Yesterday was March 8th – International Women’s Day: the day we have an excuse to express our love for women proudly and freely, so here at The Indiependent, we’ve given a shout out to our favourite girl groups and leading ladies that have fought their way into a male dominated business. Though the extensive list below names some of the most impressive women in music, this article couldn’t be composed without some credit being given to those not mentioned: Pussy Riot, Marian Anderson, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Patti Smith, Beyoncé, and many more of music’s prominent women – we thank you.
HorrorPops
Kicking off our line-up of musical women, we have Patricia Day of “HorrorPops”. Day is the lead singer and bassist of this Danish psychobilly punk rock band, and fully deserves credit for her place in female music history. In terms of celebrating women, HorrorPops opened with the all-girl group “Rocket” during their 2008 album tour, and their two go-go dancers (Mille and Kamilla Vanilla) from their live shows are friends of Day that were recruited from a piercing parlour. Day herself entered a lawsuit against Mattel when they released a “Hard Rock Café Barbie” that sported her likeness, as well as a tattooed bass remarkably like her own. Part of her claim stated “Day is a feminist musical pioneer – an intelligent, outspoken, anti-establishment female artist still dominated by the erotic ‘male gaze’. […] As an artist, Day has always expressed her desire to redefine women’s roles in the rock ‘n roll scene.” – Kudos to you, Day.
Words by Charlie Ginger Jones.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kildIsvb_P4&w=740&h=422]
Deap Vally
Formed in the infamous rock ‘n’ roll city of Los Angeles, Deap Vally is a bluesy-rock-duo of two of the coolest women I’ve ever seen. Lead singer and guitarist, Lindsey Troy, met drummer and backing singer, Julie Edwards, at a crochet class in 2011 (no word of a lie) and became friends from the mutual love of fashion and the blues. Sistrionix, the debut album, was released in 2013 and it is diabolically awesome – the pair makes a great amount of noise from just a guitar and a drum kit and Lindsey’s voice is electrifying. While the duo are not explicitly involved with any feminist rock movements such as Riot Grrrl, most of the lyrics in their songs are about female empowerment: “Get your hands off my raw material”, “I’m gonna make my own money / Gonna buy my own man”. They are definitely a force to be reckoned with.
Words by Eve Taylor.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adsEE5e0PKg&w=740&h=422]
Camera Obscura
Camera Obscura are a band with a 1960s style vibe who definitely do not possess 1960s style morality with regards to the role of women. Lead singer Tracyanne Campbell is a smart sassy woman with an air of nonchalance, as though that’s the way it’s always been. Her persona is beautifully reflected in their song lyrics, some are crafted exposés of chauvinists, others are songs to dance to whilst trampling over the remnants of a broken relationship. Either way, Campbell’s influence ensures that the band represent female empowerment at its best: subtly, be it in off-hand comments or ironic insinuations. They are not overly politicized or brimming with angst, thanks to Campbell their egalitarianism is as pure and natural as if it had existed all along.
Words by Beth Chaplow.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3CkfvYMCWM&w=740&h=422]
Poly styrene (X Ray Spex)
It’s often the case that punk music is characterised by hordes of powerful, boot-donning males: Joe Strummer, John Lydon and Mick Jones to name a few. Yet, for those seeking a perfectly anarchic group with unique sound and a hugely powerful front-woman, look no further than the satisfyingly forceful tones of X-ray Spex. Although at times she is a perfect example of the punk ethic- with controversial lyrical content and an often sharp, neon garb- Poly Styrene, singer of the band and supreme punk goddess, is truly inspirational in the sense that she retains a strong sense of her individual ‘identity’, both on and off-stage. But this was not to please the punk masses; rather, the music and image she created perfectly encapsulated her own personal ponderings at a time when punk musicians were all too easily swayed by the demanding crowd. Plus, her awe-inspiring, shrill voice is among the very best in the entire punk genre, if not music in general.
Words by Emily Ingram.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKaxfc03Fqk&w=740&h=422]
Warpaint
Warpaint are doing things that some of their audience see as inspirational. They are the reason that female fans started playing music with their friends, and other girls. This Los Angeles four-piece conjure rhythms, summoning up words such as groove and vibe.
Warpaint’s music is exploratory, deeply textured and their songs have a compelling sense of people drilling into their interior lives. A combination of murky, meandering jams dragged out of the depths and stamping bass drums urge Warpaint to surge forward. With every new piece of spellbinding material, the band seem to turn dizzying new corners experimenting with hazy-synth sounds. Their moody, haunting vocals are the forefront of one of the biggest female bands of the modern day. The four-piece female band are a great example of how the future of rock music isn’t being driven down a one-way road.
Words by Bill Edgar.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnuFYYJHaY0&w=740&h=422]
The Pretty Reckless
New-York-City-born rock foursome The Pretty Reckless have been cementing their place as one of the most popular female-fronted bands in music since their formation in 2009, when front-woman Taylor Momsen was just fifteen. Momsen cites the likes of Kurt Cobain and Joan Jett as both musical and personal influences, and the band’s guitar-heavy melodies and raspy vocals – as well as Momsen’s heavily-lined eyes – are definite testaments to that. Their 2010 debut album stormed the collections of rock veterans and rock virgins alike, strewn with unique and instantly recognisable tracks such as cult favourites “Make Me Wanna Die” and “Just Tonight”. Dark, melancholy but somehow insatiably feel-good, The Pretty Reckless’ catalogue is one you can’t help but sing – nay, scream – along to. Who’d have thought this is where we’d see Cindy Lou Who now?
