A group of curious, Birmingham girls crowded around Kelly Conwell, better known as DJ Geisha, and peered at her mixing board. Conwell taught the aspiring artists her craft, including how to spin, mix and scratch while reading the dance floor, during a recent DJ workshop through Girls Rock Birmingham. Each of the girls attending the workshop had already chosen their own DJ names and were eager to learn as they twisted dials, pushed buttons and scratched digital records.
Picture a rock band and chances are it’s a bunch of men. But Girls Rock Birmingham, a local youth organization, is fixing that spotlight on girls by giving them the chance to take the stage to rock out. While Girls Rock is best known for its summer camp, it holds workshops throughout the year. Professional women musicians teach local children instrumental, lyrical and vocal basics.
There are Girls Rock groups around the country, but Birmingham’s was founded by Shelly Ann Edge in 2015.
“It sounded a little daunting to try to teach children to play an instrument and write an original song and perform it all in one week,” Edge said.
Edge has a musical background and has taught at a music studio. She took on the challenge and found that musically inclined volunteers and even parents had just as much of a passion for the project as she did.
During the summer camp, girls spend the week forming bands and performing original songs together. Edge said many campers transform throughout camp. The first year, she said one camper arrived overwhelmed with anxiety.
“For the first few days, she was essentially non-verbal,” Edge said. “She did not want to engage. She would just kind of smile and try to withdraw into herself.”
Staff worked to help this camper find her instrument and get comfortable with her band and her new skills, as they do for every camper. By the end of the week, Edge said the girl was rocking her heart out on stage.
“It was almost hard to believe that it was the same child,” Edge said.
Edge has since stepped down from Girls Rock leadership but she said that the organization gives children skills that they will be able to rely on throughout their entire lives. She added that Girls Rock Birmingham is designed to be a safe space for anyone. This includes youth from the LGBTQ+ community and all socio-economic backgrounds and more.
One of the parents who volunteers is Jason Slatton. Thanks to Girls Rock, he can play guitar alongside his child, Sam, who is now a drummer.
“Girls Rock seemed like a welcoming and energized environment and I really wanted Sam to be a part of that,” Slatton said. “I don’t know if we’re going to start a band or not, but it would be great if we did.”
Slatton said even if Sam does not pursue a career in music, practicing the craft builds their confidence and critical thinking skills and expands their ability to compromise and trust their peers. But Slatton specifically sought out Girls Rock for its inclusivity.
“My child uses they/them pronouns and is non-binary,” Slatton said. “We’re letting our child explore that path because I feel it’s important to let your child explore their identity, particularly when you’re growing up.”
Providing Sam with an inclusive space to thrive was particularly important for Slatton because of where Sam is growing up. He added that the culture of rock music is not always as inclusive as it could be.
“Because of where we are in the South and Alabama, looking for and seeking progressive environments is incredibly important,” Slatton said. “Girls Rock is extremely inclusive, trans-friendly and centered around girls. But I think it’s important also because girls don’t see themselves represented in the culture in ways that I think are positive. And music is enormously empowering.”
Some campers keep contributing after they grow up. Former camper Mary Foster is a sophomore in public relations at the University of Alabama.
“It had a lot of the things that kind of put me on my path to where I want to be,” Foster said. “Now, I really want to go into the music industry after I graduate.”
Foster attended Girls Rock camp from 2016 to 2019. Today, she mentors current campers.
“You see these people all the time when you’re younger and then when you grow up and you become a mentor, you can see all of the future generations,” Foster said. “It’s just really special.”
Any young Birmingham musicians who want to rock out with their peers can join Girls Rock year round for their musical workshops and summer camp.