If you’re anything like me, music plays a huge part in your life. That’s why music groups with female leads have such a great influence on us young college women, whose dream careers are often male dominated. Among such bands are talented female songwriters, vocalists, guitarists, bassists, and drummers. These strong females within a male dominated world inspire us in ways that other bandmates, and bands in general, don’t, reminding us that us girls have the power to pursue our passions in big ways! From Janis Joplin to Hayley Williams, so many amazing women have taken center stage over the decades, gracing us with even more awesome music.
Here are some current female-led bands that you should totally check out if you haven’t already.
1. Doe
This indie-punk three-piece hail from London, England. Their latest release, First Four, blends slow rock with fast-paced punk, making it worth a listen for lovers of many genres. Lead singer and guitarist, Nicola Leel, adds the perfect amount intensity and angst to propel the album. It’s music that makes you want to scream and dance all at once. The band played a few shows in New York earlier in the year, but have since returned to London.
2. She Is We
Rachel Taylor has come a long way since her love-sick acoustic endeavors in He Is We. Leading a new path with She Is We, Taylor released a new single, “Boomerang,” in October 2015. The song incorporates catchy pop elements and shows off a developed version of her soft vocals. Taylor has always been open about her struggles and gives back by inspiring fans who are also facing rough times (check her out on Instagram: sheisweofficial). She Is We’s first album, War, comes out March 2016.
3. Courage My Love
I saw this pop-punk three-piece on Warped Tour in 2014, where lead singer and guitarist Mercedes Arn-Horn delivered a wildly energetic performance amidst the summer heat. She and her twin sister, Phoenix Arn-Horn, started the band in 2009 and have since released several EPs. Their pop-punk sound is made electric (not in terms of genre, but listening pleasure) by layering of the sisters’ vocals. They even show their versatility with an acoustic EP, For Now (Acoustic Sessions). Their second full-length is set to be released next year.
4. Dead Sara
Hard rock band Dead Sara features Emily Armstrong on lead vocals and Siouxsie Medley on lead guitar. The band formed in 2002 but didn’t get much recognition until their hit “Weatherman” was played in radio stations in California, where Dead Sara originated. Armstrong’s thick rasp and wide vocal range gives the band its depth. Their latest album, Pleasure to Meet You, brings to mind classic rock greats like Joplin and Joan Jett. Plus, if you’re getting into the spirit of Christmas, you can check out their delicate, slow side on their single “Snow in Los Angeles.”
5. Sick of Sarah
Why just stop at a female lead singer or lead guitarist? Sick of Sarah is an all-women five-piece from Minneapolis, Minnesota. They’ve been together since 2005, releasing two albums and several EPs. Their most popular album, 2205, got its fame through bittorrent, a torrenting website that got the album 1.7 million downloads. The album features songs like “Overexposure” which shows off lead singer Abisha Uhl’s upbeat pop vocal. The band’s latest EP, ANTHEM, continues on a string of alternative-pop.
6. iwrestledabearonce
You may have heard plenty of guys scream in metal bands, but have you ever heard a gnarly scream from a girl? Courtney LaPlante delivers thrashing screams on the band’s latest album, Hail Mary. Even before LaPlante joined the band in 2012, the band still had a female lead vocalist, Krysta Cameron, for their first two albums.
7. PVRIS
In summer of 2013, this rock band was playing small shows as Paris. This year, they took the stage for a killer performance at the Alternative Press Music Awards in Cleveland, Ohio, playing their hit “My House.” Lead singer Lyndsey Gunnulfsen pours her heart out in each song on their latest album, White Noise, with a raw, raspy voice that is anything but. Whether the band is throwing down with a hardcore flare or mixing it up with electronics, they rock hard.
8. Alabama Shakes
This rock four-piece from Athens, Alabama began in 2009. Earlier this year, they played on Saturday Night Live before releasing their latest album Sound & Color. Lead singer Brittany Howard showed not only her strong vocal abilities, but her knack for a passionate performance. The band has had some great funk jams like “Hold On” and “Don’t Wanna Fight.”