Laina Dawes

Laina Dawes is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Music at Case Western Reserve University’s College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from Columbia University (2022), a Masters of Liberal Studies from The New School (2015), and an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Sociology from York University (Ontario, Canada).

Her research focuses on how transgressive music subcultures—particularly heavy metal—challenge societal norms around race, gender, and class. She is the author of What Are You Doing Here? A Black Woman’s Life and Liberation in Heavy Metal (2012/2020) and contributes to publications like The Wire, NPR, and Metal Hammer.

She serves on the editorial board for the Meta/Metal book series and is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballot holder since 2016. Her work bridges academic scholarship with popular music commentary through televised documentaries and music criticism.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with music journalism networks and cultural studies initiatives.