When life gives you catcalls, you write empowering music about it, right? In the case of musician Scene Queen, she and her newly released album titled “Bimbocore” answer with an absolute yes.
Having taken TikTok by storm with her song teasers, Scene Queen is becoming more popular on the metal and alternative side of music. In her video’s comments, some argue over if she should be considered metal. Other viewers have added duets with vivid transitions to the lyrics and beat drops, mixing together songs like “Pink Rover” and “Pink Panther.”
Inspired by real events from living in Hollywood, Scene Queen, whose real name is Hannah Collins, explained, “Women that live in major cities understand that there’s a certain level of harassment you deal with every single day through catcalling. The amount of times I have had to call friends and pretend I was on the phone with my boyfriend to avoid feeling unsafe or objectified is honestly a traumatizing amount.”
Harassment is a common theme among women’s tales, one that can be terrifying on many levels. According to RAINN, an organization whose goal is to end sexual violence, harassment “rarely happens just once.” Most women, by the age of 19, have experienced repeated catcalling or some other form of street harassment.
Scene Queen takes this traumatizing event and switches the narrative to one of empowerment, giving new meaning to taking control of your life. This idea further comes to life on the rest of the album. She credits the song “Pink Panther” with helping her come out as bisexual. Not only is it music that’s relatable to many regardless of their sexual orientation, but it’s music by a woman who forged her own path.
“I’m no longer listening to anyone,” she declared. “It’s the most exciting thing in the world for me to finally have that freedom in music. And you can tangibly tell that a girl had an influence on it because … look at it!”
Here, Scene Queen is referring to her hyper-feminine, overly pink persona that influences her music as well as her wardrobe. Personally, I might not be a fan of pink. But for her? I’d wear pink in every shade. This niche of hers is a way to fight against the overtly masculine heart of the alternative metal world. The alternative metal scene, while women often participate, is not always the most welcoming or safest. Some may view it as a reflection of the world at large at times.
In this way, Scene Queen’s music offers refuge against the onslaught of misogyny and masculinity. A space to be feminine and enjoy that feeling of confidence that can come from listening to music we can relate to. Her new album “Bimbocore” is exactly what is needed at this moment to provide that empowerment. While it only has six songs, the album focuses on a rather pink theme. Each song, aside from “Bring It On,” has the ultra-feminine color-coded word somewhere in the title.
But don’t be mistaken. There is nothing soft in this pink-paper-wrapped gift of music. As mentioned before, “Pink Rover” is a callout to the harassers. In fact, much of the album issues a challenge to those who would hate Scene Queen’s style — one that is an amalgamation of multiple genres landing in the mix of alternative and metal. Purists might bash her pop-influenced music, but the real target audience of women needing a “self-confidence” advocate is digging her vibes.
Alternative, not to mention everyday life, needs a revamp. Existing is not enough, and music like Scene Queen’s allows us the room to realize this. Alternative music has been dominated by men for so long that it can be difficult to break through. It’s as if there is a wall too thick to puncture, yet Scene Queen manages to.
So what if her records have catchy tunes or pop-inspired instrumentals and lyrics? Music is to be enjoyed, savored and screamed at the top of our lungs. Music stays with us longer than even some of our closest friends, catching like wildfire in our brains and blazing through us. Scene Queen creates pink-induced rage-fueled hits that also carry a message. One that many need to be taught or at least reminded of. Don’t diss female artists, and don’t catcall, harass or degrade us for wanting to be confident in our styles.
The final set of lyrics from “Pink Rover,” a song that I personally cannot stop listening to, sums it up perfectly. “Bless me father for I have sinned. It’s been a week since my last confession, and too long since these motherf—ers learned a lesson.”
