Aussie Eurovision metal guitarist shreds migraine myths

Heavy metal guitarist is not the usual job description for someone who suffers from chronic migraines.

But for Simone Dow who plays in Perth progressive metal outfit Voyager, the first band ever to represent Australia at Eurovision, metal is a tonic as she manages a condition that has, at times, left her almost bedridden.

Dow and her four bandmates jetted off to Liverpool on Wednesday for the competition, which she describes as the fulfilment of her teenage dreams.

"Eurovision is the greatest stage on earth, it doesn't get any more bombastic than that," she tells AAP.

Voyager has been vying to represent Australia ever since the country began participating in 2015 (despite being a very long way from Europe) and the band was finally chosen for the job in 2023.

Australia's hopes for this year's contest depend in no small part on the guitarist managing her migraine symptoms so she's in top form for the finals in May.

Dow is adamant the condition is more than just a bad headache and can cause constant pain, vomiting and blurry vision, speech problems, and even joint and nerve pain.

"Honestly, the stigma around this condition is just insane," she says.

"People really don't understand it."

Dow spent one recent tour in such agony she was bedridden when not onstage and things got so bad she almost contemplated quitting the band.

But she now has a fresh regime of rest, physiotherapy and diet and hopes it will be enough to keep the symptoms at bay in Europe.

One particularly effective recent therapy has been medical cannabis, which she describes as an "absolute godsend".

"I really hope we're going to see a lot more access for medical cannabis for people with chronic pain issues because it has literally changed my life," she says.

While metal is still very much a male-dominated genre, Dow is breaking down other barriers too by simply playing her guitar.

"What you have between your legs doesn't dictate how you perform an instrument," she says.

She feels her bandmates - lead vocalist Danny Estrin, guitarist Scott Kay, bass guitarist Alex Canion and drummer Ashley Doodkorte - are like her brothers, helping her cope and ensuring she can rest.

"I just can't thank them enough ... I love them to death and wouldn't want to be doing it with anyone else," she says.

Dow's road to Eurovision glory began a long time ago when she won a high school scholarship to learn classical guitar.

As a teenager, she was into alternative music such as Nirvana but her taste gradually turned towards metal, starting with Metallica, Pantera and Slayer.

"It always just really spoke to me, heavier music is just a really good outlet for getting your passion and raw energy out," she says.

Dow first saw Voyager play when she was 18 at an all-ages show in Perth. 

The teenager immediately knew she wanted in - Voyager was doing things differently to other bands on the metal scene, with strong melodies and next-level showmanship.

When they needed a guitarist to record their second album, she got on board, bringing her seven-string guitar and frenetic, fiery style.

Dow believes playing metal takes far more skill than generally thought, with many musos trained in classical or jazz.

Amongst the many misconceptions about the genre is the assumption all heavy metal music sounds the same, an idea Dow puts to rest.

Metal has something for everyone, she says - something she hopes Voyager's Eurovision banger, Promise, will show.

"We're just stoked, honestly, to have the opportunity to even to represent Australia and Western Australia. It just means the world to us," she says.

The 67th Eurovision Song Contest will be held from May 9-13 and broadcast on SBS.