WOMEN WHO ROCK ILM: We’ve only scratched the surface
- Samantha Hill
- May 20
- 6 min read
As women musicians gathered at Bowstring Brewing on a Sunday morning, I suspect I wasn’t the only one with goosebumps along my arms. All of these women started in the same place—with a passion for love, music, and performance. They all chased those dreams. We were there not only to capture a rocking group photo, but to catch up, make new connections, and embrace being a woman in local music.
Delia Stanley, a longtime musician in Wilmington, reflects on the growth of women in the local Wilmington music scene. She notes while it was initially a male-dominated space, there’s been improvement over the years: “When I first moved into town, I sort of was able to explore what was going on and getting involved with the music community, the arts community in general,” Stanley says. “I’m a full-time musician now, kind of worked my way into that, and for many years, I’ve been trying to just cultivate that creative community and create resources. Throughout the years, either we’ve come to know more women musicians, or getting more gigs, or maybe just people have been inspired to get involved and get out there, because it can be intimidating.”
Laura McLean is another longtime Wilmington female musician who once rocked the stage in a t-shirt with a hole in the nipple. Now, she produces Hip-Hop CDs. McLean explains how the lack of funding and attention towards musical talent has led to a new generation of musicians to discover their musical talent, especially women in music.
“[Being at Bowstring with a group of women musicians] feels great,” says McLean. “In fact, I was going to ask everybody if they could scream in a crazy way, so we could just have that as an audio to listen to when wanted.”
I spoke with the ladies who make up the female music scene in Wilmington to discuss their current projects and experiences as a woman in music. They all come from various backgrounds—music genres, location, age and upbringing. With all of them in one room, the feminine power is stronger than ever.
What does it mean to be a woman in music?
Laura McLean: We still get the same pay as 1977 here.
Lorna Ford, front of the band The Ford Project: What does it mean? It means everything, having visibility, seeing yourself in other spaces, having representation matters, and there’s safety in being with other women musicians.
Liza Shaw, vocalist and percussionist: I feel like being among these women, it is like the bad ass-iest opportunity there is.
Julianna Richards, vocalist and guitarist: I was really nervous at first because everybody I talked to was male. Then I came out to an open mic and I was amazed. I met Delia and another group of women who were already doing it, and it inspired me so much.
Callan Trippe: It’s inspiring. It’s empowering. I feel like we’re all walking away with more fans than we came in with because it’s such an absolute joy to be surrounded by this many women lifting each other up. I think we are leaving here with some lasting friendships that we didn’t have before. I think that female friendships sometimes take a back seat to things because we’re always competing.
Veronica Plankers: To have just the opportunity to express all the range inside of me and I think it’s important that we support each other. We all have a lot of similarities, probably in our experiences, where we could align and build something that is different from what we see now.
Kathy Sohar: It’s not often that you are around this many women musicians in such a supportive environment. So, it’s really wonderful. I really love that everyone’s meeting, sharing and celebrating.
Beth Manning: Sometimes it can be tough. It feels like you have to push your way to the top and not come off “bossy” so that people still listen to you.
Cheyenne Rose: It comes with its challenges but its the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done, especially when you see girls in the crowd with their family and they come up to you and tell you things like ‘This is something I always wanted to do as a kid.’ It does come with its obstacles, and it especially is in the way you present yourself.
BOY TAX is a newly formed '90s-early 2000s cover band consisting of Ambria Amar, Simi Lee, Amanda Grace, Austin Griffith, and Millie Palmer. Here’s what they had to say...
Ambria Amar, independent musician and a member of the girl band BOY TAX: It is scary until you do it, and then afterwards, it’s so empowering and freeing. Being connected with these ladies is just something so special. I’m so grateful.
Simi Lee, diverse in multiple instruments, including trumpet and drums: It is [in agreement with Amar], especially in the trumpet realm, where you get a lot of orchestral music and a lot of lowkey elitesting. It is very intimidating. You have to force yourself to take up space, but once you do so, you realize you’re actually a lot better than you thought.
Amanda Grace, bass player for BOY TAX: It is lonely. I’m so happy right now. I want to have more of these, So between work and playing a gig last night at Loggerheads, I think I talked to three women but men were everywhere. We need to fix that. That’s why we’re starting BOY TAX so we can go out and be like we exist.
Austin Griffith, lead singer and rhythm guitarist for Dial 0 and BOY TAX: I think it’s fun. I think it’s growing in multiple parts of my life. I’m a woman in STEM. I have a master’s in data science. There were a lot of guys during my entire education. It’s a lot of guys in the world of music but the girls are coming out and we’re starting to take over.
Millie Palmer, songwriter and performer: Let me tell you, we’re fun. It doesn’t matter if we mess up because we are going to grow and we are going to learn along the way.
What advice do you give to any woman who wants to enter a creative space?
Delia Stanley: Do it. Don’t let these men tell you anything you know, musicianship and creativity and artistry, it belongs to everyone, and you just have to go and claim it.
Liza Shaw: Find other women who are already doing it and ask them how they did it. Don’t listen to anything other than ‘yes’. Don’t let the ‘no’s’ get you down. Let them build you back up and say ‘I’m going to get back out there.’ You can literally do it. If I'm doing it, anybody can do it, any woman can do it.
Julianna Richards: It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to exist. Just do it. Just start somewhere, and it’ll get better as you go. You will learn things and you will meet the right people for you.
Millie Palmer: I would say it’s both exhausting and exhilarating. I think especially in the jazz world, there’s not a lot of women, and people assume a lot when you walk in as a woman. Through the years, I’ve learned to use my voice and dominate spaces and also invite women to play.
Simi Lee: Just play. Just play whenever you see somebody that you’re like ‘They sound good.’ Lowkey, even if they don’t sound good, just be like ‘Oh, hey. We can actually work on things together. We can improve and just help each other. Just come out and play.
Amanda Grace: Show up to open mics, come play with BOY TAX, and stop apologizing. I have so many female students, and I love them, but every time I teach my girls, they apologize for messing up. Stop it. The boys are also messing up. They’re just not apologizing for it.
Austin Griffith: Be bold and be delusional. If you want to do something, whatever it is, I can figure it out, and I can do it. The more you do those things, the better you’re gonna get and the more confident you will become. Start something new. Start something fun and have a good time.
Callan Trippe: If you’re nervous, it’s worth doing. Never let that stop you from getting in front of a group of people and doing something that you’re passionate about.
Veronica Plankers: Just be yourself. You have something to contribute. It’s important to show up. Worrying about everybody else is a waste of time.
Kathy Sohar: Anybody who’s ever gone out and performed understands what it’s like to start from a basic level, so not everybody’s going to like you and that’s okay.
Cheyenne Rose: Don’t ever f*cking give up.
The unifying message here? Never give up on your dream.
The power and unity of being in a room surrounded by female musicians felt so affirming. It was a reminder to always pursue your passions and not let anyone discourage you from chasing your dream because you’re a woman. Whether it’s music, arts, writing, science, business or even trade work, women are just as capable, empowered, strong, determined, bold, and brave for chasing a dream that makes them happy.
