A big thank you to my friend TK for putting together this feature for the site!

Princess Maha, turned Doctor Maha of UK rock act The Kut, has this month had research approved for publication in one of the leading authorities on Personality Research in Psychology. The article looks at the way risk for psychosis related illness is measured, offering further refinement. Comprising of unusual experiences such as hallucinations and delusions, ‘positive schizotypy’ is the label given to a personality variable related to psychosis. For many years, the vulnerability to developing psychosis has been measured using the O-LIFE Unusual Experiences Scale (Mason, Claridge, & Jackson, 1995), where participants can self-report their experiences. High scores on the Unusual Experiences Scale are classified as ‘psychometric risk’ for psychosis, with this representing a personality variant and underlying genotype. While 1% of the general population develops a psychosis-related illness, approximately 30-70% of high scorers on the Unusual Experiences scale are likely to. The measure’s use has clear benefits for the identification of at risk populations, with detection integral to developing ways to prevent illness. Maha’s article offers a theoretical and statistical analysis of the data of over 800 participants, and identifies three distinct types of unusual experience risk that can be separately assessed within the existing measure. The research seeks to improve cohesion in the field, so that risk for psychosis-related illness can be detected earlier. The article presents refined measures and increased hope for early intervention treatments.

“Musicians are often in the high risk group” Maha explains… “There’s a lot of overlap between creativity and unusual experiences, so that includes artists, writers, comedians, musicians”. However Maha explains that ‘risk’ is not definitively problematic: “If there’s a genetic makeup that underlies psychosis, it is thought to be the same that underlies creativity… It’s not yet clear though, why some people who are high-risk go on to develop psychosis while others don’t – that’s why more research is needed”. The paper assessed the new and more specific measures of risk alongside a number of coping mechanisms, offering new hope for cognitive behavioural therapy to embrace. “I’m really interested in AI and CCBT (Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). The NHS ‘Beating the Blues’ programme has been widely endorsed in the UK. I hope that in time something similar will be available for those experiencing a first episode of psychosis.” CCBT seeks to change the way people engage with their thoughts and interpret experiences, using examples and training.

Maha’s interest in schizophrenia began while playing in her first rock band in Blackpool as an early teen. “Our drummer started to experience some unusual experiences, he became unwell and was then hospitalised. It was such a shock for him, me and our whole friend group. He spent many years in hospital.” Moving to London to study Psychology, she formed a new project and was soon joined by an all female band line up of local friends. Following in the footsteps of all female rock bands like Lunachicks, L7, Babes in Toyland, The Runaways, 4-Non Blondes, The Distillers, Hole and the 90s grunge rock scene, Maha felt “there was a real lack of new grunge bands and The Kut soon became a thing. I had played drums and bass at London jam nights, but finally settled on guitar to accompany my vocals. We weren’t straight up rock or grunge though, the sound had a lot of break beats and influences from punk and metal.”

However, when The Kut finished her PhD, the debut album ‘Valley of Thorns’ soon followed. Released on Criminal Records and distributed via Cargo Records (to much anticipation), The Kut reached No. 7 in the UK Rock Albums Chart, No. 18 in the Independent Albums Chart and charted in 4 other UK Charts. With endorsements from Marshall Amplification, Boss Pedals and Vocalzone in hand, and performances including Download Festival, Camden Rocks and Rebellion Festival, The Kut represent another part of the changing face of punk rock music.  Maha explains “Releasing the debut album took a lot longer than I hoped though, because I felt I also had a calling to produce research, even though I knew all my life that I’m a musician. I was also pretty disillusioned with the industry in general after some major label discussions that delayed things. It was all thanks to our fans and supporters – they stood by me and the band until we were ready. I can’t thank them enough.”  

Asked how it feels to now be joining the notable ranks of new all female bands including Deap Valley, Savages, The Dum Dum Girls, Svetlanas, Warpaint, Goat Girl, Jack off Jill, The Donnas (and just a handful of other all female acts and new riot grrrl bands to break through in the post-2000 drought), Maha explained “it’s been an amazing time for female musicians. When The Kut became… people thought all female bands were a fad or all girl groups… We’d get to venues carrying our gear and engineers would ask if we were the girlfriends of the band! Then we’d play to dropped jaws but then someone would ask which guy taught me to play guitar..!  On the other hand, then we’d also get great comments about the songs, musicianship or performance, and sometimes we’d speak to a person that had never seen female musicians play, and many who hadn’t seen an all female band before. So yeah, the music is always the most important thing, but I’d like to think we’ve, in some small way, played a role in changing limiting gender stereotypes at the same time”. TK

Photography by Jeroen Jacobs Photo Projects

Keywords: The Kut, Princess Maha, Valley of Thorns, Doctor Maha, Princess Maha, Punk Rock, New Grunge Bands, Lunachicks, L7, Babes in Toyland, The Runaways, 4-Non Blondes, The Distillers, Hole and the 90s grunge rock scene Deap Valley, Savages, The Dum Dum Girls, Svetlanas, Warpaint, Goat Girl, Jack off Jill, The Donnas, Psychosis, Schizotypy, Positive Schizotypy, Unusual Experiences, Hallucinations, Delusions, Mental Illness, Music, New grunge bands, New riot grrrl bands, All female rock bands, All female bands, Punk rock music, Female musicians, The Suffragettes, Feminism.