|
Cookie Cutter Girl Review
by James Hester, Music Editor
American music history recognizes Massachusetts as a bastion of great music. Aerosmith, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Boston, and Godsmack are just a few of the successful artists in recent years to hail from that city. Lynn Julian is no exception. Introducing herself as America’s “Pop Superhero,” the Boston artist has created a source of inspiration and support for girls and young women everywhere using the Cookie Cutter Girl alter-ego.
She presents herself as a comic-book icon dressed to look like some sort of 21st century Wonder Woman. Call it a gimmick, but it works. One cannot deny that Julian combines raw talent and creativity with a sensible and educated mind to help empower listeners.
Julian lived in New Haven, Connecticut until age 10, but then moved to Maine where, according to a conversation with this writer, she “grew up.” Currently, she makes the Boston-area her home and base for the Cookie Cutter Girl concept. The motivated feminist shared that Cookie Cutter Girl was something she created as a result of numerous struggles and challenges she has endured since childhood.
Her stated mission is "to help women and indie musicians feel more empowered". She said that her work is "more geared toward girls and young women".
”There is such a stigma against women in the workplace, especially those who are professionals. We are expected to work hard, be smart, be productive and efficient, AND be sexy. I'm tired of the glass ceiling. Men dominate the world in terms of money and commerce. There is sort of an unwritten rule that if you are a woman, you can't be the leader of a successful business, without being pretty.
I want to dispel that notion”.
“I knew that early on, when I wore some Cookie Cutter Girl costumes, I got complaints from some parents that I showed too much skin, so I covered up my boobs and my butt more. They didn't want their little girls dressing like sluts and idolizing a stereotype of what women are expected to be like. That's just it, though, we are subjected to so many stereotypes everyday. I agree with them that little girls and young women should respect themselves and not feel like they have to dress or look a certain way in order to be accepted. I want to help girls and young women to become more empowered, so they can believe in themselves and know that they are beautiful and important just as they are. That's why I created Cookie Cutter Girl". -Lynn Julian
A shrewd artist and business person, Lynn Julian dreamed up and created Cookie Cutter Girl. She is a self-taught guitarist, but has also earned an A.S. degree in Music at The University of Maine. The artist has been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine who called her "Nashville's version of Fiona Apple".
She co-wrote her first comic book with Justine Fontes of Disney and Dreamworks. Her www.cookiecuttergirl.com website says that her alter ego is a "modern day Cinderella story".
Her music is catchy, witty, pop that discusses a wide variety of issues women face in a tongue-in-cheek fashion. It is saturated with bluesy, folk-tinged, guitar-driven harmonies backed by Julian's warm vocals.
Currently, the artist is not touring with her band Pop Superhero, due to a recent fall and injuries sustained at one of her live shows. Instead, she is focusing more on developing her comic book, making appearances at comic book shows, and selling her merchandise. She recently won contests at Boston and New York comic book conventions for Cookie Cutter Girl.
A poster of her band makes a cameo appearance in the latest Ace Ventura Pet Detective movie. Julian's website is a plethora of information and networking and contains several links supporting other artists, particular those who are independent. For more info about Lynn Julian and Cookie Cutter Girl, visit her website at www.cookiecuttergirl.com or look her up on MySpace.
|
