Beyond the Boys Club is the latest addition to the Consequence Podcast Network, featuring journalist and radio host Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio. Spinning off from the interview column of the same name, the series highlights women and non-binary musicians as they offer their perspectives on the industry and discuss their personal experiences. For episode No. 2, Erickson is joined by guitarist Nita Strauss. Follow BTBC wherever you get your podcasts.
Nita Strauss is one of the most versatile guitarists on the circuit. Not only is she a longtime member of legendary shock rocker Alice Cooper’s band, she’s also toured with pop star Demi Lovato. In addition to helping make other artists’ visions come to life on stage, she writes her own music and recently released her second solo album, The Call of the Void.
In this episode of the Beyond the Boys Club podcast, Strauss discusses why it was important to her to showcase a number of powerful female vocalists on the new album, including Lzzy Hale of Halestorm, Alissa White-Gluz from Arch Enemy, Dorothy, and Lilith Czar. In addition, she offers some advice to young girls looking to pursue music as a profession:
“It’s hard to give everything that you have into this piece of art, whether it’s a piece of music or a painting or anything, and then have people be like, ‘Well, that sucks! She wouldn’t have any attention if she wasn’t a girl,’ or blah blah blah blah blah,” Strauss says. “So you really just have to learn to tune out that noise. Like, I have a song with Lzzy Hale on the record called ‘Through the Noise,’ and you really do have to just cut through the noise and find your path…”
She also talks about the other high-profile guests on the record, what it was like touring in Lovato’s band, and her engagement to her longtime boyfriend, manager, and drummer, Josh Villalta. In a magical moment, Villalta proposed to Strauss onstage during the record release show for The Call of the Void.
Get Tickets to Nita Strauss’ Tour with Mammoth WVH Here
Listen to the Beyond the Boys Club podcast via the media player above, and watch a clip of the interview below. Make sure to like, review, and subscribe to BTBC wherever you get your podcasts to keep up with each new episode.
Strauss is about to hit the road as direct support for Wolfgang Van Halen’s band Mammoth WVH. The North American tour kicks off November 4th in Milwaukee and runs through a December 9th gig in Los Angeles. Tickets are available here.
Trouble viewing the video in the player below? Watch on YouTube.