Skin, real name Deborah Anne Dyer, is the lead singer of Skunk Anansie. / © AFP
In an era where books are banned and songs can vanish with a click, Skin from Skunk Anansie is fighting back – building a physical library for her daughter and urging artists to reclaim control in the age of streaming.
In a candid moment during our recent interview, Skin from Skunk Anansie shared how she has been building a physical library for her young daughter. Not just storybooks or classics, but titles that are increasingly being targeted or banned in parts of the world.
Works like To Kill a Mockingbird, the writings of James Baldwin, and other essential voices she fears could one day vanish from school shelves or digital platforms.
"I have started buying up those books because I want my child to have them", she said. "If they can ban books, why not music? If streamers can suddenly pull a TV show, what is stopping them from doing that with albums?"
This conversation emerged during a broader discussion about the challenges facing artists in the streaming age. Skin did not hold back on how streaming has gutted the economics of music, especially for new artists, and how the convenience offered by tech companies often comes at the expense of long-term access and creative control.
"We are doing vinyls, CDs, even tapes", she explained. "If you are a new artist, it might actually be cooler to just sell physical copies and direct downloads. Because who knows if your music is going to be available on streaming in five years?"
Her concerns are not hypothetical. From algorithms that bury certain content to artists who lose income or are de-listed without warning, the digital landscape remains precarious. And for someone who has always pushed boundaries as a Black, queer woman fronting a rock band since the 1990s, the idea of cultural erasure feels personal and urgent.
Read also: If we can’t make amazing new music, what’s the point?: Skunk Anansie
"Streaming is not built to protect artists", she said. "Every new piece of tech just finds another way to squeeze us. We are the ones making the work, and somehow we are the ones getting paid last, or not at all."
That frustration has fuelled not only her commitment to hard copies but also her determination to help younger artists navigate an increasingly predatory system. Skunk Anansie, she explained, make a point of paying their support acts fairly, knowing that T-shirt sales and streams alone will not cover the cost of touring.
"We are artists. We just want to make music and share it with people. But now you have to hustle in ten directions just to break even."
Still, Skin remains hopeful and defiant. The library she is building is not just for her daughter. It is a reminder that art matters, and that it deserves to be held in your hands.
As Skunk Anansie continue to stand firm in their beliefs, they are also charging forward musically. Their new album The Painful Truth is out now, offering fans a fresh set of songs that challenge, provoke, and inspire.
The band will return to Luxembourg on 16 July for a highly anticipated performance at the Festival de Wiltz, following their sold-out show at den Atelier earlier this year. It promises to be another powerful night from a band that refuses to stand still.
Full interview:
