Speaking

A VOICE FOR WOMEN IN MUSIC!

Carla DeSantis Black is a brilliant and entertaining public speaker with years of experience as a keynote, moderator and panelist. 

Back in the early ’80s, when the charts were filled with a diversity of take-charge female role models, like Heart, Blondie, Joan Jett, the Go-Go’s and Madonna, Carla DeSantis Black spent her nights playing in an all-female rock cover band. After every performance she was asked if her drummer was really a man in drag and if the band was lip synching.


Carla (in stripes) with her all-female band in 1982


Such inquiries seemed silly at first, but Carla began to wonder why, exactly, did people find it difficult to accept women playing their instruments? Did they really think there were guys behind the curtain, Wizard of Oz style, playing the music for them?

Takin’ It Off

Fourteen years later, on a mission of self-discovery – and to try to understand the origins of this strange mindset – Carla visited several news stands and noticed that music magazines treated female artists one of three ways. Either they wrote about women with a patronizing tone (“Wow! “She is female and writes her own songs! Imagine that!”), focused on sex rather then music, or ignored them altogether. She realized that if things were to change, something was needed to counteract these ideas.

Exhibit at Lilith Fair

Since starting ROCKRGRL Magazine in 1994, Carla has worked tirelessly to level the playing field for women who play rock. She has “tabled” at Lilith Fair, ghost-written for Courtney Love, and has a million stories about everything and everyone in between.


She brings her uniquely witty, intelligent and provocative style to colleges and events all over the globe and delivers the message that when it comes to popular music, sex may sell, but sexism still sucks.

Carla DeSantis Black has spoken at the following events and universities:

  • Ladyfest Olympia
  • Ladyfest Seattle
  • Ladyfest Bay Area
  • Experience Music Project Museum
  • NXNW Music Conference
  • RISE Austin (Music Entrepreneurship Track)
  • MusicWest Music Conference
  • SUNY Syracuse
  • Iowa State University
  • Berklee College of Music
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Texas, Austin
  • Oregon State University
  • Claremont College
  • Venerelettrica, Perugia, Italy
  • Rock N Roll Camp for Girls
  • Girls Rock Austin
  • Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp
  • ROCKRGRL Camp
  • NEMO Music Conference
  • West Coast Songwriters Conference
  • Musica Conference
  • GRAMMY Career Day
  • Grammy Museum, Los Angeles
  • AidsRock Ohio
  • Estrojam, Chicago
  • Portland Ladies’ Rock Camp
  • Recording Academy, Atlanta
  • Musicians’ Institute, Los Angeles
  • Shoreline Community College
  • Art Institute of Seattle
  • Seattle Pacific University
  • Feeding Back Conference
  • University of Puget Sound
  • Society of Professional Journalists
  • M.A.L.I. Film and Performance Festival
  • Black Lily Film and Music Conference