Zine Review: Women of Noise #2

Women of Noise is a breath of fresh air that is here to remind you that noise and experimental music is a scene, created to be diverse, inclusive, and open to anyone no matter their skill levels, musical interests, gender, ethnicity, academic background, country of origin, etc. It is also a great read and within its pages you’ll discover many artists from all over the place, doing great stuff within the fizz boundaries of noise and art.

We’re taking a look at the most recent print issue of Women of Noise, which was published back in 2024 but the story of this project dates back to 2014 when Women of Noise started as a Tumblr blog to highlight and celebrate women in various experimental music genres. Currently, Women of Noise is active on all fronts. The project has grown into a powerful community releasing charity compilations in support of various causes such as the LA Wildfires, Hurricane Helene Relief, Palestine, and more; creating a podcast with currently 20+ episodes featuring artists from all over the world, and curating events. If you want to get familiar with everything that Women of Noise is involved in, their website is your best choice as it serves as a hub for their presence across other platforms and their various activities.

Now back to issue 2 of their printed zine. Women of Noise comes in A5 format, which is my favorite zine size (sorry A4 zine people). Pro-printed on glossy paper with full-color pages, it’s done with zero compromises. Content-wise, Women of Noise also shines because alongside the interviews you will find visual artworks (collages, photography, illustration), poetry, and even a scene report. The interviews in the zine, despite being on the shorter side, are intriguing and informative enough to make you curious to do your own research and get more familiar with the people on the other end of the conversation. I love a zine (or a book) that makes you take notes and sparks your curiosity and this is exactly what Women of Noise does!

I’m still bummed I came across the zine when the first issue of the zine was already sold out but I’m looking forward to getting a copy from the next one and stocking some for Amek Collective’s distro. I hope more people will reach the publication, because our local scene, not only in Sofia but in Bulgaria in general, is certainly not as diverse as we wish it were.

P.S. If you’re already familiar with Women of Noise or want more of what they’re doing, we suggest checking out the Noise Widow too, especially if you’re in the US.