Tanya Donelly on objectification- Women of Rock Oral History Project

Tanya Donelly (born July 14, 1966) is an American Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter and guitarist based in New England who co-founded Throwing Muses with her step-sister Kristin Hersh. Donelly went on to co-form the alternative rock band The Breeders (alongside Pixies bassist Kim Deal) in 1989, before leaving to front her own band Belly in 1991. By the late 1990s, she settled into a solo recording career, working largely with musicians connected to the Boston music scene.
Donelly is best known for her Grammy-nominated work in the mid-1990s as lead vocalist and songwriter for Belly, when she scored a national radio and music television hit with her composition "Feed the Tree". Belly recorded on Sire/Reprise Records and 4AD Records; Donelly's solo works have been released on Warner Bros. Records and 4AD.
Learn more at: WomenofRock.org
Interviewed by Tanya Pearson for the Women of Rock Oral History Project
The Women of Rock Oral History Project is a collection of digital interviews and written transcripts, housed at the Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College-one of the oldest women’s history archives in the United States. Started by Tanya Pearson in December, 2014, WOROHP documents the lives and careers of women in rock whose work and careers have been underrepresented or omitted from rock journalism and historical scholarship. With a collection of publicized and accessible primary source documents, the Women of Rock Oral History Project seeks to facilitate a more comprehensive, inclusive, and accurate cultural history.

[@Ring0fSaturn]

Tanya is talented and intelligent and thoughtful, as well as a fine musician. The interviewer essentially asked what Tanya thought about what Kristin said. Tanya is gracious.

[@jeffandrew2956]

She's so thoughtful. I like how she considers carefully before she speaks. Not a lot of people do that. Really in a sorta "get to the point" era, not a lot of people dare.

[@leannamacfarlane4288]

I like her, too. 😉 👍

[@WHJeffB]

I think the pause/thought before she speaks is a form of self protection. She's been through the wringer of fame and is careful to share only parts of her life that she wants to share. She's entitled to a level of privacy after all, I'm sure that wasn't easy "back in the day". Very interesting full length interview... Really liked TM and Belly and have spent a lot of time watching their videos and listening to their music over the last few years. Very talented lady, along with her step sister Kristen.

[@Brooklyn_Powers]

It's always a good idea to organize your thoughts before you verbalize them.

[@DjWellDressedMan]

Tanya: Been a fan since Green, lived on the North Shore and listened to that Phoenix in the Air and even have a pix of the Harvard COOP show with the original Four Muses. Thanks to all T. Muses for making some great Music!

[@chris-fc9im]

Hi, Ty Tanya for all the great music, I am more of a hard rock and metalhead, but your band belly is different and far better then most. I can make a full 90 minute cassette for out in the woods campfire and drinks out of belly's 2 + greatest hits album that is more like a 3rd release. For most other bands except nightwish, this requires many more albums lol Belly is a perfect stew of ingredients.

[@Kkidzz]

'Hate My Way' such a timeless song. Classic.

[@aaroncarson1770]

I listened to "How Can You Sleep" for Years on repeat.

[@Ring0fSaturn]

Went looking for that and only found "Now They'll Sleep" by Belly, which is a great song.

[@aaroncarson1770]

@@Ring0fSaturn It's a bonus track on The Bright Light single.

[@NickKizirnis]

Great clip, thank you so much.

[@pjsebadoh5412]

Miss you all. -Buffalo-

[@jusztinnemeti6380]

I'm 0:50 seconds in and I have to stop. The interviewer is terrible. She's talking more than listening even talking over her guest. This is mpossible to watch, I'm moving on.

[@MooseCall]

She says "like" so much. It's unbearable.

[@smileylpsgirl]

i think this is more of a recorded conversation than an actual "interview"

[@all.day.day-dreamer]

As a man, I found her to be absolutely beautiful and memerizing in the Breeders Safari video she was in. For a long time, I didn't even know who she was. I left a few comments on the video asking who she was but no one responded and after a year or so, I edited the comment to basically just say, I figured out who she was. Made a compliment and that was it. I've never ever called a woman "baby" or "whistled" at a woman or went after women because of their physically attributes. Maybe when I was in HS I preferred a certain look, but all of that change rather quickly for me. There's no way any woman reading this is really going to hear me but I will still say this ... men, a lot of men, not all, but many .... can appreciate the beauty of a woman in an all encompassing way. Meani8ng, what is this person like on the inside as well, her likes, hobbies, passions, etc. Anyways, anytime I see the word "objectification" I just want to stop and chime in and ... many women already know this, but a lot of us guys are actually thoughtful, sweet and teddy bears toward the opposite sex.