Alanis Morissette Recalls Lack Of ‘Sisterhood’ For ’90s Artists

Alanis Morissette has gone to town on the music industry of the ‘90s, revealing there was no “sisterhood” at the time and recalled times when she was the only woman on festival line-ups – a problem that persists in music scenes to this day.

Discussing the early days of her career in a recent interview with W Magazine, the Hands Clean singer said: “In the ’90s, there was no sisterhood, kumbaya thing going on. It was quite the opposite, actually. The pervasive messaging was very much: You pick a lane and stay in it. And if you step out of your lane, it’s career suicide, which is total bullsh*t.”

Despite the changes that have occurred in the music industry in the years since then, Morissette believes more work still needs to be done.

“There are all these allowances for us [women in music] to be multitudinous,” she said.

Recalling when she was the only woman performing on festival line-ups, she continued, “I was on these festival bills with 342 men, and I was the only woman. The male bands would move around where they were on the evening’s poster because who cares? It’s Alanis. She can play before me.”

Morissette tried to put her foot down and argue, claiming they’d” (likely promoters) would be “super gaslighty”, referring to her as a “diva.”

She continued, “In moments like that, I was just like, ‘God, where is the f*cking powerful divine feminine?”

Because of her experiences in the ‘90s, when she was often the only woman on rock festival line-ups and didn’t have someone to look to for inspiration, Morissette shared that she provides support for emerging women in music.

She explained, “Now, when I’m in a position where it’s flipped, and maybe a young artist will have my phone number, I make sure that I respond like a motherf*cker. I want to be available for those who may need me.”

You can read the interview here.

Morissette’s most recent album, the storm before the calm, was released in June 2022. A meditative album, it showcased the rock and roll singer’s interest in ambient music. The record followed 2020’s Such Pretty Forks In The Road, her first album in eight years.