Talking Hardcore with the Powerhouse Femmes of #Blkgrlswurld ZINE

#Blkgrlswurld ZINE was recently in Chicago for our Teen Creative Agency Zine Fest and Christina is an alumni from the School of the Art Institute here too. What excites you about Chicago and our scene and community here? Did you spend a lot of time at Quimby’s?

Christina: That’s a great question, I actually didn’t spend much time at Quimby’s as a student, but I was always enamored with the underground comic book and indie publishing scene in Chicago. The printmaking community here is really great too and is one of the strongest in the Midwest.

Congratulations on TEN YEARS! That’s a decade, yo! The theme for the 10th anniversary zine is "10 Years of Black Joy"—could you expand upon that and possibly give folx a sneak peek on content?

Christina: We're really excited to share new work from artists in the community and take a look back at how we've grown as creatives and as music fans. Heavy music really has remained a constant support in our lives and we're always excited to share that with others. Documenting this scene through our #blkgrlswurld zine and podcast Heavy Girls is a great way to celebrate the diverse womxn who enjoy this wild music as much as we do. For many people a mosh pit can look like a dangerous risk, but for us it's still our happy place.

Speaking of 2014, A LOT was different back then. Shoutout to Tumblr, where #Blkgrlswurld ZINE began. Where do you see the future of indie publishing going?

Courtney: Social media platforms like Instagram are still really strong for the collecting of printed matter. People still like videos about the printing process and book making process. And as ecommerce expands, we're still seeing young audiences seeking out indie books on platforms like Etsy.

What should folx expect from your talk and workshop on Saturday?

We're so excited for this event and can't wait to share with y'all why heavy girls love heavy music. In addition to a conversation with Marshall Callery from Youth Talkz, we'll also have a live music performance by GoldGrrl, an artist featured on our Heavy Girls podcast.

Any recent favorite zines/bands/content creators you’d like to give a shout out to?

• Oh wow there are so many talented bands out there that are touring this year: Sleep Theory, Alt Black Era, Meet Me At the Altar, Escuela Grind, SeeYouSpaceCowboy, and Voice of Baceprot.
• You can learn more about people of color in the punk and metal scenes on Instagram from account like @punkislandnyc, @twincitiesbipocmusic, @Croadcore, @maafahardcore, and @punk.black.

What advice do you have for inspiring zinesters and storytellers who are just getting started with their publishing?

Christina: Don’t be afraid to jump in even if your idea isn’t fully formed, or you feel like you don’t have the money to print things a certain way. Just getting started with whatever materials you have on hand will set you on a great path. One place we like to suggest printing on a budget is the xerox machines at your local public library.