Showing Our Girls Some Love
Image via @nathypeluso
Following Women’s Day (March 8, 2023), the team felt it necessary to highlight some of the women who have inspired us in the music industry. Women continue to lead the music scenes, on stages across the world, and in the studios everywhere - without them the music industry would not be where it is today. The fight for women’s rights is one that we stand proudly with, join our writers in showing some love to our inspiring gals!
Ellie Rowsell from Wolf Alice, “Safe From Heartbreak (if you never fall in love)”
British alternative-dream-rock band Wolf Alice is a musical powerhouse—and front woman Ellie Rowsell is at the helm. With 3 critically-acclaimed albums under their belt, Wolf Alice proves time and time again that their sound is unpredictable and mesmerizing; they even joined Harry Styles on his recent European tour dates. Rowsell, specifically is singled out for her raspy, siren soprano that is always the band’s showstopper, but it wasn’t easy for her to get here. Rowsell, is vocal about the inherent gender inequality in the music industry; she created a documentary with BBC Radio 1 called Where are the Women in Music? She’s quoted saying: "As a woman in the music industry, I'd hope we can be as successful as men...I went to a girls school and there wasn't many girls who wanted to be in a band. You felt like you had to do it alone...What's hard about the music industry is that when you start off, you don't have that much power." However, Rowsell and Wolf Alice are definitely making waves with their music, which will hopefully result in change for the industry as a whole. -Anita Mazumdar-Moscato
Charli XCX, “Click (No Boys Remix) ft. Kim Petras and Slayyyter”
Feminine excellence is perhaps the most apt description of Charli XCX’s “Click (No Boys)” remix. The track features recent Grammy winner Kim Petras, who also appears on the album’s version of the track, and hyperpop icon Slayyyter, who takes over Estonian rapper Tommy Cash’s slot. The song is a testament to the trio’s friendship, a point made throughout the track. Petras, in her feature, proclaims, “I'm next level, so legit with all my clique.” The girlies are here, and they’re ready to have fun together.
Charli once described the track’s ending as “a beat that sounds like monster trucks having sex.” It’s a picture-perfect image of cacophonous catastrophe that shows just how far electronic music can go. The collection of producers behind the wheel are the stuff of Charli XCX’s fans dreams: A.G. cook, Dylan Brady, Nömak and umru. All successful in their own right, these collaborators have been behind some of the pop star’s best works to date.
“Click” is three minutes of delicious high-femme whiplash. For fans of any of the artists riding the clanky, shimmery beats, the track is sure to please. - Liz Foster
Nathy Peluso, “MAFIOSA”
Nathy Peluso is a groundbreaking singer, songwriter inspiring women to be deviant and stand their ground. From the beginning of her career in the spotlight, comments have run asking why she refused to portray herself in a more feminine, delicate manner. Her answer to those who questioned her, was to drop a record breaking album and travel the world on a sold out tour.
Her music remains romantic, and emphatic drawing listeners in to her seductive sound. On stage though, her presence embodies the divinity of being a women. Her confidence transpires to those listening, and encourages girls to feel comfortable and confident in their bodies. She is never concerned with being consumer-friendly, but rather, in expressing her most honest version of herself. - Eva Maria
Lola Flores, “Ay pena, penita, pena”
In honour of Women’s day, and in celebration of trailblazing women it would be a crime for me to not mention the reigning queen of my heart Lola Flores. Her songs tell stories of lost love, tragedies, and empowerment in the face struggle. Her music filled the streets of Spain during some of the darkest times and inspired many to continue to live life freely.
A Spanish icon, Lola Flores voice has echoed through my house everyday of my life. A power house in the music industry, Flores, inspired women everywhere to challenge “machisto” perspectives and celebrate the strength that is being a women. She has inspired generations of women and will forever be regarded as one of the greats. - Eva Maria
Rita Payés, “Nunca vas a comprender”
Rita Payés is a multi-talented musician highlighting the diversity of Latin music. Her music combines classic Spanish folk and jazz, demonstrating the diversity of art that can resonate with us.
Her impact on the world of music is tremendous, as her talent as a musician defies logic completely. If in attendance of one of her shows, you can expect her to not only serenade you with her angelic voice, but also play the guitar, piano, and trumpet - live. She challenges herself in each song, singing in not only Spanish, but Portuguese, French and English as well.
Her work feels like encapsulates you and forces to get lost in time. - Eva Maria
Kodie Shane, “2 Many”
Kodie Shane never reached the upper echelon of popularity in hip-hop due to the crime of being too ahead of the trend. Her 2017 EP Back From The Future features her auto-crooning over beats powered mostly by synths, a style popularized years later in contemporary rap’s rage subgenre. Kodie’s moved away from the synths since, with her newest projects dabbling mostly in R&B. She’s continued to drop quality projects, and has quietly assembled one of the strongest discographies of the SoundCloud era. Hopefully people will get tuned in soon, and she gets the fame she deserves for her years of quality work. - Michael Di Gennaro
Nia Archives, “18 & Over”
PinkPantheress’ rise to success has put a spotlight on women working in UK dance genres, and no artist deserves to be the next to rocket into the public eye like British drum-n-bass master Nia Archives. She’s able to perfectly straddle her pop sensibilities with a clear appreciation for the origins of DnB, Garage, & 2-step, and songs like “18 & Over” (one of the best in any genre of 2021) and “So Tell Me…” bring different genres into the fold while keeping the essence of the aforementioned genres in the forefront. One of the most talented musicians to emerge over the last 3 years, there’s a good chance she puts out some truly paradigm-shifting music in the near future. - Michael Di Gennaro
