Your Weekly Women to Listen To: Sleater-Kinney, Those Dancing Days, Bomba Estereo and more
Happy hump day everyone! I’m sorry I missed you all last week. I was busy moving and getting settled into the new digs. While moving is certainly a gigantic pain in the tushy, my aches were softened by blasting music and singing along to everything from old school Mariah Carey to L7. Now, I get to share more great female musicians with you today. Again, I’m starting with some of my favorites of all time and then heading into some newer territory.
File under: Indie rock with a punk conscience, among the leaders of the riot grrrl scene, my future baby mamas
From: Olympia, Washington
For fans of: The feminist movement, screamcore, making out with rock stars, 7 Year Bitch, Bikini Kill
Bonus: Corin Tucker is about to release a solo album and what I’ve heard so far is the hotness.
File under: Two of the baddest MCs and a DJ who can make you dance, sing and push it.
From: NYC
For fans of: Eve, Missy Elliott, Naughty by Nature, doing the butterfly and the tootsie roll
Bonus: Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of their third album, Blacks Magic. It was the first cassette tape I ever owned and I wore that thing out like nobody’s business.
File under: Southern gothic Americana powerhouse who has written some of the most poignant lyrics of the past century.
From: Maine
For fans of: Bonnie Raitt, Neko Case, the Italian Neo-Realism film movement, Brandi Carlile, catharsis, a little rhythm to go with your blues
Bonus: Her debut album, Living with Ghosts is life-changing. Introduce it to someone you love and they will forever be indebted to you.
File under: A true R&B classic whose soulful voice is timeless and will bridge any music fights you have with your parents/children/grandparents and future next of kin.
From: Detroit
For fans of: The Temptations, Motown, soul, funk, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, dancing at weddings
Bonus: She was the brave soul who innocently felt up Lil Kim at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards. In other weird news, she dated Gene Simmons from Kiss back in the day.
File under: The cutest ensemble band you’ve ever seen, indie-pop with hand clapping and tap dancing used as percussion.
From: Omaha
For fans of: Parties with your high school friends, passing notes in class, reminiscing, Bright Eyes, Jenny Lewis (with or without Rilo Kiley), hipsters
Bonus: They tend to gather fans to star in their music videos, which is pretty darn sweet.
File under: Infectious alt-pop that will instantly put a smile on your face
From: Sweden, the land of the beautiful people
For fans of: Sia, Robyn, naughty school girls, Stereolab, My Dear Disco, Choose Your Own Adventure books
Bonus: These girls give me butterflies in my tummy they are so adorable. A huge thank you to AfterEllen.com reader Mochahappy for turning me on to them.
File under: Former Babes in Toyland frontwoman forms new band with same growl and a little more testosterone
From: Minnesota, Midwest represent!
For fans of: Babes in Toyland, L7, Limp Biscuit, Kitty, shredding guitars, whipping your head around, finding bruises the next day after concerts and considering them battle scars
Bonus: Well, there isn’t much of a bonus because there’s little to be known about what they’re up to these days, but for me it’s a bonus because I just found their old music and it’s hitting me where it counts.
File under: Pacific Northwest shiny happy people with some Detroit garage rock and ’60s girl group influences
From: Portland
For fans of: Detroit Cobras, Sleater-Kinney, cheering, kickball, bonfires, Stitch ‘n Bitch, hand clapping
Bonus: All of the girls are super crafty and you can check out their current projects at their individual websites. Also, you may recognize Kathy Foster as the bassist for The Thermals, whose latest music video features Sleater-Kinney’s Carrie Brownstein.
File under: A mishmash of electropop, baile funk, rock and dub sounds to get you pumped and ready to take it to the floor
From: Brazil
For fans of: M.I.A., Santigold, CSS, Major Lazer, dancing, jammin’ out with your clam out, after-parties
Bonus: They’re working on putting out a new album sometime in the near future. Also, I just got busted for dancing to them in my chair at work.
File under: Electropop con ganas, tropical, fun times, punky hip-hop
From: Colombia
For fans of: Ana Tijoux, Psalm One, Mexican Institute of Sound, tapas (only because you get to try a bunch of different sounds all from one band)
Bonus: They were voted MTV Iggy’s “Best New Band in The World.” I’m not sure I would agree, but I certainly would give them high fives and bear hugs.
That’s all for this week. I hope you’ve been able to find at least a few new ones that you enjoy. As always, please feel free to send me your recommendations. I’ll try to get to everyone’s at some point or another – and I have to say, some of you have really come through with some fantastic bands I had never heard of. Until then, xoxo.