Kelly-Dawn Hellmrich, former bassist of Melbourne band Camp Cope, has released a new book titled 'It's Not For You', which compiles interviews with 18 Australian women and gender-diverse artists, including Courtney Barnett, Amy Taylor, and Marcia Hines. The book addresses themes of motherhood, abuse, and respect in the music industry, and is described as a resource for artists who have felt marginalized or silenced.
A Personal Journey
Hellmrich's motivation for the book stems from her own experiences. At age 17, she flew to Alice Springs to stay with her mother after a boyfriend shoved her into a door. She recalls being terrified of motherhood, fearing it would strip away her identity. Now pregnant with her second child and wearing a necklace that says 'Mother', she reflects on how her perspective has changed. Her partner reassured her that this new chapter might be just the beginning of her creative career.
The book's title comes from a line in a Camp Cope song, and Hellmrich dedicates it to 'every artist who felt pushed away, or talked over, or told that their place was somewhere else'. Camp Cope was known for their activism, including the 'It Takes One' campaign to make festivals safer and calling out festivals for booking too few women.
Motherhood and Music
One central theme is parenting as a musician. Hellmrich interviews artists like DJ Anna Lunoe, who performed at festivals while visibly pregnant but hid her nausea and feared losing relevance. Producer Anna Laverty initially concealed her family status on social media after a Google search for 'female music producers with children' yielded only one result. Laverty also describes sensing a lack of respect from some male band members despite being hired for her expertise.
Sarah Blasko's story is included, where she learned to trust her own judgment after splitting from her creative partner, leading to an Aria award-winning album. Journalist Sosefina Fuamoli recounts male critics condescendingly congratulating her on panel spots, saying, 'Oh, it's great you're booked. I wasn't available, but good for you.'
Western Sydney and Identity
Hellmrich moved to Penrith in Western Sydney after Camp Cope split in 2023. She writes about feeling lesser because of her background, but now recognizes how it shaped her art and personality. The book features an interview with Marcia Hines at the Penrith Leagues Club, where her grandmother's perfume seemed to linger. Dirt bikes appear as a motif, from her brother's Yamaha PeeWee 50 to a video shoot with Barkaa, who requested PeeWees as a nod to their shared Western Sydney roots.
Unforgiving Times
Reflecting on the post-#MeToo era, Hellmrich describes it as an 'unforgiving period' that 'absolutely demolished my mental health'. She notes that women in music faced scrutiny beyond their art, and many suffered similarly. Sampa the Great, another interviewee, didn't have the joyous career she deserved in Australia because she had to act as a teacher and representative for her community, which was exhausting.
In an ideal world, Hellmrich would have been 'making music about aliens and being a loser', but Camp Cope felt obliged to speak up. She cautions, 'You can't be the Ghostbusters of every bad man in the industry. If you fight everything, you only beat yourself. If you yell at everything, no one's gonna listen any more.'
However, her former bandmate Sarah 'Thomo' Thompson offers a different view: 'Nah, I actually wish I'd been more of a cunt.'
'It's Not For You' by Kelly-Dawn Hellmrich is published by Penguin and available from 11 August.
