After a dreary-looking Monday, verging on the cusp of brighter spring days, I sat down with two of the creative founders of Peng Femme Jam - a regular jam session in East London dedicated to women, non-binary, and queer performers.
“We really don’t know any other events which are progressive in terms of saying “We are for the queer community, for marginalised people”, explains Winnie, one of the musical founders of the group, after reciting her days where the jam scene in London proved all too homogenous. Noticing the ubiquity of “straight guys” strangling the city’s jam scene, this was perhaps the inception of what came to be, forcing her to question: “Where are the other musicians and creators in London?”. After acquainting Lèa at one of the sessions, Laura was welcomed shortly thereafter, in which the trio came together to lay the foundations of their own jam night, attempting to reclaim the space for others.
“We were all excited by this project and saw it as an opportunity” Laura eagerly interjects, particularly describing her own professional background in the events industry combined with Winnie and Lèa’s musical experience and knowledge. From the first few events produced, Laura remarked an encouraging realisation of their new-found community: “These people had been musicians for two years over Covid but had never tried their stuff with a live band, that was what was really cool about it.”
By opening up the genetic pool of London’s performers, the hosts also welcome a myriad of musical backgrounds and playing styles, “from jazz to rock, indie, spoken word, and rappers”, inevitably inviting an intangible, unconventional form of musical fusion. “We never really know what’s going to happen on-stage, we just let things go in the way that they’re going to go”, Winnie explains enthusiastically, also a regular guitarist in the house band lineup and thus partaking in this unique style of collaboration herself.
The financial price for producing such events ultimately takes its toll, however, their rapport and mutual support with The Shacklewell Arms allows them to play host indefinitely, so long as ticket prices are omitted. As the frustration grows with an indefinite number of funding applications to complete and rejections to face, Winnie chimes in with the pertinently ironic nature of working within these marginalised spaces: “Support should be given to us as curators and also as musicians in this space already, but we’re the ones who’re having to carry the responsibility of delivering that”. Noting the “labour of love” which is devoted to each event, this exasperating sentiment is tangible from both Laura and Winnie, who remain resiliently rife with promising ideas of the future: one where support and training are offered to them to encourage their jam sessions' prosperity.
"It’s not just us, it's about the people.”
Given the context, their strides and notoriety thus far is inspiring to say the least. Most notably, the group was recently approached by MTV and Reebok as part of their worldwide campaign in championing underground initiatives. Aside from the reeling excitement at such an opportunity, both remain impressively grounded and aware of their audience: “It’s not just about us, it’s about the people who are in the community of Peng Femme Jam. So whenever we’re making these decisions, that’s always in the back of our heads: it’s not just us”, assures Winnie. While there’s much more at stake with the group’s increasing attraction, the founders’ assured awareness demonstrates an admirable maturity that will undoubtedly hold their initiative in good stead.
For the Peng Femme Jam evening which I recently attended, the acclaimed singer-songwriter Nao featured on-stage as their special guest whom, I came to find, seemed equally gracious behind the curtain as she was in front. “I’m here whenever you need me, whatever you want me to do”, and we’re like “What do you want us to do?”, recites Winnie, still overjoyed from the mutual admiration shared that night. Beyond the niceties of having such an accomplished singer in attendance, Winnie notes the wider impact of her presence, “It’s a nice way for artists and musicians at Peng Femme Jam to feel like it’s a trajectory that they can reach as well”, never doubting the driving inspiration which an appearance like this can spark for wider audiences.
And naturally, on a concluding note, I ask what the promising summer months ahead might bring to a flourishing series such as Peng Femme Jam: “We really want to do festivals over summer - to have jam tents at festivals”, also hinting at some upcoming collaborations “with some like-minded collectives”, too, remarks Laura. In contrast, Winnie remains diligently focused on the bigger picture, “It’d be amazing to take up bigger spaces or bigger conversations about gender-diverse being more represented in music, whether that be through artist development or supporting through fundings, or being able to give funding back to our community.”
As all three of us on Zoom note our current traversing through the creative industry, Winnie makes a pertinent, as ever, concluding note in which to exit: “Let’s make a promise that we’ll see you on the other side.” For this is just the beginning of Peng Femme Jam, assembled by Winnie, Laura and Lèa, who rightfully pride themselves on hosting the most progressive regular jam session in the nation’s capital. Whilst disregarding the sceptics who claim they’ve never heard of such a thing and forging ahead in their endeavour to hold a creative space for marginalised peoples, I’ve no doubt this movement will be discussed and written about for years to come as an integral part of the current zeitgeist.
To find out more information or to get involved in Peng Femme Jam please visit here.
Photos are courtesy of Liz Muntunkaye whose work can be found here.