31 Rockin’ Songs for Women’s History Month

For Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating female artists in all generations and genres of music. Specifically, this list aims to cover women in typically male-dominated music genres that deserve more notoriety.

From popular to underground; here are 31 different musicians to check out:

  1. Avatarium- “Death, Where is Your Sting?” (Alternative metal). Off of their 2022 album of the same name, singer Jennie Ann-Smith is perfect in this band for storytelling through Leif Edling’s lyricism. AVATARIUM – Death, Where Is Your Sting (2022) // Official Music Video // AFM Records
  2. Courtney Barnett- “Pedestrian at Best” (Indie rock). As part of the recent Australian Invasion, Barnett combines punk rock elements into her work with comedic lyrics and a deadpan vocal delivery. Pedestrian At Best – Courtney Barnett
  3. Bent Knee- “Land Animal” (Progressive rock). Being a modern progressive rock band, Bent Knee’s instrumentals tell the story while vocalist Courtney Swain sings her heart out for an emotional payoff. Bent Knee – Land Animal (official video)
  4. Kate Bush- “Sat in Your Lap” (Art pop). After her song “Running Up That Hill” was featured in Stranger Things, the rest of Bush’s discography has been discovered and now appreciated by a younger audience. Kate Bush – Sat in Your Lap – Official Music Video
  5. Tracy Chapman- “Fast Car” (Singer-songwriter). This legendary ballad propelled Chapman into fame through her unique voice, lyricism, and guitar work. Tracy Chapman – Fast Car (Official Music Video)
  6. CHVRCHES- “The Mother We Share” (Electronic pop). These Scottish synthpop artists were inspired by a vast number of musicians from the classic goth rock to new age electronic genres. CHVRCHES – The Mother We Share
  7. Circle the Earth- “Sweetest Pain” (Hard rock). The band’s name was inspired by the fact that each of the five members come from four different countries: the U.S., Brazil, Taiwan, and Japan. Circle the Earth – Sweetest Pain (Official Video)

