The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Garbage collector mistakes sex doll for corpse

  • 3

    Netflix announces password sharing crackdown in Korea

  • 5

    Seoul city council under fire for sexual conduct guidelines for teachers

  • 7

    Major webtoon platforms' fight against piracy

  • 9

    Is non-consensual sex not rape?

  • 11

    Japanese comic series 'Slam Dunk' enjoys resurgence on back of animated film

  • 13

    President pledges support for Korean chipmakers to overcome crisis

  • 15

    $120,000 banana, praying Hitler: Infamous art world prankster Maurizio Cattelan's first Seoul outing

  • 17

    Korea's presidential couple celebrates recovery of Cambodian boy who received heart surgery

  • 19

    Retired actress Shim Eun-ha denies rumor of return

  • 2

    Free subway rides for elderly emerge as headache for Seoul mayor

  • 4

    Korea seeks measures to better protect foreign workers

  • 6

    Samsung unveils new Galaxy S23 smartphone

  • 8

    Retailers return to Myeong-dong as more foreign tourists visit

  • 10

    4 South Korean activists arrested for executing orders from Pyongyang

  • 12

    ENHYPEN-inspired webtoon 'Dark Moon: The Blood Altar' surpasses 100 million views

  • 14

    INTERVIEWA touch of authenticity in Korea's Mexican cuisine scene

  • 16

    Income gap widening among workers

  • 18

    China imposes mandatory virus tests for arrivals from Korea only in latest protest over curbs

  • 20

    Pyongyang threatens eye-for-eye response as US B-1B bombers join drills in South Korea

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Fri, February 3, 2023 | 12:12
Multicultural Community
Indie musician Stella Donnelly rejects activist label
Posted : 2022-11-29 18:07
Updated : 2022-11-30 15:26
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Stella Donnelly / Courtesy of Olivia Senior
Stella Donnelly / Courtesy of Olivia Senior

By Jamie Finn

Since emerging onto the indie-pop scene in 2017, Stella Donnelly's songs have become symbols for social change. Many people first heard of her when the song "Boys Will Be Boys" became an anthem for the #MeToo movement. Yet the Australian never intended to be the voice of a movement. Ahead of her show in Seoul on Dec. 6, she told The Korea Times why.

Donnelly's music is deceptively personal. Her lyrics explore her experiences of the world ― in particular, her experiences with men. And even more particularly, her experiences with terrible men. This led one critic to describe her first full-length album, "
Beware of the Dogs," as "a musical encyclopedia of male assholes." Yet, even though she writes from what she describes as "a very personal place," her songs often touch on near-universal themes.

"Music for me is always about whatever is going on in my life at the moment of writing a song," she said in an interview. "Sometimes I am experiencing something that many other people can relate to, which I guess makes it seem like a social movement song, but it always comes from a very personal place."

Stella Donnelly / Courtesy of Olivia Senior
Stella Donnelly / Courtesy of Olivia Senior

The singer went one step further, seeming to actively push back against the label often thrust upon her and other women in music who sing about their experiences as a "social-political activist."

"Of course," she explains, "I am concerned about the social welfare of others, but I am singing about my life. I am not intentionally trying to harness social welfare when I write music. That just seems to be how people interpret them."

It's unsurprising that writers fall into the trap of interpreting her music this way, though. Her songs often cut through the misogynistic bullshit with laser-focused precision. Her critically acclaimed debut album unapologetically explores themes of toxic masculinity, abortion, racism, climate change and victim blaming. "Boy, if you touch her again / I'll tell your wife and your kids about that time / 'Cause this is not '93," she sings on "Old Man." Thanks to lyrics like "'Cause it's our words that'll keep our daughters safe" (taken from the same song), many of Donnelly's songs have become anthems for gender equality. In particular, "Boys Will Be Boys," a song that was written about a cliche often used to justify violent and destructive behavior, became a very real part of the #MeToo movement.

Stella Donnelly / Courtesy of Olivia Senior
Stella Donnelly / Courtesy of Olivia Senior

Despite touching on similar themes, her recent album, "
Flood," feels more personal and introspective. It explores the singer's endeavor to find safety in a world that makes you feel so vulnerable. Donnelly argues there's a very simple reason why it feels more personal: "I play piano on this one! All of my music has been personal. I think to some listeners, it sounds more personal because I play the piano which I feel is a far more honest instrument than a guitar. You have nowhere to hide!"

