Spanish violinist Judith Mateo has spoken out about persistent sexism in the rock music industry, saying she is repeatedly asked why she doesn't sing instead of playing an instrument, as she marks 20 years of a professional career that has taken her from classical training to folk and finally to rock.
Mateo, considered the leading female violinist in Spanish rock, released her latest album, "EnviDiosa," a title she says plays on the words "envidia" (envy) and "diosa" (goddess) rather than referring to the deadly sin of envy. In September she will release a compilation album to mark two decades in professional music, and this academic year she will also teach a master's course at Forum Musikae, a higher music school in Madrid.
Discrimination in a male-dominated world
Asked about working in the male-dominated world of rock instrumentalists, Mateo said she considers herself very stubborn and keeps moving forward, adding that she has to believe in her project.
She said she does feel discriminated against, explaining that many festivals and provincial concert bills only book men or all-male bands. She said that while a few female instrumentalists are starting to appear, they remain very rare, and that it is extremely difficult and costly for a female artist to put together an entire band of women working professionally in music.
Mateo said she is always asked the same question: "And don't you sing?" She questioned why she should have to sing when she is a violinist, and said she is certain a male instrumentalist would never be asked that question. According to her, if you are a woman you are expected to be a vocalist rather than an instrumentalist. She added that, as a woman, she is often told she is too expensive and should lower her price, something she is certain men in the industry are never told.
She said she now works with a management office where the manager is a woman, which gives her more confidence because the manager understands the challenges firsthand. That office is Mirmidón, and the manager is Maruchy Suárez.
From classical training to folk and rock
Mateo explained that before turning to rock, she began in folk music, having lived in Ireland, an experience she said exposed her to other musical styles and showed her how the violin could develop within them. She said pure folk eventually bored her and that she wanted electric guitars, drums and more energy, citing the band Wolfstone as an example of the rockier folk sound that appealed to her. She said she ended up in hard rock through radio broadcaster Mariskal Romero.
Asked whether a career on violin pays the bills, Mateo said she has been fortunate to live off music her entire life, pointing to the nine albums she has released. She said that overall she cannot complain, though like all artists she has had periods that flowed more easily than others. She described it as a way of life that you either love or hate, and said she is used to living that way.
The meaning behind 'EnviDiosa'
Asked whether the album title should be read as "goddess of the violin," Mateo laughed and confirmed it. Pressed on whether humility might not be her strongest virtue, she said that in her profession, if you don't believe in yourself, you are lost, and that you have to know how to sell yourself.
She explained the "goddess" nickname actually comes from Latin America, where audiences have called her that during her visits. The first time she performed there, she was told she was "the goddess," which surprised her. She said Latin American audiences, particularly in Mexico, are excellent, and that she has performed in dozens of countries and can vouch for how much Latin American crowds enjoy live music.
What she envies and who she works with
Asked what she envies, Mateo said it is artists from the 1980s who were able to buy homes in Madrid, noting how much harder it is now to buy an apartment in the city. She said she is not an envious person by nature and stays focused on her own path, adding that when someone does what they want out of genuine vocation and it works, there is no reason to envy anyone else.
The album features two collaborations with Chuse Joven, who Mateo said is both her personal and professional partner. She said they travel together wherever needed and get along very well. She described him as a great singer who also comes from a classical background but leans heavily toward rock and heavy metal.
Keeping the fire alive
Asked about the interview series title, "Do You Have Fire?," Mateo said she has plenty of fire inside her, and that when the flame runs out, life runs out with it. She said one has to live with that inner fire and pass it on to others.
