PRETTY FACE

The Brampton-based band Pretty Face burst onto the metal scene this summer with an utterly explosive force. Channeling angry, feminine energy, their music is an audible rage-infused catharsis created by members Tina, Shylo, and Samantha. Just this past June, the trio controlled the crowd at the Tail of the Junction at their first-ever show in an astronomical demonstration of talent. Pretty Face isn't stopping there; the band already has multiple upcoming performances in the next coming months. Go, rest assured that this incredible, young band won’t leave you disappointed.

Greeted by guitarist and vocalist Samantha at Tina’s home, Zach and I were led downstairs to Pretty Face’s realm of rehearsal which was equipped with their instruments, amps, and two ironic signs reading “MAN CAVE”. Here we met the other two-thirds of the troupe, bassist Shylo and drummer Tina. Before embarking onwards to the site of our interview, I asked if the band would be so kind as to introduce us to their music, to show us what they were all about. Pretty Face happily obliged. The music that emerged from that basement in the coming minutes was loud, furious, and full of immense passion, a truly breathtaking experience in such a personal environment. 

When asked if the trio hopes to change the lack of security many women and feminine-presenting individuals feel in the metal scene, Samantha touched upon one of Pretty Face’s original songs, “Massacre of Men ''. “That’s a big reason why we wrote [the song] because the lyrics are meant to push away those types of people [those who contribute to misogyny in the scene]. If there are any men offended by that song, it just shows that the [lyrics are] about [them]”. She mentions the universal experience of misogyny women have faced in the metal scene and how their music is a big “fuck you, get away” to the ones propagating such an uncomfortable space. 

A decent amount of women reading this might recall being grinded on in a mosh pit, sexually harassed at a show, or maybe “socially acceptable”, yet blatant belittling by male metalheads (name three songs, anyone?), but Pretty Face’s music sops up this low, uncomfortable feeling in a sponge of sisterhood and wrings it out into a cauldron of feminine rage. 

Giant smiles immediately emerged on the members of Pretty Face when asked about their inspirations, specifically feminine ones, that fuel them to create their art. “Kittie will always be a huge inspiration, they are even from around here” Samantha mentioned this London, Ontario-based heavy metal band in response. Other all-female and female-led heavy metal bands were mentioned by Pretty Face such as Jack Off Jill, Mythic, Crypta, Adorior, and even riot grrrl inspirations like Babes in Toyland. 

Rewinding it even further back beyond inspiration, I asked the members of Pretty Face how they came to find themselves in the metal scene as youth. Tina began their personal journey with pop-punk and emo music, mentioning My Chemical Romance, to which Samantha and Shylo laughed about and agreed. Tina then crossed a bridge into nu-metal, drawing links to System of a Down and Slipknot. “I look for music that evokes a certain emotion in me”, said Tina, “and at a certain point I just need more”.

 Shylo started with alternative music that they would listen to on and off, staying very closeted with their taste due to bullying as a youth. “I was very insecure about it; I wasn’t really open about listening to alternative music, metal music, and dressing the way I want to dress…especially as a person of colour, because people have this misconception of it being a white people thing. ‘Only white people listen to alternative music, they dress this way and that way.’ Especially coming from a traditional ethnic family it is something that they, to this day, do not really understand either”. Shylo mentioned that over the years, she has arrived at a new point: somewhere she does not pay mind to negative external input on the way she chooses to present and express herself. This way of thinking has brought her to a much healthier and happier space, something everyone can learn from.

Zach and I soon inquired as to the origin of the name “Pretty Face” although if you know the first thing about feminism, you probably have clued in. Thought up by their former guitarist, the group wanted something feminine, but with deeper meaning. “People might think it sounds conceited, but you can be seen as just a pretty face” Samantha replied, “and if you are not that, you are not acknowledged and you do not matter”. Samantha then brought up “Eternal Menstruation”, the first name ever devised for the band, a name Shylo mentioned they would enjoy seeing being turned into a song in the future to pay homage to the past. “Eternal Menstruation. Eternally bloody. It’s eternal rage, it’s an eternal pain. Something all of those with uteruses feel even when we are not on our period”.

Eternal menstruation is precisely the feeling exerted by Pretty Face’s powerful music. The trio holds themselves with a confident air, their instruments almost an extension of their limbs, Tina especially. This young drummer has been playing for over a decade and her skill is apparent. She told me that when choosing an instrument to learn, the decision was between drums and the accordion. Although the accordion would put on a phenomenally interesting show, the drums were practically made for Tina. Churning up a chugging sound, Tina’s drumming skills tie Shylo’s bass and Samantha’s guitar and vocals together in an immaculate display of tenacity.

Pretty Face is a band that will always stick with me. It isn’t just the fact that their music is fantastic, but something Tina mentioned at the very beginning of our interview together: “I look for music that evokes a certain emotion”. Pretty Face makes me angry, it makes me furious. Their music lets you scream out the pain embedded in you by the patriarchy in an eardrum-piercing catharsis and frees your soul. During the two hours I spent with them, Pretty Face conjured overwhelming feelings of sisterhood in the face of the misogynistic standards set by men in the metal scene. If Pretty Face comes to a venue near you, go, and join the coven.

By Kain Steele-Gaffney, 2023