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My fear is that its supercompetitive and there havent been enough spots for women.
I felt like I got asked to prom by the most popular kids at school, she quips.
Sometimes theyreside by side in their salty exasperationat the emotional labor expected of their gender.
At other moments, they arrange their voices in sympathetic, full-bodied harmony.
Believe it or not, the groups nameisnta stoner reference.
Our intention is to attempt to hold open doors.
They were like, I want to participate however I can.
Ill be a Highwoman, but I have scheduling conflicts.
I never wanted it to be a thing where it was only four people onstage at once.
But I think the four core Highwomen are able to bring more awareness because we operate in different fields.
It makes the conversation bigger and louder.
NH:Its like were coming from all four corners of the music universe.
All four are so different, but our voices coming together, its a statement.
AS:And its not limited to women, either.
Myhusbandhas a Highwomen tattoo, and so does our guitar tech.
AS:It encourages other people to form their own groups within their own communities.
Its more like a party then too.
Would it be accurate to say the Highwomen have no lead singer?AS:Yes.
Every one of us is the lead singer.
NH:We[every member] are the lead singer.
We all have a place in this, and we all just gravitate toward the parts we usually sing.
AS:Thats the most magical thing I can think of with the whole project.
No parts were assigned.
It was never a problem.
Of all the stories Ive ever heard in the studio, Ive never heard of that.
In the name, narrative, and theme song of the group, youre invoking the Highwaymen.
What are you getting at with that gender-flipped reference?NH:They all were kind of dark horses.
They didnt play by anyones rules.
And between me, Brandi, Maren, and Amanda, we dont play by rules necessarily either.
AS:We listen to the rules, and if we like the rules, we follow them.
NH: Im 42-years-old, and Im just now joining a band.
That is not something that someone would be like, Wow, this is a really great idea.
The Highwaymen had a brilliant, rebellious nature to them.
And they stood up [against] some social injustices.
We also want to see things change.
NH:Part of it was about raising children.
Part of it was I dont feel like being a mama today.
Part of it was Hey, youre my sister.
Lets sit at this table together.
And then we have a beautiful gay country song.
Ive got transgender folks in my family.
Ive got all kinds of family.
And I think country music isnt for a certain punch in.
Its more than that, and its been more than that in the past.
And Id like to see a broader representation of people within that genre.
Your song Crowded Table articulates a desire to make room.
Its pretty much the antithesis of the perception that women see themselves in competition for limited spots.
I am a come-sit-at-my-table person.
AS:People can apply it to any sort of table.
My family is heavily divided right now with politics, for example.
Even for the stay-at-home mothers thats more than a 40-hours-a-week job.
Just [receiving] acknowledgement sometimes helps.
Youvetalkedabout wanting to engage the mainstream, even the radio format, with what youre doing.
Maybe we dont have radio on our side.
But were here, and youre going to have to listen to us.
Its already a win.
Theres been so much of this talk about how womens songs are like the tomatoes on the salad.
And Im like, Fuck that.
I want a caprese salad.
Give me a tomato salad.
Were all in it together, for real.
