The band Pep Squad wastes no time in their song “Rebel”. Their headstrong, forceful, and aggressive lyrics plow their way to a masculine expression of identity, while their lead singer, Kat Leon, remains feminine in her outward expression.

 

Diving right into the lyrics, the song opens with:

“Stone cold, laced in gold, a devil in a centerfold. Wicked, twisted, like the way it feels when I lose control. Make my own rules, I run my life, I promise you, Imma be a rebel till the day I die.”

 

The lead singer makes a clear distension between her femininity, and how she is still independent. There lyrics aim to break the feminine mold that is associated with the typical female traits of the Bem Sex Theory. She isn’t dependent, she isn’t passive, she isn’t soft spoken, she is by all means a rebel when it comes to her gender expression and identity. The contrast of the “stone cold” description while referring to “laced in gold” is a perfect example of this juxtaposition Kat Leon is building in this song, “stone cold” relates to more masculine defined traits such as aggression and strength, however, lace and gold are much more feminine/delicate.

 

“I wanna rage I wanna age, outta my way outta my way…”

 

The lyrics continue on in a forceful repeat of describing herself as a rebel, Kat relays that she won’t apologize for taking up space or for getting in someone’s way.  She can be a female that defies what is considered typical and what is expected of her as a female. It seems “rebel” is written all over her when it comes to her gender identity; and Kat Leon does not want to be mistaken.

 

Looking at the band’s official Instagram, there are hardly any photos of the members, much more band art promoting their music. The photos and illustrations that do represent Kat reveal her feminine figure in lots of short skirts, fishnet tights, and painted nails. However for every feminine detail she reveals, there is something hard and tough about her appearance to juxtapose her expression.

Shared by: Em von der Ruhr
Image Credit: https://www.instagram.com/pepsquadrahrah/