IMAGINE A COMIC where the latent powers of a group of badass superheroes are activated only when they all fortuitously meet. Subtract the capes and you’ve got Portland’s Bitch’n, five friends whose casual jam sessions organically turned into empowering gatherings for collective artistic expression.
The funky punk band is Rebecca Rasmussen (guitar), Nefertiti Porter (bass), Emily Overstreet (keyboard), Shana Lindbeck (percussion), and A. Walker (drums). The individual members have previously played with bands like Point Juncture WA, Duover, Sallie Ford, Orquestra Pacifico Tropical, Ioa, and Great Wilderness. Everyone contributes equally to the vocals, which are sometimes yelled in unison.
This collaborative feeling permeates Bitch’n’s music: Each musician possesses a unique talent, but together they’re driven by the same force. When Lindbeck returned after spending several months abroad, the other four agreed that everything seemed to fall back in place for the band. That being said, Bitch’n is characterized by its lack of a frontwoman—all members are critical, but no individual is the leader. While this happened as a result of their friendship, Bitch’n’s decision to have no distinct bandleader subverts the hierarchical power structure that’s often present in collaborative music-making.