The decision to start playing piano came from a place we're all too familiar with ― it's a skill she picked up during the pandemic. Donnelly is from Australia, a country that experienced some of the most extreme lockdowns. Luckily for her fans, she chose to use this as an opportunity to work on her music. "I had more time on my hands at home during the lockdown. I started playing piano more and more, so that was how the songs came out!" she said.

It was during the pandemic that Donnelly managed to connect to nature and found her new love ― birdwatching. "I love birdwatching," she said. "It's such a simple and easy way to find awe in every day. Looking at them through the binoculars in such great detail that you can really see the vibrancy of their feathers and movements: it's such a beautiful activity." Donnelly's newfound passion even prompted her to make the cover of the album a picture of birds.

Stella Donnelly / Courtesy of Olivia Senior
Stella Donnelly / Courtesy of Olivia Senior

So what can fans in Korea expect at her show on Dec. 6? "They can expect to see a band of people having a great time!" Donnelly answered. There's also a good chance that the band will have some very full bellies, too, since the thing she is most excited about when she comes to Korea is, you guessed it, "the food."

Despite being a card-carrying Australian, Donnelly sings with a distinctive British twang. As well as being a nod to her musical hero, English folk-punk icon Billy Bragg, this accent is a result of the singer's Welsh upbringing. Donnelly spent some of her childhood in a small part of Swansea, Wales, and loves to perform there whenever she can. "Wales is my favorite place to play live. It's a country where I spent time growing up as a child. I get to see my aunts, and it feels like a second home."

She added, "I'm really excited to play in Seoul, though. Who knows, maybe it will be my new favorite!"

She'll be
at Rolling Hall on Dec. 6, with local artist eundohee opening.


Jamie Finn is chief editor of
Platform Magazine.


 
Top 10 Stories
1Seoul city council under fire for sexual conduct guidelines for teachers Seoul city council under fire for sexual conduct guidelines for teachers
2Samsung unveils new Galaxy S23 smartphone Samsung unveils new Galaxy S23 smartphone
3[INTERVIEW] A touch of authenticity in Korea's Mexican cuisine scene INTERVIEWA touch of authenticity in Korea's Mexican cuisine scene
4Pyongyang threatens eye-for-eye response as US B-1B bombers join drills in South KoreaPyongyang threatens eye-for-eye response as US B-1B bombers join drills in South Korea
5Police to introduce new measures to better handle intoxicated people Police to introduce new measures to better handle intoxicated people
6Gov't announces measures to cope with shortage of surgeons Gov't announces measures to cope with shortage of surgeons
7[INTERVIEW] 'Extended deterrence is best option to ensure peace on Korean Peninsula' INTERVIEW'Extended deterrence is best option to ensure peace on Korean Peninsula'
8[INTERVIEW] US-NK summit is unlikely in 2023: Korea Society INTERVIEWUS-NK summit is unlikely in 2023: Korea Society
9[INTERVIEW] IMF expects no recession for Korean economy INTERVIEWIMF expects no recession for Korean economy
10Taxi passengers in Seoul taken aback by fare increase Taxi passengers in Seoul taken aback by fare increase
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Major webtoon platforms' fight against piracy Major webtoon platforms' fight against piracy
2ENHYPEN-inspired webtoon 'Dark Moon: The Blood Altar' surpasses 100 million views ENHYPEN-inspired webtoon 'Dark Moon: The Blood Altar' surpasses 100 million views
3$120,000 banana, praying Hitler: Infamous art world prankster Maurizio Cattelan's first Seoul outing $120,000 banana, praying Hitler: Infamous art world prankster Maurizio Cattelan's first Seoul outing
4PULL UP: VIVIZ returns with new song about gossipers PULL UP: VIVIZ returns with new song about gossipers
5Park Hyung-sik to play crown prince in tvN series 'Our Blooming Youth' Park Hyung-sik to play crown prince in tvN series 'Our Blooming Youth'
DARKROOM
  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

  • World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

    World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group