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“Angry Girl Music”: My Favorite Dark Pop and Alt/Indie Queens

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UGA chapter.

There’s this line from one of my favorite movies of all time,Ā 10 Things I Hate About YouĀ (1999), starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger. It’s spoken by the character Cameron, played by the sweet and adorkable Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who explains the nature of Kat’s interests as “likes Thai food, feminist prose, and angry girl music of the indie rock persuasion.” Cameron and his friend Michael are trying to get Ledger’s character Patrick (tough, sarcastic, temperamental), to date Kat (stubborn, independent, intense), so that Cameron has the chance to ask out Bianca (Kat’s sister). However, Bianca is under the impression that Cameron is helping her get Kat to date Patrick so she can date Joey, the hot and arrogant popular older kid. If you haven’t seen the movie, it’s hilarious, weirdly charming, and very 90s/2000s rom-com-esque.

While rewatching this movie for the millionth time this past weekend, I thought I would share some of my favorite musical artists. Although you could describe most of these suggestions as of the alternative genre, they could be considered those of the “angry girl music” category. For example, there’s indie, pop-rock, and general pop. Moreover, I think calling it “Angry Girl Music” is hilarious for many reasons, partly because most of the artists are grown women and partly because the whole idea is that they don’t take crap from anyone. In this modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, I love the idea of Kat being a feminist who loves “angry girl music,” and I think this genre or style of music has had a significant impact on my life. Sometimes you’re female-identifying, and you’re upset at the world; sometimes you’re female-identifying, and someone (perhaps a man, IDK) has made you angry. Feel all the emotions and check out some of my favorite artists below!

Bishop Briggs

Genres: Alt/indie, Dark rock-influenced pop

Bishop Briggs on YouTube
Ashnikko

Genres: Alt pop/Indie pop, Indie rock

Ashnikko on YouTube
DeathbyRomy

Genres: Alt/indie, Dark pop

DeathbyRomy on YouTube
Mothica

Genres: Dark pop, Indie pop/rock

Mothica on YouTube
Ellise

Genres: Dark pop, Dance/Electronic

Also check out “Soul Sucker Pt. 2” with DeathbyRomy and Mothica!

ElliseĀ on Youtube
Tate McRae

Genres: Alternative R&B, Alt-Pop, Electropop

Tate McRae on YouTube
BANKS

Genres: Alt/indie, Alt/pop, Alt/R&B

BANKS on YouTube
Charlotte Lawrence

Genres: Pop, Electropop

Charlotte Lawrence on YouTube
GALXARA

Genres: Electropop, Hip-Hop

Atlantic Records on YouTube
UPSAHL

Genres: Alt/indie, Pop rock

UPSAHL on YouTube
Mia Rodriguez

Genres: Alt-pop, Dark pop

Mia Rodriguez on YouTube
Bea Miller

Genres: Pop, Pop rock

Bea Miller on YouTube
Griff

Genres: Pop, Dark pop

Griff on YouTube
Au/Ra

Genres: Alt-pop, ā€ˇElectropop

Au/Ra on YouTube
Crimson Apple

Genres: Alt-pop, Modern rock

Crimson Apple on YouTube

Also, you don’t have to be an “angry girl” to like these musical artists either. I think they’re just super fun to listen to when you’re feeling like taking on the world, and I think that overall, alternative, indie, modern rock, pop-rock, etc., are all fantastic genres to listen to when doing that. Happy listening!

Kayla is a Communication Studies and Entertainment & Media Studies (EMST) double-major, with a Women's Studies minor. She enjoys good music, Marvel movies, and Tik Toks. In the rare moments where she's not writing, watching, or listening to something, you can catch her hiking outdoors, eating good food, and spending time with family and friends.