Women, Charity, Music, Activism, Community: Simone on GIRL NOISE

GIRL NOISE is a New York City-based music festival with a distinct mission: to amplify female voices through art, community, activism, advocacy, and, of course, music. With two sold-out shows at the Sultan Room already under their belt, GIRL NOISE is gearing up for their next, biggest-ever show this Sunday, October 4th, at the Bowery Ballroom. 

We sat down with Simone Lipkin, founder of the all-female music festival, to take a closer look at the inspirations, processes, and special moments behind the show. 

Could you tell us a little bit about how GIRL NOISE came to be? I understand you were very inspired by Lillith Fair, but I was curious how you came up with the specific idea, and whether there are any particular moments you remember.

I was thinking about it for a while, like months before I told anyone about the idea. I kind of just wrote it down in my notes app, like, “All-women concert! So much fun!” The catalyst for it was really just wanting to have a community in New York, wanting to work with women, wanting to curate a space that felt like GIRL NOISE. I didn’t really know what that looked like at the time; I just knew I was craving [a space] like that, and I also didn’t know that it would be me to create it. It just felt like there was a lack of that in music in general, and over time I had to gain the confidence to realize “maybe I could do this myself.”

Many artists are told to avoid getting involved with politics, but GIRL NOISE directly defies this, both in its mission and at the shows, with HeadCount tabling and representatives from different political campaigns speaking. How do you navigate being a politically outspoken organization in an industry that so often shuns people and artists for doing that?

That was kind of a big reason for GIRL NOISE as well. [I had] this feeling that there was becoming more and more disconnect between music and politics or just art and activism. It felt like those things were becoming less and less intertwined, and I really don’t like that…not even just as an artist, but as a fan of music. I love when the artists I listen to speak up about things that are important and write about things that matter and things they notice about the world and the things around them. Going into GIRL NOISE, knowing that was such a big part of the mission, has kept me committed, and I’m not really interested in stopping that anyway. I think inherently, the idea of GIRL NOISE is political in itself. The midterms are coming up, so we really want to make sure that we tell people who are at this event to go out and vote, and [that we] talk about the candidates that are running in New York. Such a big part of community to me is democracy, so to me, it’s all intertwined, and it doesn’t feel like anything that I would stray away from. 

You’ve performed at each GIRL NOISE so far, which I think is a power move in itself. How do you balance your career as an artist with your role as founder of GIRL NOISE, or do you hope to blend the two?

I do think they’re very intertwined. Who I want to be as an artist is very much who I am in regards to GIRL NOISE, and it all feels very connected, as far as the music I make and what I stand for, and the world I want to build around my music. It definitely doesn’t feel like I’m sacrificing one or the other. There are definitely moments where I have to focus on one, you know, right now I’m obviously very much in GIRL NOISE mode. But then we’ll have a few months off, and I’ll focus on music and writing. I think it’s also really fun to be able to stretch different muscles, and I think that the more I do with GIRL NOISE, the more I learn about the inner workings of the music industry, things I wouldn’t know otherwise. Also, starting a music festival as an artist who has played live shows for so long was so helpful, asking, like, “These are my best experiences playing live; how can I incorporate that into the show to make sure that the artists are having the best night possible?” So, I think it all feeds into each other. 

Simone at the last GIRL NOISE show, courtesy of @mydigitalsecrets

Have there been any specific moments that you feel like are the most special, rewarding, or stand out the most since you’ve started GIRL NOISE?

There’s been a lot of them. We’re making a zine for this show, and we put out a feeler on our Instagram [asking people to] submit their work. I really wanted there to be artwork from different girls all over the world, and we got so many submissions from people in all different countries. [I loved] just looking through them all and seeing how talented these girls were. In every form, I asked, “What does GIRL NOISE mean to you?” and reading hundreds of submissions about what it meant to them, even from people who maybe can’t come to the show, or had just found out about it by submitting to the zine, just made me feel really full and happy, and made my heart really warm. Seeing how it’s translating to people, and how people are reacting to it, is always really special to me, and being able to see the art and work of other women—it’s all very special. 

GIRL NOISE has already grown immensely, both in its online presence and reach, and in its capacity, going from the first two shows being held at the Sultan Room to the next at a larger venue like the Bowery Ballroom. How do you hope the festival continues to grow; are there any long-term goals?

I definitely want to grow it in New York. I love New York so much, and I think growing a community here in general is really important to me, so I think I’m really focused on that and just being able to expand to larger venues in New York. Once we reach a certain point and we have the capacity to go to other cities, I’m really interested in that. Doing GIRL NOISE LA, GIRL NOISE Nashville, you know, going to other places where we can highlight different local artists and support different local charities, that’s really exciting to me, but that could be a few years down the road. I’m definitely just focused on making the best shows we can in New York and growing it from there. 

GIRL NOISE is focused on community building and activism. What do you want audiences to take with them after they leave the festival?

I feel like there’s really nothing to lose. The money you spend on your ticket goes to charity, which is already such an incredible thing, and supports a really important cause. There might be artists on the bill that you’ve never heard of, and you see them live and discover a new favorite artist, or you make a friend, or you take a cute picture. The opportunities are endless! You know, we’re giving away a guitar at this show, which I’m really excited about, so you could literally leave with a guitar. The show has given me a lot of hope, and I hope that it gives other people hope. I feel like the main takeaway I’ve gotten from these shows is how powerful it feels to be in these rooms with people who believe in the same things and want to help each other, so I hope people take that away from it as well. 

Photo by Allie Thaller

Tell our audience why they need to be at GIRL NOISE on October 4th!

You need to be at GIRL NOISE on October 4th because nothing better has ever happened in the world. This could be the night that changes the trajectory of your life! Women, charity, music, activism, community: it’s literally all of the best things in one, and you should be there. 

Catch the biggest GIRL NOISE event yet this Sunday, October 4th, at the Bowery Ballroom. All ticket proceeds will directly benefit The Brave House, a nonprofit organization that supports immigrant women and gender-expansive youth across New York City. Get your ticket here!