Happy Women’s History Month everyone!! And a happy belated International Women’s Day as well.
As a woman and a very vocal feminist, I’m passionate about the lack of representation of women in the alternative music scene, especially in emo and punk rock spaces.
To work towards uplifting women in alternative music, I compiled five of my favorite ladies currently in the industry to share with you all, as well as my favorite song from each of them to give you a sampling of their music.
*This list is in no particular order, as all of these wonderful women are equally fantastic and talented!*
1. Penelope Scott
Penelope Scott gained a great amount of popularity when her song “Sweet Hibiscus Tea” went viral on TikTok, and that’s personally where I found her.
After deciding to listen to more of her music, I found so much more about her. She incorporates a retro 8-bit sound into a lot of her songs without it being the entire focus of her music, which is a huge part of why I enjoy her music so much.
Penelope is also not afraid to talk about any subject, whether you like her opinion or not. Her lyrics are beautifully harsh and full of profanity, which I personally enjoy, and I think it shows how powerful a woman she is.
“Rät” is my favorite of her songs for its brutal commentary of the tech industry and how it treats women specifically.
2. Scene Queen
Scene Queen set out to make screamo feminist, and she beyond delivered with her last two albums. Titled Bimbocore and Bimbocore Vol. 2, her music is unabashedly woman-centric.
Scene Queen has also used her music as an avenue to express her sexuality. As a bisexual woman, she often mentions her relationships with other women in her music.
It doesn’t get much more pro-woman than that!
“The Rapture (but it’s Pink)” featuring Mothica is my current favorite Scene Queen song off her newest album, Bimbocore Vol. 2, because of its incredibly catchy chorus, witty lyrics, and clever usage of angelic choirs in the background.
3. Amy Lee of Evanescence
Amy Lee walks a fine line of fame and obscurity; so many people know her voice from “Bring Me To Life”, but not everyone knows her name, or even the band she’s in. Even fewer know that the male vocals that echo her in the chorus of “Bring Me To Life” were never meant to be there.
Amy’s haunting ballad was turned into a song that generations have been memeing for years.
Still, her impacts on the alternative scene were huge, especially in the early 2000s. In many ways, Amy Lee paved the way for today’s alternative women to shine as brightly as they do.
Her recent live performances of “Bring Me To Life” sans male vocals are truly stunning, and I think they showcase her talents and style much better than the version she became famous for.
4. BABYMETAL
All of the members of BABYMETAL have earned their spot on this list, as they’ve broken down massive barriers by carving out a unique space for themselves.
By blending metal and Japanese pop music and culture, they’ve injected the innocent femininity often associated with J-pop girl groups into a genre that typically rejects such ideals.
They also bring in aspects of Lolita fashion into their act, which has been a symbol of Japanese women’s resistance to beauty standards and a way for them to take control over their image. Tying in Western goth fashion to fit their music only further shows how badass these ladies are as they express their womanhood in their own unique way.
“Megistune” is all about women and the way they’re treated by society, as many of BABYMETAL’s songs are. It also ties in aspects of Japanese culture where foxes are seen in folklore as deceptive creatures, again showing off how they tie their culture to their musical expression.
5. Hayley Williams of Paramore
Okay, I couldn’t not mention my idol and inspiration! If you read my review of the latest Paramore album (linked here if you haven’t yet) then you already know how much I adore Hayley.
Her command of her voice and overall style have helped bring her immense fame as not only a woman in punk, but an essential figure of 2010s pop punk, regardless of her gender. In a time when her genre was almost entirely dominated by men, Hayley stole the spotlight from the boys and inspired an entire generation of emo girls.
Picking just one song from Hayley’s entire discography, both with Paramore and from her solo music, is a tough task for any fan of her work. However, I’ve picked “Hallelujah” off Paramore’s 2007 album, Riot!, for the way it tugs at my heartstrings – not to mention how nostalgic it makes me for the pop-punk of the late 2000s.
I could go on and on about more women who came before even these 5 ladies, who walked so girls like me could run. To all the women in the music industry, both artists and behind the scenes, I cannot thank you enough for your contributions to society.
Have a happy Women’s History Month everyone!