Musical Muses: The Women Of Outside Lands

I’m very excited to share a guest post from writer and stylist (and a very dear friend of mine) Amy Soderlind, featuring some of the amazing and talented women who performed at this year’s Outside Lands Festival.  Styled by Amy and photographed by Victoria Smith, here is a glimpse into the personal style and world of each of these women who inspire us so much.

This festival in particular sets itself apart from all the others. Perhaps it’s the bundled and layered nature one must take when arriving each day, For the weather is predictably…. never warm. The light is diffused through tree lined fog, giving the days a dreamlike quality, each moment  light on the feet, anything that was once heavy has suddenly been lifted with that same dewy haze.

There are no festival clones here. Tots sit on Fathers shoulders, old Rock and Rollers sway to and fro… the Conservative, the Liberal, the Hippie, the Gypsy, the Hipster, the Trendy, the Preppy… there is simply no formula for the music loving crowd of San Francisco. Its people bring such a vast arrangement, any watcher of humans could sit in bliss all day… the live music as their own soundtrack.

Where there is light, there is love…. and this festival spreads the love so wide, no soul is left untouched.

I had the pleasure of spending time with some amazingly wonderful and talented women. Each of them, distinct in character and style… unique in personality and aspiration. These musical muses represent what I love so dearly about Outside Lands. Diversely beautiful and subliminally happy to be sharing a musical experience in one of the most inspiring cities in the world. Why we respect these women goes far beyond their talent for rhythm and their perfectly pitched pipes… each of them represent a part of us, as women, that can be exercised more… revealed more honestly, and inspected more soundly.

Katie of Houndmouth. Sweet and honest upon our first greeting… genuinely happy and interested in the people and going-ons around her. I could tell she soaked up inspiration in all that she saw… a woman you could grab a drink with and sit outside yada yada-ing about the this and thats of life.  She gets on stage.. and that sweetness transforms to a confident, straight up power house. Got that sweet big voice with a dash of twang all wrapped up into a sound your ears will thank you for.

Marlana of Milo Greene…. rock star. Dressed in all black… and wanting more of it. Marlana knew what she liked, what she wanted… and in turn, receives undoubted respect from those around her without trying.

Thao of Thao & The Get Down Stay Down. Demure… shy… soft spoken and stoic… yes, indeed she was. Yet,  at the same time… bold and strong, completely fearless in her own image.  Thao has the ability to make a ragged cotton sheet look badass… or a lace white bohemian number edgier than most would in a black leather dress. She, quite simply… owned whatever she put on.

Charity of The Head and The Heart, was, at first sight… an old soul. Wise beyond her years… her eyes speak volumes of her heart. I felt at ease with her in an instant. Honest, humble, and self assured. Her style is effortlessly cool… easy. Nothing fussy or contrived. There was no “dressing’ up with Charity. She wears what is an extension of herself in that moment. A lesson we can all take when choosing the right fit.

On that note… cheers to these four…our musical muses. Thank you for keeping it real and dosing our ears and bodies with such goodness. Till next time round… Peace.

Katie Toupin of Houndmouth

Katie is wearing: FP X Rodeo Queen Dress, Manchester Tall Boot.

How would you describe your personal style?

I wouldn’t. I wear what makes me feel sexy. It’s not very conscious or premeditated.

If your music were a place, where would it be?

Where we are from… Southern Indiana/Louisville KY.

Describe Outside Lands in three words.

A beautiful time.

What items do you always have with you when you’re on the road?

Mary Kay eye makeup remover
Several books to read
A bag full of shoes
My own blow drier
Running/yoga clothes
A bag of medicine
A pen and paper
An iPhone full of new music to listen to

Favorite Free People piece right now?

One? That’s impossible. The fringe leather jacket. That’s 1 out of 500 things I want!

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

Maybe not the best, but certainly useful in a band — to pick your battles.

Marlana Sheetz of Milo Greene

Marlana is wearing: Rocker Vegan Leather Skinny, We The Free Diamond Dozen Thermal.

How would you describe your personal style?

Simple, comfortable, and black.

If your music were a place, where would it be?

Lake Tahoe in the Fall.

Describe Outside Lands in three words.

Best festival yet!

What items do you always have with you when you’re on the road?

Black boots, gym clothes/running shoes, floss, vitamins.

Favorite Free People piece right now?

My hooded motorcycle jacket.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Don’t hold grudges.

Thao Nguyen of Thao and the Get Down Stay Down

Thao is wearing: Write About Love Dress.

How would you describe your personal style?

“Find four things that fit well, wear them till they are tattered/you accidentally leave them somewhere on tour, repeat.”

If your music were a place, where would it be?

It would be a sensitive juke box in a dance hall renovated with reclaimed wood.

Describe Outside Lands in three words.

Cold, eucalyptus, ambient.

What items do you always have with you when you’re on the road?

Good books, journal, yoga mat, wellness formula.

Favorite Free People piece right now?

Fantastically fitting ankle cut skinny jeans that have totally solved the denim clogging around the ankle/shoe area problem.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

If you find that you are holding on to something too tightly, you have to let go of it completely.

Classic. Minimalist yet exaggerated.

If your music were a place, where would it be?

New Orleans because there is soul in that town.

Describe Outside Lands in three words.

Foggy. Dusty. Paul McCartney.

What items do you always have with you when you’re on the road?

A guitar. Headphones. My Clarisonic. And I hope to get the OP-1 by Teenage Engineering to use for its 4-track and some experimentation.

Favorite Free People piece right now?

I’m really digging the Devout Metal Harness Boots. Love a low boot and the exposed metal hardware.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

I came across an article awhile back entitled, “Kareem: 20 things I’d wish I’d known when I was 30.” It is a list of twenty very sage and refreshing pieces of advice coming from NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. I know what you’re thinking, “Life advice from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Really??” That was my reaction too, but I ended up being blown away and immediately affixed a copy to my fridge.

One of my favorites from his list regards the relatable search of finding a partner, the right partner: “When choosing someone to date, compassion is better than passion. I’m not saying she shouldn’t be passionate. That’s a given. But look for signs that she shows genuine compassion toward others. That will keep you interested in her a lot longer.”
Like I’ve always felt, you DATE the artist, the “volatile bad boy,” but SETTLE DOWN with the “nice guy.”

Styling: Amy Soderlind

Photography: Victoria Smith 

Check out photos of these women performing here!