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Delta Rae Is Not Afraid Of Getting Their “Hands Dirty”

By on November 12, 2018 in Album & Song Reviews, Music

Delta Rae just released their newest single, “Hands Dirty”.   It is a powerful and honest song written from a female’s perspective about standing up against discrimination, working towards equality, and not giving up by doing what we can to invoke change.  One example: exercising our right to vote.

With lyrics like these, I find the song to be very inspiring and thought-provoking:

“I could raise the crops from the earth
I could raise my children from birth
But when I’m looking for work
They say that job ain’t for her
I could be a good mans wife
I could give a new child life
But when I fight for my rights
They say no woman, no cry

But I ain’t giving up
I can’t count on luck

I get my hands dirty
I show up so early
They show me no mercy
So I just keep working
Maybe God could save me
Or my boss might pay me
Right now no one serves me
Maybe their hands are dirty, dirty, dirty, dirty”

In today’s heated climate filled with political discourse, divisiveness, and the #MeToo movement, it’s a very relevant and empowering anthem for women or anyone who has had to fight to be heard.  Yes, it might be 2018 and some might think that we have moved past that; however, it is very much still an issue in our world.  We SHOULD have already moved past this, but sadly we have not.  Women are still making less than their male counterparts.  Talented female artists on country radio are struggling to get anywhere close to equal airplay, far below what is given to male artists.  Women are still not equal in roles of leadership within our government.  Finally, too many women find themselves being survivors of sexual assault finding comfort that they are not alone with #MeToo movement.  We’ve got much work to still do and can’t be afraid as socially conscious people to get our “hands dirty” by being proactive about bringing about change with something as simple as starting a conversation about it.

I recently had the pleasure to speak with Brittany Hölljes, who along with her brothers, Eric Hölljes and Ian Hölljes, Grant Emerson, Elizabeth Hopkins, and Mike McKee form the group, Delta Rae. 

Delta Rae emerged from Durham, North Carolina nine years ago etching out a sound all their own that can best be described as southern gothic, swampy, folk with strong harmonies blended with an emphasis on big percussion and big voices through the lead of Brittany Hölljes and Elizabeth Hopkins.  The group as a whole is filled with passion, purpose, energy, and joy in the creation of music unafraid to step outside the box of what everyone else is doing.  Their name taken from a character in a book that the Hölljes’ mother created and writes about that has yet to be published.

Photo Credit: David McClister
Pictured: L-R: Back Row – Liz Hopkins, Brittany Holljes, Grant Emerson
L-R: Front Row – Mike McKee, Eric Holljes, Ian Holljes

Brittany Hölljes is a bold, beautiful blonde with a razor sharp intellect who gives off a more mysterious vibe and comes alive on the stage, which always seems to put me in mind of musical great, Stevie Nicks.  I think it’s just what comes most natural to her from the way she dresses on stage and where she probably feels most comfortable to be herself; expressing herself artistically through music.

Deciding to open up about her own personal experience is what inspired Brittany Hölljes to write this song alongside her brother and bandmate, Ian.  There is strength to be found in sharing your truth and putting feelings down into words can be quite healing.  Sadly, at the age of 15, she was sexually assaulted.  I am so sorry that she ever had to go through that traumatic experience.  This vile act, which is much less about sex and more about power over another, is not uncommon in our society.  Far too many women have their own stories to share.  I believe it is 1 in every 3 women will experience sexual assault in their lifetime, and those stats are derived from those strong enough to report it.  I think the actual statistics would shock us if we really knew the full scope of the problem if the unreported experiences were brought to light and figured in; lots of experiences we are now hearing from social media with the #MeToo movement.  With the support of her brothers and parents, she survived and came out stronger; although it is something that always stays with you and shapes you for the rest of your life.

Another sad part is that our society has created this rape culture where people are more likely to blame the victims in questioning what they were wearing, if they were drinking, etc., which tries to suggest the blame falls on the female while seemingly excusing the male with the “boys will be boys” comment suggesting that they can’t control themselves.  People have to stop this victim blaming.  Period.

Brittany Hölljes even experienced some negative feedback from people on the internet after she opened up about what happened in her past, hearing comments like: “get over it”, etc.  These responses are just so wrong and hurtful.  Always try to put yourself in another’s shoes and show empathy whenever you can.  I greatly admire her strength and determination as she shared her truth.

She spoke with The Washington Post about being a woman in country music and how the industry has reacted read the full article here: https://goo.gl/JhcCLq.

Brittany told writer Emily Yahr at The Washington Post, “I wanted to make sure that they knew this song is about female empowerment, but it is also coming from someone who doesn’t always feel powerful, who experienced someone trying to take my power from me. We can rise from that place. … We have to change this environment and narrative so that the next generation and women don’t have to experience this kind of misogyny.”

“It’s really a song for anyone that has had to fight to find their place in this world” and “anyone that is struggling under the thumb of the proverbial ‘man'”, stated the singer when speaking with me over the phone.

 

You can catch Delta Rae every Wednesday now through December 19th at The Basement in Nashville beginning at 8pm with The Delta Rae Revival.  Limited tickets to this intimate performance are still available at: www.deltarae.com.

Below is a glimpse of what you can expect to see, but there is much, much more and you really want to see it in-person.

For our full review of the the Delta Rae Revival, click here to be taken to that article.

 

 

 

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Delta Rae Empowers Fans To Get Their “Hands Dirty”

By on October 19, 2018 in In The Press

Delta Rae has never shied away from speaking their minds, especially on tough subjects. Holljes siblings Brittany, Ian and Eric were raised to educate themselves on issues affecting their community, watching their feminist mother call for change in spite of public berating. The lead-by-example message stuck with them and bandmates Liz Hopkins, Grant Emerson and Mike McKee as a cornerstone of their group – to make music that matters on whatever platforms available. As political tensions rise, the #MeToo Movement unfolds and new generations head to the polls, the six-piece knows the importance of getting your “Hands Dirty.” Brittany (lead vocals) and Ian (vocals, guitar) penned the song to implore fellow “persistent resistors” to plead for social equality and activism. Get “Hands Dirty” now at digital retailers: https://DeltaRae.lnk.to/HandsDirtyPR.

Sharing the genesis of “Hands Dirty” with fans through a personal essay, Brittany explains how through dark times she found strength. She hopes these words will ultimately encourage people to get out and vote for the midterm elections next month, empowering marginalized groups.

I have seen the other side of the mountain
Where every queen will be afforded her throne
And I will stand beside my sisters
And all persistent resistors
They’ll say I knew it would come true
And I’ll say darling, Me Too.

I was sexually assaulted when I was 13. I won’t go into the details, even though I remember them and the trauma vividly. My adrenaline kicks in, even now, thinking about it 16 years later. When it happened, the first person I confided in was my friend Liz, who was like a big sister to me. She told me to tell my brothers, Ian and Eric, and they urged me to tell our parents. I did. A year later I dropped out of high school. I went to community college and graduated from UC Berkeley before eventually moving to North Carolina, into a big house in the middle of the woods with Ian, Eric, and Liz, and finding our rhythm section, Mike and Grant. That fall we started Delta Rae, and my whole life changed.

But, I can’t say I never looked back. I will never be able to forget the assault. My life changed then too. I was lucky to be believed and to have the support of my close friends and family. And I, like most women who say “Me Too,” didn’t quit on myself after the first assault or after countless other times experiencing misogyny, harassment or violence since. We just keep working.

My brother and I wrote “Hands Dirty” because women in America are doing just that every day – tirelessly working at our jobs, pursuing our education, running for office in record numbers in the 2018 election. We create beautiful art, raise children, start businesses, teach young people, save lives. We keep pursuing our goals as though nothing is wrong, but something IS deeply wrong. 

One in three women have been the victim of sexual violence.* On top of what we are trying to accomplish as individuals, we are still fighting collectively to be seen as human beings. As equals. Women are not victims, but we have been victimized. But the even more complex truth is that it’s not just women who are being abused. One in six men also experience sexual violence, and the likelihood grows based on your economic status, race, sexual orientation, disabilities or whether you’re an immigrant.*

The real fight is not between genders. The fight is against institutional corruption that reinforces toxic masculinity and ignores or excuses sexual violence. That’s why we need to all rally together as a united front to dismantle a broken system and disrupt the status quo of government, corporate industry and popular culture. 

Delta Rae is a band fronted by two strong women, and backed by four feminist men. There are people who look to Liz and me as role models, but there are days when I don’t feel strong enough to be a role model for anyone, when the shame and rage of my experiences as a woman threaten to overwhelm me. The show must go on, and it does thanks to our fierce fans, who give me back a belief in myself. But most women don’t get applause at the end of the day.

We are seldom told we’re powerful. In fact, we are often told the opposite from the time we are very young. Now more than ever – thanks in large part to the #MeToo movement – brave women have been raising their voices, creating new awareness of the old, ugly reality that many of us have known since childhood. We wrote “Hands Dirty” because we refuse to give up on the inevitable, equitable future. We believe that women will rise and claim our place as leaders in this world because the future is up to us – as women and for anyone who believes in equality. Women are not a monolith, we have diverse beliefs, but we all will benefit when women are in positions of power — representing our diversity of experiences and inspiring the next generation to further the progress. 

This November, we have the opportunity to get an historic number of women elected. Let’s do it by getting an historic number of women voting in the midterms and beyond. Volunteer with Rock The Vote, HeadCount, Emily’s List or one of the many great organizations helping us to all raise our voices. Speak up about the causes that matter to you. Inspire your friends, coworkers, classmates, family and neighbors to vote.

If you’re ready for a change… Me Too. Let’s get our HANDS DIRTY.

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*SOURCE:  https://www.nsvrc.org/statistics

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