The Beautiful Strangeness of Fear of Men

Fear of Men by Mikael Johansson

In high school, like most people, I had this phase of listening to new-wave and “dark” music. Everything from The Cure to The Jezebels, I craved it. This is how I discovered Fear of Men. Fronted by Jess Weiss, she sang of vulnerable memories, juxtaposed by indie guitar and uptempo beats that made you want to dance and think simultaneously. Their album Loom was a favorite but when they released followup Fall Forever, it cemented my admiration for them. Since 2016, they’ve put out one single with a new album possibly following. I chatted with Weiss on her songwriting process, musical themes, and more. Enjoy!

First off, what an amazing name for a band that fits the direct sound as well. How did the name come about?

• We chose the name for a lot of reasons. I was writing songs about unusual illnesses/psychological conditions at the time and found androphobia- the fear of men. It felt confrontational, feminist and somewhat mysterious. It's also a phrase a writer I was really into at the time, Anais Nin, used, and I like that it can be turned on its head- what men fear- meaning death, and a lot of my songs are about mortality anxiety.

In your single, "Into Strangeness", you speak of releasing yourself of a sense of pain. What was it like channeling this sort of vulnerability into something that you can ultimately find releasing? What about the process of songwriting allows this release for you as a writer and as a band?

• Writing is a very natural and intuitive process for me, so the words come and their actions sort of follow after. I think the release would be playing it live, which we haven't yet had the chance to do. I also create in other ways, and go to therapy, but performing live is definitely the cathartic element. I enjoy that so far we are quite a lot heavier as a live band than on record, though this may change with the next album. On stage is where you feel the release.

Being a musician, let alone an artist in any sense of the world is tough to say the least. What does it feel like to have this uphill battle constantly and then get recognized and placed onto the same bill as The Cure, by The Cure?

• We love The Cure, so getting an email from Robert Smith was surreal. Playing his Meltdown Festival was amazing- such a beautiful venue and a really wonderful experience, and something that I'll feel proud of and remember for the rest of my life. I hope there are comparable moments in our future.

It's been six years since your last release. Was this a time you spent trying to plan the next record or did situations take place that almost inspired or forced you in a way to create what I'm guessing is the start of a new album?

• After touring our last record, Fall Forever, we all collectively needed a break from touring. It wasn't great for my mental health, and to be able to come back with new perspectives and ideas felt important. But also, life happens- it's healthy to create in other ways and take the pressure off, and there are other elements that are important to our lives too, like relationships or other projects, so it's all in balance. Creativity in different fields feed each other.

It's interesting to see how artists view their creativity in terms of making songs, and from the feeling I get while listening to your records, there's a strong sense of vulnerability and courage. Is this something that you're aware of 100% in terms of keeping the songs balanced between the two or does it come naturally in a way?

• I write what I'm thinking about or feeling, so these are fairly constant themes for me. The dichotomy of vulnerability and strength is something I'm constantly navigating. I can react very differently in different situations, either being a leader or crumpling and sinking back, and understanding who you are at your core, if there is such a thing, is something I think about a lot.

In a world that constantly tests your patience when it comes to achieving your goals, how do you as an artist continue to strive and move forward with your creative endeavours?

• I guess things happen when they're meant to.. We used to have tunnel vision focus, and it was incredible and we made so much, now we're a bit more laid back and are focusing on making the record we've always wanted to.

Because it's one of my favorite songs from Fear of Men, can you speak a little about how the track "Descent" came about?

• “Descent” is a fun one to play live. Honestly, it's about how Daniel [Falvey] looks after me. We were in a relationship for the first two-ish years of the band, we were close in an unhealthy way because we were always focusing on each other and the band and we both needed a breath of air from that, but it's looking back at the support and closeness fondly.

There is little known about the release of a future record besides a single back in 2020, but one is on the horizon. Care to comment on what we can look forward to as fans?

• We'll release something we're proud of. We're working on it now.

Thanks for the conversation Jess Weiss of Fear of Men.