The two met and they clicked immediately, becoming fast friends, housemates, and, most significantly, Bulletproof Stockings. They’ve been performing since December 2011, playing exclusively to female audiences and released a four track, sixteen minute album in April 2012.
“When we first met it was very clear to us both that this was going to be a far-reaching experience,” explained Dalia. “Our music made sense and it belonged out there in the world. We have a far-reaching vision that may sound crazy to others but is a no-brainer for us.”
It was their recent performance at Arlene’s Grocery that really put Bulletproof Stockings on the map, although the management at Arlene’s was initially apprehensive about a women-only show.
“She heard us and she loved us but we had to prove it was a totally doable concert model,” said Dalia. “We started a campaign on the streets and once we showed her we had signatures from women who wanted to come she was definitely on board.
“Having all-women events in the Jewish world happens all the time but in the secular world this was a really innovative idea. But the truth is, girls want to hang out with girls. It brings people together through sisterhood: women connecting with women, inspiring and empowering women. Everyone who walked into that room loved it and there were plenty of secular and non-Jewish women there. It was women together, free to experience the joy of expression and it rocked.”
Kew Gardens Hills resident Shoshanna Sanders was one of those who packed the house at Arlene’s Grocery on August 7.
“The halachic prohibition of kol isha is certainly an obstacle to women with musical talent who want to perform, yet they found an unconventional solution,” said Sanders. “While Orthodox Jewish musicians playing secular-style music is nothing new, I think an Orthodox Jewish female rock band is definitely a novelty. I liked that they mixed up the genres and tempos so that every song sounded different and ranged from country to rock to Klezmer and more.”
For many in the secular world, the Arlene’s Grocery gig was their first introduction to the matter of kol isha, the prohibition of men listening to women sing, while for others it is an issue that is often plagued by misconceptions, according to Perl and Dalia.
“Some people call us out for segregation and discrimination but we think that part of being a feminist is the right to choose who you want to hang out with,” said Dalia “Others say that chassidic women are under mens’ thumbs but in truth the restriction of kol isha isn’t on us, it’s on the men.”
“I clarified this with a leading rabbi in Crown Heights,” added Perl. “He said that technically a woman could stand in the middle of Kingston Avenue and sing her heart out because it is the man’s issue, not hers. Now obviously no one should do that, but I find it funny to hear frum guys say we aren’t allowed to sing at an all-women’s event. I don’t know what Torah they’re reading because mine doesn’t say that.”
Bulletproof Stockings will be taking to the public stage once again on September 10at Bar Matchless in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn. Both women feel they are capable of balancing religious modesty with their now public persona.
“We are on public display and our music and our videos are out there and we can’t control who decides to view them,” said Dalia. “We reserve that control for our live shows which we keep for women only. We do not have to stay in the shadows among women.”