An Interview with Noelle Scaggs of Fitz & The Tantrums and Diversify The Stage
We sat down with co-lead singer of Fitz and The Tantrums and Founder of Diversify the Stage, Noelle Scaggs, to learn more about her experience in the music industry and what we can do in order to diversify the music industry.
How did you get your start in the music industry?
Noelle: I didn’t really begin pursuing music as a serious career until college, starting with singing on different friends hip-hop projects. I grew a reputation in the LA scene for being good at writing and singing on choruses which later led me to working with artists like Dilated Peoples, The Black Eyed Peas, Madlib and Damian Marley. I think my career really flourished more through word of mouth then it did with me hustling or going after opportunities. I always made sure that I had the ability to perform live whenever I could, I knew it was a calling card for me if I wanted to build an equitable career beyond the recording space. I had a stint at doing things solo, then took a break, but I’d built some amazing connections during that time when opportunities came up to perform with other artists I would get the call and run with it. It’s how I landed with Fitz, I did a short tour with a band called Connie Price & The Keystones; myself and James King (Sax Player for Fitz) actually, we had also worked together in the past when he played on my prior band’s (The Rebirth) album so he was familiar with me through that project. When Fitz was looking for a singer to back him up for a gig, James recommended me, now 12 years later here we are.
Tell us about Diversify The Stage! How did its creation come about?
Noelle: I created Diversify The Stage as really a call to action for the industry to focus on the issues of our live music, events and touring spaces. I recognized that there was a lack of diversity in many of my live performance experiences, and I wanted to help change that narrative by bringing the industry together to focus on that task. I also love anything that is related to building up young people in this industry, and creating accessible pathways. So Diversify The Stage has become a foundation that will focus on just that; creating more accessible pathways to equitable opportunities in live music, events and touring for often marginalized communities.
What steps can we take to help Diversify The Stage?
Noelle: First I would say, view the room. If you are an artist have a look at your team and the production crews that are around you, if you recognize that the demographics are not diverse, bring it up to your team, and let it be known that you want to see more diverse faces on the stages you are performing on and within your internal teams. Second, I would say widen the net of recruitment beyond just word of mouth referrals. Utilize and support resources like Never Famous, Roadies Of Color, She Is The Music, Valance Community, SoundGirls, or other grassroots organizations that focus on lifting up women, BIPOC, LQBTQ, people with disabilities and non-binary communities in this industry. Third, work with like minded organizations to really create long-lasting change.
Find ways of collaborating, be it outreach to educational foundations like Music Forward, HBCU’s, and Community Colleges to promote your opportunities to young people that may not know they exist, or pooling resources with other grassroots organizations that may have different offerings than you are able to provide on your own; could be mentoring programs, workshop offerings, internship placement programs, etc. If I have learned anything from watching the Black Lives Matter movement go from grassroots to global, it is in the fact that a coalition was built, and people were able to take the blueprint and apply it to their communities. I think this could be something that really helps bring change to the Music Industry overall if everyone began working together to fix this widely recognized issue.
What do you consider some of your greatest career achievements?
Noelle: I would say all of my experiences so far have been an achievement. I’ve gotten to travel the world, create a viable business through my art, and shared the stage and recording booths with some pretty amazing Artists over a 20 year career that hasn’t stopped. I still have more to achieve.
What are some challenges you’ve faced in the music industry?
Noelle: I would probably say navigating a career in the commercial space. The balance of wanting full creative control, but also having the company who has invested, getting what they need in order to make the project successful in a commercial space. It’s still not something I am used to.
What advice do you have for women interested in working in the music industry?
Noelle: If you gain a position of power, bring more women under your wing, and help them grow. If you are a woman who aspires to be in a position of power, and you recognize that you are the only woman in the room, say something, make a referral, and make sure you aren’t the only one moving forward, especially in those careers where it is easier for you to bring in new faces, in areas of creative and in independently run spaces.
Learn more about Noelle Scaggs and Diversify The Stage
Noelle Scaggs: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Diversify The Stage: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook