Women's History Month: Ships in the Night

Women's History Month: Ships in the Night

2023 Interview with Alethea Leventhal From Ships in The Night

Curbiture: Hi, Alethea, I’m so glad to have you as part of our Women’s History Month special. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Alethea: My name is Alethea Leventhal and I make music under the name Ships In The Night. I am also a therapist.

Curbiture: Let’s jump right in. As far as right now, “post-pandemic”, what do you think is one of the hardest issues for girls?

Alethea: I often work with teenage girls and get to hear a lot about their inner and outer worlds. I think there is a conception that things have progressed so much in terms of equality and feminism since #metoo, but from some of the things I hear, I wonder how much they really have.

Curbiture: What do you mean?

Alethea: I worry that girls are subjected to an even darker, more insidious form of sexism, especially under the guise of the performative feminism that we see so much these days.

Curbiture: You mean what looks like pro-feminism is actually more of a trend?

Alethea: In some ways, yes. It freaks me out. I want girls to have an easier time than I did.

Curbiture: What kinds of “quiet” issues do girls and women face today? The issues that may not get as much attention as sexual harassment.

Alethea: One thing that I wasn’t prepared for and that no one really tells you about is the pressure and competition that a lot of women seem to develop in their 20’s/30’s, especially around marriage, having children and other forms of settling down, like buying a house.

Curbiture: Do you think this pressure has changed since the ‘60s?

Alethea: It is interesting to see the hold that society’s expectations have on us, even though we feel like things have advanced so much. I’ve seen the most non-traditional people I know succumb to the pressure and it’s clear how much power it really has.

Curbiture: Does it get to you, personally?

Alethea: I personally feel it all the time. I really don’t blame anyone for wanting to follow this path at all. It was forged a long time ago and we are encouraged and congratulated every step of the way when we comply- even if it’s a situation where we feel we have no other choice.

Curbiture: Have you heard any recent remarks about women that feel out of place for 2023?

Alethea: The remarks feel constant. One of the hardest parts of being a woman in music is having to put up with the inane things that men will say. It doesn’t happen as much anymore, but when I first started out, I would get asked the most ridiculous questions after my set.

Curbiture: What kinds of questions?

Alethea: A lot of “who writes your music?” and “do you make your own beats?” Truly bewildering to think that you couldn’t possibly fathom a woman doing these things.

Curbiture: That does seem very behind-the-times. I wonder if feminism in the professional world is progressing at a slower rate.

Alethea: Sometimes it seems that way.

Curbiture: In terms of your profession, what kinds of women gravitate toward your music?

Alethea: It’s hard to say exactly. It seems to be a diverse crowd in a lot of ways. Sometimes women come out who dance in the front row for the whole set, others are hanging in the back. Some are friends of my mom’s who are in their 70s, sometimes I’ve met 10 year old girls who are going to their first show, which is always cute and exciting.

Curbiture: When you were ten what do you remember about being female?

Alethea: One of the funniest memories I can remember was when I started Sex Ed- or I guess they called it “Family Life”. I remember they gave us this book called “Your Changing Body.” I was a little freaked out but mostly intrigued. I remember that I was home alone, and I started reading the book on the couch. All of a sudden I felt really nauseous and tried to run to the bathroom to throw up. I remember seeing stars and falling down, right in front of the front door.

Curbiture: That’s horrible. What happened?

Alethea: I must’ve been out for awhile because when I woke up my mom was pulling in the driveway. That memory of me as an absolutely confused little ten year old has always stuck with me.

Curbiture: I can see why. In terms of today, can you tell us a little about what you’re doing? I know you just released the album Asleep in Midwinter.

Alethea: Of course. Asleep In Midwinter is an EP I released about a month ago. It’s a collection of my more ambient work. I used to think I needed a separate moniker for my softer stuff since most of my music is more driving and dancey, but realized that in the end it doesn’t really matter. The album even has a song with acoustic guitar (my first instrument, which I started playing around the same time I passed out reading the puberty book!) on it.

Curbiture: I love your EP and I’m so glad you can share your music with the rest of us. For all who are interested in Ships in the Night’s latest, a link to her newest album can be found at the bottom of this interview. Thank you so much for talking with us, Alethea.

Alethea: Thank you!

Asleep In Midwinter: https://shipsinthenight.bandcamp.com/album/asleep-in-midwinter