RED SHIP is FINALLY OUT, Punknews Feature
- Star Matriarch
- Jun 12
- 3 min read
What a journey it has been. I'm incredibly proud to announce the digital release of my album, Red Ship. I'd worked hard for over a decade to muster the courage to (re)tell these stories honestly. I originally released several of these songs in 2011 but because I did not feel safe enough to publicly disclose my occupation as a sex worker, these songs were not brought forth with the transparency and authenticity they deserved.
I'm inspired by the younger generation of feminists who include sex workers in their advocacy, to my kids for inspiring me to model integrity and agency, and am so incredibly grateful to Katy Otto of Exotic Fever Records not just for her support in putting out this record, but her advocacy in virtually all spaces. I'm also deeply appreciative of my friend Isa Gautschi for holding space and providing sacred emotional support throughout the 3+ years of my journey in reworking this album. Also thankful to TJ Lipple for his patience and handholding through all things technical and creative in the making of this record.
There are a few other reasons for the reissue. When it was first released in 2011, that was already my 3rd record (under my real name "Carol Bui") and I was so burnt out from trying to get noticed. I had no idea I was audhd, I just thought maybe that meant I wasn't cut out for the scene. I half-assed the release, started booking tours and canceling. There was a lot of shame around that as I watched my peers thrive. So I spent 10 years focusing on my new passion, raqs sharqi or what the west calls "bellydance" and tried to essentially forget that I tried to be a rock star.
I do not regret that time at all, it has augmented my creativity and songwriting, and I developed the social consciousness that even the uber politcal DC punk scene couldn't teach me. I learned the connection between music, dance, geopolitics, and humanity.
Another problem with the original release was the Orientalism. I began writing those songs around the same time I began studying dance, highly influenced by the music I developed a new obsession for - Egyptian and Lebanese pop, Arabic contemporary classics, Arab rhythm. However, I did not treat my influences with genuine respect, and the original arrangements for those songs were purposely exotified. I wanted to capitalize off of the otherness of those influences.
So I retracked all vocals, stripped some of the instrumentation down a bit to focus on raw power and emotion, and dropped the Natacha Atlas cover. And having grown over the years, and upon reflection of my past and present, I wrote 3 new tracks ("Interchangeable", "Mỹ Lai to Rafah", and "It Won't Be Forever") and covered a Vietnamese anti-war song called "Xin Cho Tôi" by Trịnh Công Sơn for this record.
I feel like I've been living with this album for so much of my life, I'm itching to write new material as I'm finding so much more I need to say. I'm thrilled to finally share it in its entirety to the world.
It can be streamed from all platforms, including Bandcamp. Pre-orders for vinyl will be available soon!
Punknews.org shared a feature on it where I shared the story behind each track. Check it out here:
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