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Singer-songwriter Meghan Remy of U.S. Girls.Colin Medley

Dubbed by the underground press as "an American badass living in Canada," Meg Remy is the core member of U.S. Girls, an alt-pop project that has just released In a Poem Unlimited. The record is danceable, but defiant and darkly themed, with lyrics urging women to rise up on the single Velvet 4 Sale. Elsewhere, to an abuser, the Toronto-based artist sings: "I'm mad as hell. I won't forget, so why should I forgive?" Over coffee, Remy spoke to The Globe and Mail about protest music, a funny man named Bono and voices being heard louder and clearer than ever.

In a 2015 interview, you spoke of being on the cusp of the next phase of your career, where people might start listening to what you're saying. Are you at that phase now?

My whole life, I wanted to be heard. I think that's what everybody wants. I'd been at it for 10 years, putting things out into the world that I would want to consume. Signing with my label, 4AD, was the start of that next phase. Now I'm three years in, and they've really helped. They have a whole machine behind them. I feel like I've done the legwork to be audible, though. It took some time, but that cusp I spoke of in 2015 is kind of now.

This U.S. Girls record was made in a studio. What went into that decision? Money?

Um, well, the money wasn't there. That's not it [laughs]. I think I just started to understand the limitations of doing things DIY. And learning by watching my husband [musician Max Turnbull, a.k.a. Slim Twig] recording in the studio, and seeing how clean you can get it in the studio. Also, I was employing people on this record. I wanted to give them a proper space to work in.

What are some of the lyrical themes of the album? On the first track, Velvet 4 Sale, you sing about sleeping with one eye open.

I was abused as a child. That's how it was, sleeping with one eye open. It continues, even though I'm safe now. Something happens to you as a kid and it builds your neural sensors. It's a fight-or-flight kind of thing. I don't think all men are psychos or serial rapists. But, yeah, as a woman, I have that feeling all the time.

Most men have seen it. It's at night, a woman is walking on a street ahead of them and she speeds up or ducks into a store.

Right. But that's the thing where people need to own up to why women would be scared of them. Men need to own that. White people need to own why people of colour would be leery of them. Or straight up hate them. You have to accept it.

You're an American, with permanent residency in Canada. Do you feel like you're on the right side of the border these days?

I feel grateful to be here. My chosen family is here. But I think Canada needs to be careful. It wants to be like the United States in so many ways. You have Justin Trudeau, who is similar to Barack Obama. He's very good looking, charismatic and a celebrity. He's cool. But I don't want the cool people making the laws.

I want to get your take on something recently said by Bono … [Remy erupts into laughter] Do you know what I'm going to say?

No. I was just laughing at that word, Bono.

He said to Rolling Stone magazine that rock 'n' roll was "girly" these days.

I don't see girly as a derogatory term. Bono's part of the old guard. He's part of the old boys' club. I don't listen to a word he says. I guess he's done some good things. He's donated some money. But he has more money than he could ever spend in his lifetime. Unless he's going to turn over a lot more of it, I'm not impressed.

Some might see rock 'n' roll being girly as an evolution of the genre.

People are drawing on all music today. Everything is mixed and mangled. I don't think rock 'n' roll can ever go away. It's a spirit, and an attitude. It shouldn't stay in formaldehyde. It should meld with the times.

What about these times? With the #MeToo movement, is this a watershed moment politically and culturally for women?

Yes, I think so. Whenever something reaches the mainstream, it's a watershed moment. But I think, this past year, people realize there's still a long way to go. As with any steps made in the past, we need to keep going.

Your record, and other empowering ones released by Alice Glass and Kesha, are all about women's voices being heard. Can we call this protest music?

My life is a protest [laughs]. Everything I do is. So, I would say so, yes.

U.S. Girls plays Vancouver's Biltmore Cabaret on March 25, Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern on April 19.

Barenaked Ladies’ Ed Robertson says the band has worked with a number of women behind the scenes, including the producer of their album “Stunt.” Musicians weighed in on female representation in the industry at a Juno nomination event.

The Canadian Press

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