Words by Amie Bailey.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHBxJCq99jA&w=740&h=422]
Kate Nash
Kate Nash is the ultimate non-conformist woman in the music industry. She encourages girls and women to be more confident and strong against sexism in daily life and in the music industry.
After the controversy of the Reading and Leeds line-up where only nine acts involved women, there is obviously a need for females to be more encouraged to become successful in the music industry. Kate Nash promotes this by having an all-female band behind her on stage and having up-coming girl bands as her support. This is why she is my favourite female artist. Obviously her music, is also amazing! Her change in genre from when she began in alternative pop to heavy bass rock is inspiring and shows how her lyrics shine through all the music she writes. She makes things relatable and encourages people to be themselves and not care about what other people think and that is why so many people love her and she should be celebrated.
Words by Amy Cribb.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryH5cga0yUI&w=740&h=422]
Tonight Alive
Tonight Alive, from Sydney, Australia have been making pop punk shows their own since 2008. The five piece’s frontwoman Jenna McDougall is nothing less than a huge inspiration to their fans. Despite the band having an awkward stigma of ‘sounding like Paramore’ surrounding them from the musically uneducated, simply because of McDougall’s female vocals, the entire band manage to shine in their own light, with their fresh sound and all that they do for their fans. McDougall has most recently been known to interfere with security when they became rough with fans at Soundwave Festival and does all that she can to get them into sold out shows and meet them. It’s great that we have such a strong female role model in the music industry.
Words by Zara Rowden.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrkfkwzChoM&w=740&h=422]
Blondie
Debbie Harry, is the most influential woman in alternative music and probably the most iconic and recognisable front woman of all time, found success as the lead singer of Blondie (“Blondie is a group!”) from 1974-82 then again from 1997-present.
She is the ultimate ‘cool girl’, seen with the likes of Iggy Pop and The Ramones and was a regular at Andy Warhol’s Factory, who often used Harry as the subject of his works.
Combining the 70s punk image with new wave gave Blondie their distinctive sound which was popular in the UK and Australia but it wasn’t until the release of their 3rd album ‘Parallel Lines’ that Blondie hit the mainstream in the US which featured a mix of disco, pop and rap; and is considered the first rapper to reach number one in the US charts with ‘Rapture’.
She is also an accomplished actress in her own right and has over 30 film and television appearances, which shows she’s not just a pretty face.
Words by Olivia Walsh.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tko1G6XRiQ&w=740&h=422]
Kenickie
Although Lauren Laverne is a well respected TV presenter, in the 90s, she sung in an indie band called Kenickie, along with her brother Pete on drums/guitar, Marie Du Santiago on guitar and occasional vocals and Emmy Kate Montrose on bass. Influenced by Nirvana, Hole, and Ash, the band made an impact with their energetic top 10 debut album At the Club, and their poppier second album Get In, before disbanding at the London Astoria in October 1998.
I think Kenickie are great because their music captures the nineties and adolescence really nicely, with lyrical subjects ranging from going on nights out, to anxiety. Additionally, despite their obscurity, their influence can be heard in modern indie bands, including Los Campesinos!, Martha, and the Tuts. Kenickie also opened me up to a variety of female bands and every time I listen to them, they continually blow me away.
Words by Ermis Madikopoulos.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTh4RXH7iS8&w=740&h=422]
Joanna Gruesome
Joanna Gruesome are a female fronted noise-pop band hailing from Wales. They apparently formed as part of an anger management course all five members were attending and thank god they did. They transition from aggressive to soft and melodic and back again almost seamlessly. Their as much pop as they are punk (but not pop punk oh god no!) Having released their stunningly flawless debut album Weird Sister in 2013 and second LP Peanut Butter coming out this year with a string of tour dates the future is looking bright. Unsure what song to listen to first? Check out ‘Secret Surprise,’ ‘Madison,’ ‘Psykick Espionage’ and ‘Sugarcrush.’ You can thank me later.
Words by Joe Gray.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdcvYuQstYA&w=740&h=422]
Florence + the Machine
A prominent and fairly predictable example of a female-fronted band is Florence + the Machine. Florence Welch is clearly some ethereal, existential goddess with a timeless artistry magic, and Isabella Summers, the ‘Machine,’ is basically the mastermind behind the band’s quite perfect sound. These two immensely talented best friends are the firm foundations of Florence + the Machine, pooling their world class musical genius to create the awe-inspiring element of the band.
There’s no doubt that Florence + the Machine are one of the best British bands of the 21st Century. The whimsical tones of Florence’s haunting voice is paired with the magic that exists in every song, ensuring that the Lungs and Ceremonials albums, and hopefully the upcoming How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful album, are undeniably unique and universally aesthetically pleasing; their music naturally exists outside of a defined genre, and the darkness of the majority of their songs juxtaposes perfectly with the uplifting sound, adding that extra element that most bands lack. This International Women’s Day, Florence Welch and Isabella Summer’s talent deserves to be appreciated.
Words by Caitlin O’Connor
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SmxVCM39j4&w=740&h=422]
[Feature compiled by Charlie Ginger Jones]