Melismatics Pony Hixon-Smith: Muse to Musician
Special thanks to Rock the Cause CEO Scott Herold for contributing the introduction to our interview with Pony Hixon-Smith.
Pony Hixon-Smith is a woman in a Rock and Roll band. So what? There are plenty of women in music. This chick is different. So much so that John Fields (Jonas Brothers) absolutely insisted that she take a greater role fronting, what is otherwise, and all guy band.
She is the bad girl that Liz Phair wishes she could be. Pony’s work ethic is taken straight from the Joan Jett girl in rock survival guide. Her incendiary presence is as dangerous as Wendy O Williams setting a car on fire during performance. The Pussy Cat Dolls can and do shake their lovely asses. It pales in comparison, however, to when Pony snarls, hair completely covering her face, guitar strapped on, and then the full power chord back bend. Did we also mention she does triple duty on guitar, keys and vocals? Most girl groups need and entire band to do what Pony can do in six measures. The boys in the band give her their full support to do it!
Rock and Roll needs more women like Pony Hixon-Smith. It is essential to the art forms very survival. If The Melismatics ever license a song to Guitar Hero, fathers everywhere will surely lock up there daughters. They will all want to be Pony Hixon-Smith!
Do you ever think of yourself as a rock diva?
I think of myself as a rock star but minus the diva. And I only think of myself that way because of how hard I work at anything I do. It could be within my yoga practice, playing music, or even working as a massage therapist. Everyone is a star if they try at whatever they do. I can’t STAND diva’s–at times I feel the urge to punch them.
The issue of gender in Rock music raises some interesting questions about equality and feminist thought, sometimes serious stuff in what is traditionally a male world. Do you spend much time thinking on it?
Well it’s not a level playing field on either side. I think Ageism is a bigger issue (especially for women). I definitely have experienced both ends of the spectrum. I’ve had 2 managers tell me to wear short skirts/sexier clothing when I was into wearing pants. I’ve also played with groups who didn’t care what I wore. At the time I was offended but in retrospect, I think they were right.
When I started to sing some lead vocals in the Melismatics tensions did arise within the band, probably because it was such a shock to have a strong female presence in our music. The Melismatics had been fronted by men up until I sang on The Acid Test (which was John Fields’ idea). I didn’t want to be just the girl in the band. I was tired of that role, especially when I knew I could utilize my full potential in this particular group. I have to give props to our former manager Mike Buenting who really pushed for me be in this band.
It could be possible that if I weren’t a woman that I wouldn’t get the attention that I get. I hope that is not the case. Almost every group I’ve played in there have been jealousies towards me from men. Its a natural human reaction to a point. It’s quite another, however, when someone tries to derail your goals. I’ve experienced both extremes and it has been exhausting. It’s as if they don’t think I deserve any success or attention, but if I didn’t then why is it there? And aren’t we on the same team anyway? Whatever happened to what’s good for me is good for you? I’m sure I have yet to experience more situations to come good and bad.
I guess I must think about equality and feminist thought on a subconscious level. It shows through my performances. But if I spent too much time talking and thinking about it, I wouldn’t get anything done. I’ve wasted my so much of my life being consumed by feelings and letting them get the better of me. I try to be a good role model for women. In fact, I am willing to bet that most of my fans are women. I am also willing to bet that my presence in the Melismatics has brought those fans to us. Lets start that bidding at a dollar. Many women play music and I think its time to see more women sound engineers, producers even managers.
Did you follow a muse to musician path or was it always clear to you that you wanted the stage all along?
I’ve wanted the stage all along. End of story. I just needed to develop self confidence.
Do you feel your sexual power while performing? How do you channel that energy?
Honestly, when I perform it is like something had possessed my body. There are times when I feel like I’m in my teens, times when I feel like a superhero, and times when I’m humbled. I never think about sexual power on a conscious level but due to the way society has brainwashed me I know that it’s there. I like to express my self through the way I dress and I think that usually helps my mood while performing.
Who have been your greatest influences?
My parents. They are both deaf and amazing people. When I tell people that they think it’s ironic that I became a musician. But it’s not. My father had a big record collection and he listened to music loud. He could hear the music but since he has aphasia and is hard of hearing, he just couldn’t understand the lyrics.
He used to tune my violin for me in elementary school. He bought me my first guitar when I was 12–and he tuned that for me as well. He listened to Heart, Led Zepplin, the Beatles, Blondie, Trex–all bands I still love today. I definitely get my animated side of performing from the the language we spoke throughout my childhood. American Sign Language is very expressive. Some of the faces I make are derivative from ASL linguistics.
Aside from the parental standpoint, I look up to Patti Smith. I think she is an amazing singer/songwriter/ lyricist. David Bowie, Joy Division, Pink Floyd, Brian Eno, Tom Petty, Neil Young, are other influences. I was really into Guns-n-Roses and the Doors in my youthful years. My friends had to surrender their tapes and since my parents didn’t know or even care that there was questionable lyrical content in the music- I got to keep their tapes. Swearing was never really banned in my family. I collected Use Your Illusion I, II, Appetite for Destruction, Black Sabbath, Slayer, White Zombie, Pantera. These were all tapes that I was given from friends whose parents wouldn’t let them keep them anymore. I wore all those tapes out. I wouldn’t listen to some of those bands today but they definitely served their purpose at the time. When I discovered the whole grunge movement – that made me want to play the electric guitar. When I got my first electric guitar at the age of 14, it was Fender Duo-Sonic. My older brother helped my parents pick it out and they chose that guitar because it was small due to my petite stature at that time. I wouldn’t leave my room. I’d learn songs by ear or read tablature. I was really too shy to play in front of people at that time but I knew that playing music in a band was what I wanted to do with my life.
You share vocals in the band with husband Ryan Smith. What are those dynamics like?
It’s special when we sing “Going for the Kill” together because that song is about our relationship. I couldn’t sing that song with another person. It could only be him. I enjoy sharing vocals with my husband I think our voices compliment each other very well. He enjoys it as well.
Mark Wade, Ron Caron and Ryan. Is Melismatics a boys club?
Melismatics is a boy club. I was a tomboy growing up so boys club are just fine with me. I’ve seen and heard a lot of “dude” sort of things my whole life. I find it quite entertaining and would get bored if it wasn’t there. I like drinking beer with and hanging with the guys on the road.
The Melismatics are currently produced by John Fields (Jimmy Eat World, Jonas Brothers and Clay Aiken) and their music has been heard on MTV’s “Laguna Beach”, the Hills and NBC’s “Windfall”. The recent single Digging Deep was a huge video hit for the band.
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Kris Huson
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Micah
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http://www.borangutan.com Nika
