Beth Ditto, the vibrant lead of the band Gossip, reflects on the making of the group’s triumphant return album, Real Power, within the confining walls of a neutral-toned conference room in her record label’s London headquarters. Her radiant smile conceals her internal sorrow as she recounts her time spent recording in Hawaii, a locale tarnished by the bittersweet memories of her ex-wife, Kristin Ogata. Ditto acknowledges the privilege of working in such a paradise, despite the twinges of melancholy it stirs in her.
Her journey wasn’t without its hardships, but Ditto charted a course of resilience, marking the end of a twelve-year silence with an album laden with defiance and self-restoration. The release of Real Power acts as a reverberating echo to the Gossip’s 2005 rallying cry for queer rights, Standing in the Way of Control.
The band will commemorate their two-decade-long journey in a performance at Collins Barracks in Dublin, marking a pitstop in their European Tour. The show falls on the coattails of an intoxicating summer for live concerts, a phenomenon that Ditto views with a nostalgic lens, reflecting on her youth in Searcy, Arkansas, where hits by Madonna and Michael Jackson would fill the airwaves. Her enthusiasm hints at a longing for the stadium anthems of the 80s, reinstating the joy of pop music, a sentiment she feels has been absent for far too long.
Positive thought is Ditto’s guiding principle when facing adversity. A valuable approach, particularly amidst an increasingly hostile sociopolitical climate for the LGBTQ+ community within the United States. Discriminatory legislation aimed towards transgender individuals has been passed in Alabama and Florida faces an ongoing protest surrounding a law intended to suppress the discussion of gay rights within educational institutions. Adding to this swelling turbulence is the looming shadow of Donald Trump and the potential resurgence of the U.S Republican party.
Before Trump’s assassination plot and Joe Biden’s replacement by Kamala Harris on the Democratic Party nomination, Ditto pondered the upcoming US presidential election in November. Based on her experiences of living as a queer individual in a traditionally conservative area of America, she’s grown resilient through hardships; she is a survivor.
In a conversation with a British friend, the possibility of a second Trump victory was mooted. Her response conveys readiness for any outcome. She maintains a pragmatically neutral perspective, acknowledging uncertainty and that individual influence is limited, reasoning that instead of experiencing the profound disappointment of Trump’s previous election, the sensation might be different this time.
“Standing in the Way of Control” was a critically acclaimed track during the 2000s indie-rock resurgence—an appeal for acceptance amidst the opposition against homosexual matrimony in America, particularly in response to the unsuccessful federal marriage amendment, which sought to ban gay marriage. Ditto’s soaring vocals made the track an overnight sensation and seemed to ignite the passion surrounding American indie music during that period.
Furthermore, Ditto gained fame for being a queer and plus-size individual and body positivity champion, peaking with her nude appearance on the NME’s 2007 cover at mid-20s. She reflects on that period with barely any regrets, certainly not the NME feature.
She’s immensely proud of her past and desired to mirror the environment she emerged from while advancing it to the cool upcoming generation. Despite the rapid succession of events, including the NME cover, she fondly remembers that phase of her life. She contrasts her experience with her 25-year-old niece’s, and expresses gratitude for the opportunities she had. However, she doesn’t ponder too much about it and doesn’t view that person as her current self. Instead, her focus is on the future—on the movement rather than her own progression. She contemplates the lessons learnt, the actions deemed correct, and humorously concludes, life is certainly curious, isn’t it?
The fight for gay marriage may be over, but the transgender community continues to face obstacles. Beth Ditto, lead singer of Gossip, is particularly invested in this issue, given that her partner and the band’s bassist, Teddy Kwo, is a transgender man. However, Ditto doesn’t believe in wasting emotional energy on those who hold opposing viewpoints, such as JK Rowling, the author of Harry Potter. Instead, she believes the focus should be on supporting transgender individuals.
Ditto expresses her bafflement at the battles some choose to fight, emphasising the importance of prioritising those in need of upliftment and acceptance. She stresses that it’s not about changing the minds of people like Rowling, but about emboldening those threatened with loss to continue their fight for justice, asserting their inherent right to live and flourish.
She dismisses Rowling as unworthy of her time, questioning the logic in concern over the opinions of someone so vastly wealthy. Moreover, Ditto doesn’t dwell on Rowling’s views, but appreciates the Harry Potter series. Her main disappointment lies not with Rowling, but with how her stance potentially alienates the many queer individuals who found resonance with the characters and narrative.
Gossip’s album, Real Power, was recorded on Maui island, under the guidance of producer Rick Rubin. It’s an album born out of life’s harsh realities, encapsulating love, loss – including the deaths of Ditto’s father in 2011 and a recent close friend – and the trials encountered throughout a lengthy musical career.
In her soulful dance track, “Don’t Be Afraid”, she imparts a message of courage and resilience and turns her focus inward, deconstructing her apprehensions. As poignant as this is her heartbreak anthem, “Turn the Card Slowly”, where she makes a promise of handling her emotions better and affirms that she would refuse to be the defeated one looking ahead.
The band Gossip, after experiencing a hiatus from 2016 to 2019, resurfaced to commemorate the tenth year of “Music for Men” album. The split happened due to a variety of factors but it was mainly prompted by Ditto’s discontentment with the music world. Another reason was the growing rift between Ditto and the group’s guitarist, Nathan Howdeshell. School buddies and fellow alienation sufferers from Christian Arkansas, the pair decided to move to culturally rich Portland with big dreams tied to their music career. Unexpectedly, Howdeshell returned home and embraced a new religious life, leaving Ditto grappling to make sense of the sudden change.
Ditto emphasizes that her issue was not with the idea of religiosity, but with Howdeshell’s transformation. As the individual who introduced her to punk music, his unexpected religious leap felt like a betrayal. This ‘God’ thing, as Ditto intimately describes it, was a severe blow. She was not questioning humanity or religiosity, it was about her relationship with Howdeshell, raising questions about his perspective on her, feminism, and other people. Remarkably, despite these differences, they managed to connect again under the banner of the band suggesting a level of understanding and acceptance.
At 43, Ditto sees life through a wider lens full of experience and contentment. Her youth was a thrilling ride, however, she believes she could not have created a composition as joyous and thoughtful as “Real Power” when she was younger. The maturity and wisdom that came with age seems to be a satisfying exchange for her youthful vigour.
It’s utterly bewildering how rewarding maturity can be. It’s fascinating to take a moment and realise the quantity of years that have elapsed. It’s simply staggering to be at a stage in my existence where I can reminisce and utter, two decades ago, I was a 23-year-old individual set loose in the universe, experiencing life at its fullest. This recollection provides me with an enriching perspective. Truly, ageing has its unique charms.
The musical group Gossip will be performing at Collins Barracks in Dublin, forming a part of the broader art and culture event – Wider Than Pictures series, forthcoming Tuesday, the 27th of August.