Happy National Women’s History Month! In honor of Women’s History Month, I want to talk about a few fantastic female-fronted bands and what makes them so great. Being a woman in the music industry is a challenge in itself, but these women and their bands are outstanding.
- The Regrettes
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Fronted by lead vocalist Lydia Night, The Regrettes have surged in pop-punk music. The band started when Lydia was just fifteen, and they released their debut album in 2017. The band’s music has been featured in the movie Unpregnant and they have performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Their songs are typically upbeat and never fail to put a smile on the listener’s face.
Favorite Track: I Dare You
- Tacocat
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Tacocat has been around for about ten years, fronted by Emily Nokes. The band’s music embraces female empowerment and provides a critique on patriarchal values with songs like “Crimson Wave” and “Men Explaining Things to Me.” Their song “Crimson Wave,” which is about the trials of the menstrual cycle, was featured on the Netflix original Big Mouth. When I saw this band open for AJJ, they had indescribable energy. I fell in love with the band and have been listening to their music ever since
Favorite Track: New World
- Misterwives
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Misterwives, fronted by Mandy Lee, is a pop band from New York City. Lee’s vocals are amazing both in-studio and live. When I saw the band perform at Memphis in May a few years ago, they played a cover of “Dreams” by The Cranberries. Lee’s vocal range is so impressive that she was easily able to replicate the notes originally sung by Dolores O’Riordan. Lee is incredibly outspoken on her social media about how difficult the experience of being a female in music is and supports other females in music to tell their stories.
Favorite Track: Oh Love
- Screaming Females
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Screaming Females are a punk rock band fronted by Marissa Paternoster. Inspired by traditional Riot Grrrl music, the band has produced seven studio albums over their fifteen years in the music scene. The band has a rather androgynous aesthetic, both in their appearance and music that openly rejects societal standards of beauty. Their entire album Ugly is dedicated to this rejection of beauty standards.
Favorite Track: I’ll Make You Sorry
- Bikini Kill
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Fronted by Kathleen Hanna, Bikini Kill is by far the most prominent band in the history of Riot Grrrl. Kathleen Hanna started the Riot Grrrl movement when she wrote the Riot Grrrl Manifesto, encouraging women to insert themselves into male-dominated fields and live without caring what others have to think. This feminist band is one of the first female bands to truly impact the punk music scene.
Favorite Track: Carnival
- The Donnas
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The Donnas are a California band made up only of women. Their music is heavily influenced by Bikini Kill and Bratmobile; however, the influence stops at the sound. The Donnas are not political in their music like Bikini Kill or Bratmobile. Surprisingly, none of the band members’ names are actually Donna. They are currently on hiatus, but they will hopefully make their return to music.
Favorite Track: Take Me to the Backseat
- Dazey and the Scouts
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After just one album, Dazey and the Scouts primarily rose to fame after the band split. Fronted by lead singer Brennan Wedl, Dazey and the Scouts are a punk band with music about the male gaze, heteronormativity, and the occasional theme of love. With their most crude track “Nice Nice,” the band instantly catches one’s attention when singing from the teenage male perspective. This particular perspective is focused on sex and harassing teenage girls.
Favorite Track: Wet
- Diet Cig
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Diet Cig is a duo fronted by lead singer Alex Luciano. Their debut EP Over Easy, released in 2015, contains their music popular song, “Harvard.” Other popular songs include “Sixteen” and “Maid of the Mist.” Luciano’s vocals are incredible, as she can belt incredibly high and is not afraid to experiment with different sounds on instruments and vocally. Their mixture of rock and pop sounds creates a wonderful discography with something for everyone to enjoy.
Favorite Track: Who Are You?
- Girlpool
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Fronted by Harmony Tividad, Girlpool has been an incredibly experimental band throughout their career. Their first album was pretty much just a guitar and two harmonizing voices. The second album contained a whole band, giving them a whole new sound. The band sings about themes of nostalgia and love, but often with an punkish or ‘angry’ twist.
Favorite Track: Blah Blah Blah
Happy listening!