The Place For Emerging Women In Music
Powder
By Alex Teitz

This band has super powers! Powder is winner of the Los Angeles Music Awards for both Best Pop Rock Band of 2001 and Best Live Performance 2001. It's easy to see why. Powder's songs are filled with great imagery and hooks. In addition, Powder sticks out from a crowd. Their elaborate costumes (designed by John Shea) make every performance Mardi Gras!
Powder is Phil X, Ninette Terhart, Allan Hearn and J-Bo Dynamite. Phil and Ninette are the songwriters of the group. Ninette, was also a trainer for the actresses in Josie and The Pussycats. Powder is still relatively young as a band, but the acclaim keeps stacking up. To see more of Powder visit www.powdermusic.com

FEMMUSIC: Can you describe your songwriting technique?

Phil X: Ninette and I have developed this really cool participation thing where she'll have an idea and I'll help her finish it or vice versa. We both write the music, lyrics and melodies. Inspiration comes from anything from a phone conversation to a really good burrito.

FEMMUSIC: What is your biggest challenge of being an independent band?

Phil X: I think it comes down to developing and keeping a following. It doesn't matter who's lawyer or manager or whatever is knocking on the industry door, once you have a steady following the industry will hear about it and wonder where you came from and what the big deal is. Also, there are tens of thousands of bands that play every month in L.A. You really have to stand out. People need to leave your show and be singing your songs and/or raving about the best band they've ever seen.

FEMMUSIC: What was the biggest challenge making your latest CD?

Phil X: Having to keep everybody fresh while recording when we weren't working our jobs, getting used to headphones to not bother the neighbors at 3:00 am, and making a recording in a home studio that stood up against $10,000.00 demos recorded at the record plant.

FEMMUSIC: What is the key to band longevity?

Phil X: A band that bowls together, sticks together.

FEMMUSIC: Who are your mentors and influences?

Phil X: I've been drawing from a vast palate of influence for years. From the songwriting of the Beatles to Jimmy Page's production of Zeppelin to Jimi Hendrix playing guitar with his teeth, it's all swimming around in my soul and comes out every time I step onto a stage or turn the mids up on a console.

N: Robert Plant…Tina Turner…and a bit of everything in-between.

FEMMUSIC: What one thing would you like to change about the music industry?

Phil X: I think it would be brilliant if major record companies took more chances on something unique rather than jumping on a band wagon to rake in the dollars. Integrity comes with high risk.

FEMMUSIC: As a woman in the music industry, have you been discriminated against?

N: No I don't think that it is discrimination... but rather a fear based assumption on a man's perspective regarding the power of women.... I deal with a lot of men in this business.... but I also think that there are many forms of discrimination... and even women can be brutal if there is lack of self-confidence within!!!

FEMMUSIC: What advice would you have for an artist or band starting out?

Phil X: Discover who you are and what really represents who that is, musically and image-wise. Secondly, if you can't stand in front of a truck for a song, it shouldn't be in your set.