  8. Delta Rae- “Hands Dirty” (Folk rock). Three siblings make up the foundation of this group, with this feminist anthem becoming one of their most popular songs. Delta Rae – Hands Dirty (Official Music Video)
  9. Pearl Derringer- “The Fool” (Country). This anonymous vocalist allows her work to speak for herself with some bright, country-inspired tunes. Pearl Derringer – The Fool
  10. The Go! Team & The Star Feminine Band- “Look Away, Look Away” (World fusion). Being the only song on this list that’s in French, the supergroup The Go! Team has collaborated with the Benin-based The Star Feminine Band for a traditional yet ahead-of-its-time hit. The Go! Team – Look Away, Look Away (feat The Star Feminine Band)
  11. Laura Jane Grace & Miley Cyrus- “True Trans Soul Rebel” (Folk punk). Against Me! vocalist Laura Jane Grace covered this song off of her 2014 album “Transgender Dysphoria Blues” with Miley Cyrus for a charitable cause. Happy Hippie Presents: Miley Cyrus & Laura Jane Grace – True Trans Soul Rebel
  12. Horsegirl- “Anti-glory” (Indie rock). Inspired by the dissonant post rock of the nineties, this Chicago band came in swinging with their debut album, “Versions of Modern Performance”. Horsegirl – “Anti-glory” (Official Music Video)
  13. The Inflorescence- “Phantom Feelings” (Indie rock). This brand new four piece band already found a cult following in their home base of San Diego with some energized summer hits. The Inflorescence – Phantom Feelings (Artwork Video)
  14. The Interrupters- “She’s Kerosene” (Punk rock/ska). Aimee Allen and the Binova brothers prove ska’s not dead as long as they’re around, especially after the release of their most recent album, “In the Wild”. The Interrupters – “She’s Kerosene”
  15. Jefferson Airplane- “Somebody to Love” (Classic rock). As one of the pioneers of psychedelic rock, Jefferson Airplane created one of the most memorable songs of this era with Grace Slick on lead vocals. Jefferson Airplane – Somebody to Love (Official Audio)
  16. Jinjer- “Perennial” (Alternative metal). Based out of Ukraine, Jinjer and Tatiana Shmailyuk touch on the more sensitive, introspective, and emotive aspects heavy metal has to offer. JINJER – Perennial (Official Video) | Napalm Records
  17. Alanis Morissette- “You Oughta Know” [Explicit] (Singer-songwriter/pop). This concept album turned stage play offers an awesome front to back listening experience as Morissette satirizes her life as a star in the music industry. Alanis Morissette – You Oughta Know (Official 4K Music Video)
  18. No Doubt- “Just A Girl” (Pop rock). Being Gwen Stefani’s big debut, No Doubt continues to be one of the most beloved grunge-adjacent pop rock bands around, with their songs still getting plenty of airtime. No Doubt – Just A Girl
  19. Oceans of Slumber- “The Water’s Rising” (Heavy metal). Cammie Gilbert proves that metal vocals can still suit heavy instrumentals if it’s done well, which comes naturally to this band. OCEANS OF SLUMBER – The Waters Rising (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
  20. Paramore- “Figure 8” (Alternative rock). Paramore returns with their first album in six years, drawing from a wider variety of rock subgenres in this satisfying comeback. Paramore – Figure 8 (Official Audio)
  21. Pit Pony- “Tide of Doubt” (Alternative rock). This highly underrated band from England offer a moody yet catchy banger to open up their album “World to Me”. PIT PONY – Tide Of Doubt (Lyric Video)
  22. Portishead- “Glory Box” (Trip hop/electronic). As one of the pioneers of trip hop, Beth Gibbons’s vocal delivery perfectly fits the dreary noir atmosphere set by the album “Dummy”. Glory Box
  23. Santigold- “Disparate Youth” (Alternative pop/new wave). This genre-defying soloist reaches out to all kinds of musicians both for inspiration or collaboration, offering an entirely unique soundscape in her music. Santigold – Disparate Youth (Official Music Video)
  24. Skunk Anansie- “I Can Dream” (Hard rock). Skin’s soulful and expressive singing voice make this band a sort of hidden gem in the grunge and English punk rock circles. Skunk Anansie – I Can Dream
  25. Sløtface- “Nancy Drew” (Indie rock). The band’s debut, “Try Not to Freak Out”, made this Norwegian punk outfit a new age classic, flowing between edgy rock and soft indie vibes with ease. Sløtface – Nancy Drew (Official Music Video)
  26. Sonic Youth- “Kool Thing” (Post rock/shoegaze). Vocalist and bassist Kim Gordon was inspired to write this song after a very awkward interview with rapper LL Cool J; now considered a tongue-in-cheek commentary on feminism and progressivism. Sonic Youth – Kool Thing
  27. Spiritbox- “Secret Garden” (Hard rock/alternative metal). Courtney LaPlante along with her husband Mike Stringer on guitar wrote this song as a “love letter” to the influence Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno had on their music. Spiritbox – Secret Garden (Official Music Video)
  28. Starbenders- “Downtown” [Explicit] (Alternative rock). From Atlanta, Starbenders utilized the most fun aspects of glam rock and pop to make their debut album, “Heavy Petting”. Downtown
  29. Unleash the Archers- “Northwest Passage” (Heavy metal). This band draws from the boundless energy found in other power metal acts for this anthemic standalone single. UNLEASH THE ARCHERS – Northwest Passage (Official Video) | Napalm Records
  30. White Lung- “If You’re Gone” (Alternative rock). The Vancouver group sent off their fifth and final album, “Premonition”, with a passionate, high octane alternative rock banger full of resounding instrumentals and soaring vocals. White Lung – If You’re Gone (Official Visualizer)
  31. Wye Oak- “Civilian” (Indie rock). Featured in “The Walking Dead”, Jenn Wasner compliments the somber instrumentals with heartfelt lyrics and a vulnerable vocal performance. Wye Oak – Civilian (Official Video)

 

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rsardinha@live.esu.edu

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