March 10, 2021

Conversations with Stells di Rossi

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stells di Rossi.

Hi Stells, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Method to the Madness is a female fronted band that led to the founding of the 501(c)4 called the House Rossi. House of Rossi which later branched out to start and international podcast, modeling work, an art inspired fashion of home decor and of course the band itself globally which is on the label THOR Music & Media and is now streamed on all seven continents.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
A lot of challenges, one of the main ones is the triple glass ceiling. We like to call it that because it reflects to the industry’ attitude by setting a standard of being anti body positive image, continuing racial intolerance by segregative culture , and misogyny.

We have faced a lot of adversity and we’re not as well received in the Arizona being that it was less exposed to something like our band. You never see a band fronted by a plus size woman of color in an industry that has a formula.

Rock music has mostly been male dominated t white men, or has a front woman that fits prototype thin, fiat skinned and doesn’t play an instrument. It’s like being a unicorn. It is very rare you see female rockers of color playing instruments yet alone any women, but when you do see a female performer they are usually skinny Caucasian women. They don’t shred, and they backed by guys and basically scantly clad as eye candy.

Having a band with two female leaders and being in the a male industry is hard enough, add having a plus sized woman of color that is LGBTQ and mixed cultural diversity- it makes us the unicorn of adversity in many ways people do not realize.

I have received everything from threats, blacklisting, being ignored by venues for years, being spat upon, racial slurs, verbally abused, our gear has been tampered with, interviews have been purposely tampered with or redone, our live performances have been messed with by racist and sexist sound techs and intimidated male misogyny. The list goes on.

The actual tension made us work harder to represent the fact that in 2021, this is still America and it’s not a segregated country even though there are people still practicing very segregated mindsets. And that women can rock regardless of age, shape, size or pigment.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Method to the Madness (M2M), is an alternative fusion band based out of southern Arizona. The core duo consists of founder Stells di Rossi (guitar, violin, bass and vocals) and Misty Tea (bassist), also known as the “badland besties”.

Originally founded in Panajachel, Guatemala circa late 90’s the band has a catalog on every mainstream media platform and managed an international fan base through global streaming yet have little support in its own backyard.

Method to the Madness is known for the unique sound and compositional song structure that defines di Rossi’s land marking resurgence of alternative grunge rock with a modern feminist tone and perspective of multicultural influences.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was always creative, with a background of a musician family. Began orchestra at age two, and had heavy artist influence.

Misty was a curious child that explored nature and was around music but often discouraged. The band was her first serious attempt of entering the musical world and learning an instrument later in life.

Both of us are musicians, painters, have art based fashion lines for home decor, published poets and cofounded the organization and art media label THOR. We met in art therapy as DV survivors and decided to be a beacon of inspiration, spread the love, light and break the triple glass ceiling.

Contact Info:

Email: getalittleloco@gmail.com
Website: https://anchor.fm/thorradio
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belladistella/
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/getalittlelocco/
Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCFyi3GkGWVCdZlfoxDmI75w

Image Credits:
JD Photography courtesy of Jesus Cheno and Differently Abled Entertainment and THOR Music & Media.

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