A bona fide rock star

By day, Jacqui Walter is a highly successful National Sales Director who lives in picturesque Daylesford with her rescue cat. But by night, she’s a bona fide rock star.

Jacqui Walter speaking at vic world pride

Jacqui can be found doing her thing at wide and varied venues across the country and most recently she performed at Victoria’s Pride, during the grand finale day-to-night street party. Taking to the stage with her 80s all-women supergroup, the Lost Girls, Jacqui was thrilled to join a line up of LBGTQIA+ artists and musicians celebrating the journey to equality through arts and music.

Jacqui Walter on stage

You are the perfect match for a brand like Stage and Screen. Tell us about your musical career.

I’ve been a touring musician for 30 years, playing bass and singing. In fact, I was still touring when I started working for Stage and Screen 13 years ago, so I could only work part time. Bluehouse is my original band and I’m still playing with them after 29 years. In the last year I’ve also joined The Lost Girls, a really fun all-women cover band that plays 80s hits. I spent about 15 years on the road touring in the US, playing big venues and music festivals with Bluehouse. It was a great way to see the country; we were always up for staying with people instead of at hotels, so I got to see the country through the eyes of the people who live there. We are a pretty clean living band though, so did things like whitewater rafting and exploring national parks.

Jacqui Walter on stage

How do you balance your rockstar lifestyle and a demanding career?

It can be difficult at times. There’s no conflicting schedules, but it does mean that I’m rehearsing or playing at night and on weekends. I have regular gigs for both bands – last weekend Bluehouse played in Sydney for World Pride and Lost Girls will be at the Chill Out Festival. I’m able to fit it all in, but it does make for a busy lifestyle.

Jacqui Walter on stage

Have do you feel that the entertainment industries handles the issue of gender equality?

I definitely experienced sexism earlier in my music career. When we were at the height of our touring, we found a lot of parochialism in Australia. Male sound engineers in particular; if you knew what you were talking about or gave specific directions, they branded you as difficult. There was a lot of misogyny in the music industry, but thanks to people telling their stories, there has been a lot of change. Sport has changed as well; there’s a lot more diversity, more equality in pay and in how they travel. I’ve seen that in my time at Stage and Screen. Our women’s sporting teams are some of the best in the world, so it’s only fair that they get equal treatment.

 

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