Rock Monsters Romania

Some heroes don’t wear capes; instead, they may wear headphones and have a microphone in front of them. We should appreciate the people who are doing their best to promote underground music.

Irina Marinescu is a content creator for RockFM and MagicFM, as well as the voice behind Rock The Underground, a weekly segment that airs on Tuesdays. In this segment, she presents the most exciting releases from Romanian underground rock and metal, along with information about the most thrilling upcoming concerts.

Her pivotal role in promoting the underground scene does not stop there. She also serves as the PR & Communication Manager at BandBook, an integrated services platform that provides artists with a bridge between themselves and the entities revolving around them, from fans to event organizers, and relevant media figures in the market. The agency’s mission is to offer artists, whether they already have a well-known name or are just starting out, access to a personalized range of services to help them realize and capitalize on their potential.

I first heard about her when she launched Rock The Underground. I still remember her video about the first live appearance on radio; she was wearing a Nuanțe T-Shirt, and I immediately thought, “she’s one of us.” I also had the chance to meet her face to face in November at the BandBook Release Showcase, where I expressed to her how much she contributes to the underground scene.

For me, she is one of the people who motivates and inspires me daily to continue and do my best with this project. Hopefully, I will have the opportunity to collaborate with her in the future.

We talked to her to see what woman is her model and what motivates her every day in a special interview.

What are the things people should know about you before reading this interview?

My name is Irina-Maria Marinescu and I work for Rock FM Romania and Bandbook. I do lots of things within the music industry, but most of my work consists of supporting local underground rock music. I started walking this beautiful path almost two years ago and I am proud to say that this world opened up to me really fast.

I didn’t always think that working with music is an option for me. I studied translation and interpretation in German and English for both my Bachelor’s and my Master’s. So, in a way, I think that music chose me. I was given a chance, took it, and, now, I don’t imagine doing anything else.

“Rock The Underground” is my baby, my column on rockfm.ro. So far, I’ve written a little over a hundred articles/interviews about local bands and concerts I’ve been to. Once a week, I also get to present underground events on air, which I have to thank Cristian Hrubaru for. He has been a huge support!

BandBook represents an opportunity for me to step behind the scenes. I have been doing PR for them and helping out at concerts for almost a year now. Recently, I have started booking concerts and getting into the nitty-gritty of event-planning. Everything I’ve done, up to this point, has helped me spread my horizons within the industry and I am completely, head-over-heels in love with what I do.

Hopefully, I will get to experience more parts of what this amazing, yet complicated, path has to offer.

Which woman inspired you from the beginning? What have you learned from her as a model?

It has to be my mom. She has always been my greatest source of inspiration. She and a couple of her friends created the first independent radio station, UniFun Radio, back at the beginning of the 90’s. I can only imagine what it meant, for them and the Romanian people of their generation, to finally have access to free information, music and live events, after growing up under the Communist regime. To put things into perspective, if they announced that in ten minutes, they would be out, playing music on a make-shift stage in Constitution Square, then they would immediately have a crowd of at least ten thousand people come. Isn’t that insane? Having that much power, to gather thousands of people in only ten minutes, also came with a lot of responsibility, of course. But they handled it by being correct, informative, creative, trustworthy and professional. And that is inspiring to me.

Form her, I have also learned to breathe music in. She took me to hundreds of concerts when I was younger. You name it, classical, jazz, blues, rock, pop… However, she started with classical concerts, teaching me that great music takes time, takes up space in you mind and, to know great music, you have to let it slowly take you over.

She taught me that being fair, even when you feel like life isn’t, is a virtue. She inspires me to fight for what I believe in gracefully, but also to be fierce. I owe it all to her.

Why have you chosen the music industry? Where does your passion come from?

After finishing my studies and after having translated my first book, I felt lost. I didn’t really want to translate anymore, as I didn’t think this is for me. However, I have worked so hard for my degrees and have been a great student and I thought that it’s too late to turn back.
I decided to live out my last “summer as a student” and I went nuts on concert tickets, festival passes, events, and so on. I realized that this is what I actually have to do, after taking an internship at the radio station.

It wasn’t only something I loved doing, I was even good at it, for a beginner. However, my passion for music was always there. I love singing, always did. Whenever I had a moment, I would always turn up the music in my room. I did choir when I was a kid, I took dance classes, I did every extracurricular that involves music, apart from taking up an instrument. I can’t recall an exact moment in my life where this passion was ignited. It’s part of who I am.

Was there a moment when another woman warned you about the challenges you might face in the music industry because you’re a woman? What was your reaction?

My dear colleague from the radio station, Ruxandra, has become my confidante since my arrival here. She hasn’t necessarily warned me about challenges, but she always gave me good advice, when I needed it.

Being a woman that writes about metal, punk, rock, hardcore, it can be difficult to find your place at first. These are male-dominated fields. But I have to say, after a while, this scene has made me feel protected and safe.

The odd occasion I have felt something off, I talked to Ruxandra about it and immediately got clarity. She helps me feel ready for anything. So, if anything unpleasant might happen to me, I know exactly how to handle it.

Have you faced any challenges that could only happen to women in this industry? Can you give us some examples and explain how you overcame them?

