madonna so bad. I have a feeling she’d be a tough nut to crack and a little intimidating but I’m willing to try. She is my absolute queen. You can even tell through my fashion sense. She gives no f’s and I just love her. I’m really looking forward to her biopic.
Meredith Brooks
Recognized for her guitar playing prowess and Grammy-nominated song “Bitch” was among the first to reclaim the once derogatory term and pushed back against the stereotype of what a female Rock and Roll artist should act, look and sound like. At the She Rocks awards last Thursday, inspiring women and members celebrated the 25th anniversary of the hit song “Bitch” and also recognized Brooks with a Trailblazer Award. “I’m honored. I’m humbled. I kinda wasn’t prepared. We were just getting ready for the 25th anniversary of “Blurring the Edges” and “Bitch” and then I got this great call from a friend of mine who said ‘Guess what, you just got nominated by me and you are getting a Trailblazer Award. I was like Whoa! That means I’m old (laughing). No, I guess they think I’m a trailblazer. I was really excited actually…secretly, deep down inside. I am very honored.”
Co-Hosts
Mindi Abair (two-time GRAMMY® nominated saxophonist/vocalist, who stepped in for Lzzy Halestorm to co-host) has been a regular at the She Rocks awards. I met this amazing talent in 2019 at the She Rocks Awards in House of Blues Anaheim. Abair mentioned that she’s glad that She Rocks Awards is back in person. “I love that this has been going on for 10 years. It’s unbelievable that this has been going on for 10 years. It seems like the She Rocks Awards started yesterday and I look back and just so many incredible women have come through this doors and received honors and become friends because of it and become part of each other’s careers because of it. I think it’s a cool thing to support each other, starts there and it’s just necessary. What a beautiful think that we get ti be back here. I love the new venue. I Walked in and just like hey, where did we find this. I get to host in it tonight and there’s gonna be some magic there.”
Katie Daryl (AXS TV host) couldn’t be more excited to co-host the event. “The 10th anniversary is a big deal. I feel like they’re entrusting me with a lot. There so much talent that’s gonna be under that roof tonight. They’re all going to see what these fabulous women had to say.” remarked Daryl.
The full list of 2022 honorees includes:
- Dionne Warwick, Legend Award – Six-time GRAMMY® and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, multi-platinum iconic singer, actress, television host, former UN Goodwill Ambassador and interior designer with her own WG Design Lab
- Meredith Brooks, Trailblazer Award – singer-songwriter and guitarist celebrating the 25th anniversary of her single ”Bitch”
- Carmen Vandenberg, Bold Star Award – lead guitarist and one half of the GRAMMY®-nominated rock duo BONES UK
- MILCK, Vision Award – singer/songwriter, leading advocate for women’s rights and celebrated role model within the music industry
- Yvette Young, Inspire Award – guitarist and front-woman for the math rock band Covet
- Kerry Fiero, Motivator Award – producer of the annual “Girl Power! Women Working in the Music Industry” Conference
- EveAnna Manley, Mad Skills Award – president, Manley Laboratories aka “The Tube Chick”
- Sherri Chung, Spirit Award – Award-winning film and TV composer and Governor of the Music Branch of the Television Academy
- Leslie Gaston-Bird, Champion Award – mixer, sound editor, author and a champion of diversity in the audio industry
- Lyndsey Parker, Dreaming Out Loud Award – Yahoo Entertainment Music Editor, SiriusXM host and author
- Julie Robbins, Powerhouse Award – CEO of effects pedal manufacturer Earthquaker Devices
- Myki Angeline, Warrior Award – radio professional for Audacy and social media manager for the WiMN.
To learn more about She Rocks Awards click here.
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