Yes! I remember when one time I was going to an event with a small team from the radio station. The people who were organizing this event didn’t really know what I do. They thought I was some kind of floozy, not really there for any serious reason. I have to point out that they didn’t treat me differently or unprofessionally, they just assumed the worst of me. I also didn’t find out about this until months after the event.

Only after seeing how I write and how much soul I put into making the chronicle did they really mean business with me. They invited me to every edition and I am gladly going. I believe in their idea and have enjoyed my time there. On the other hand, it’s a really hard pill to swallow that a woman has to prove herself until given a solid, supported chance. Even now, I sometimes hear men talking about me being the Rock FM’s puppet. But, I’m not worried. My work speaks for itself.

Have you ever felt pressured to present yourself in a certain way because of your gender?

I haven’t. And I think that this also comes from my upbringing. What you see is what you get with me. I never tried to look other than how I want to look. I like my style, I like the way I do my make-up and hair, I worked hard on my confidence and if people don’t like it, they can just look away. I might say that the only pressure is to always look presentable, never go out of the house looking unkept. But that, for me, has always been there. I always want to look fresh when I go to work, concerts or hang-outs.

What changes would you like to see in the industry to make it more inclusive and welcoming for women?

I believe it all can come with a change in attitude. Nowadays, we are witnessing a shift. I work and collaborate with a lot of women. However, I do think that girls should feel safe everywhere they go, without being bothered by sexist comments, nasty behaviour and grabby hands. The scene would start being more inclusive and welcoming by giving women, especially the ones playing, or working with aggressive genres of music, the chance to truly express themselves. “Women can’t play metal!” or “A punk concert is no place for little girls” are such dated mentalities. I am happy to see that they are slowly changing.
I have to mention the band Tourist, that, before every concert, relay a message about zero tolerance for harassment, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia. I think that attitudes like this, clear, vocal messages like this and a sense of safety can improve the experience for every girl out there.

How optimistic are you about the future of the music industry in terms of gender equality?

I’ve seen so many badass women behind the scenes that I’ve lost count. I’d love for the number of women on stage, playing rock music to grow. But generally, I am optimistic about the future of the music industry, regarding how many women there are and how far we can get. As I said, nowadays, both women and men work very efficiently and that’s because both sexes know that they are working with something they both believe in. The music industry is, in huge part, emotional labour. You put in the work, motivated by the fact that live music is magic, it’s valuable. So, at least, the classical belief that women are too emotional for some jobs, is completely out the window in this case.
My opinion is that music, organizing shows, managing a band, booking, promoting and so on, need a feminine touch. At the same time, I am happy to be working with passionate people, who don’t look at me as a gender, but rather a partner, an equal and a heavy-lifter. I’m looking forward to know how this whole gender context is going to evolve!

Can you share a memorable experience or achievement in your career that you’re particularly proud of?

Naming just one moment sounds a bit unfair to the whole experience so far. It has truly been a wild ride yet and I’m proud to wake up every day and think “I work with music! Isn’t that amazing?”.
But if I had to choose one, it would be my interview with Nigel Kennedy. Sounds a bit weird, coming from an underground rock promoter, but it is what it is. Talking to an artist I have been a fan of since I was eight is truly unbelievable. Being able to talk music with the world’s greatest violinist at the present moment was overwhelming. Do meet your idols! It’s magical!

Are there any projects or collaborations you’re currently working on that you’re excited about and would like to share with our audience?

To be honest, I’m not planning anything huge right now, just taking it step by step. I have a lot to learn. I’m taking music business classes, learning how to book concerts and figuring out what my next step for “Rock The Underground” is.

Looking back on your career journey so far, what are some valuable lessons or insights you’ve gained that you wish you knew when you were starting out?

Make room for yourself, gurl! When my project for the radio’s website started to take flight, I got very excited about it and worked very hard. It was natural and fun at first, but then weeks would go by without having one night for myself at home. It’s perfectly fine to jump head-first into a project that completes you, but taking to time to rest, to organize your thoughts and to see your friends is equally important. Also, a thought that has helped me from the very beginning of this career is “Run right toward your fears!”. Meaning, if you’re scared to do something, like speaking up, asking uncomfortable (yet appropriate!) questions, pitching your ideas or going on stage, do it blindly and confidently. There is really nothing to be afraid of when doing something out of passion.

What advice would you give to young women aspiring to pursue a career in music? But to the ones that are reading this interview?

Find a moment to start and take it step by step. Go to as many concerts and music events as you can. Build your network slowly, but steadily. The music industry, in itself, is a huge network, so try to find your people. Don’t expect too much at first and don’t overwork yourself. Be ready to encounter crisis, fear and lots of emotions and embrace all of them. There is one thing that my mom has always told me and that has stuck with me all my life: “Trust your mind and instinct, they are smarter than you”. Overthinking will only bring you down. Take things one by one, everything has a solution. And when in doubt, when you really are down and questioning whether you’re supposed to be doing this, go home, get your speaker and turn on your favourite song as loud as you can. You’ll see clearly why you are indeed supposed to take this path.

If you want to learn more about the Romanian underground scene, you can follow Irina on Instagram. Additionally, keep an eye on the RockFM page to see her written content and listen to her live appearances.

See you tomorrow with another amazing woman!

Text by Radu Mihai

Interview by Ionela Pleșan and Radu Mihai