The Best Indie Rock Female Musicians You Need to Know
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Looking for some new music to add to your collection? Check out our list of the best indie rock female musicians you need to know!
Best Indie Rock Female Musicians
The music industry is extremely male-dominated, but there are plenty of talented female musicians making great indie rock music. If you’re looking for some new music to check out, here are some of the best indie rock female musicians you need to know.
Courtney Barnett
From her unique songwriting to her grungy guitar riffs, Courtney Barnett is one of the most exciting indie rock musicians around today. Hailing from Australia, Barnett made a huge splash with her debut album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. She followed that up with her sophomore album, Tell Me How You Really Feel, in 2018. Barnett’s music is witty and introspective, and she’s quickly become one of the most respected songwriters in the indie rock world.
Soccer Mommy
Soccer Mommy, born Sophie Allison, is a 20-year-old musician from Nashville, Tennessee. Allison began writing and recording her own songs at the age of 15, and released her first collection of bedroom recordings, songs from my bedroom, in 2016. Soccer Mommy’s first official release came in the form of the single ” Noah’s Ark” in 2017.
Soccer Mommy’s music has been described as “stripped-down indie rock with a distinctly feminine perspective”, with her lyrics focusing on personal themes such as love, breakups, anxiety, and female adolescence. Allison has cited indie rock musicians such as Liz Phair, Conor Oberst, and Jeff Tweedy as influences on her songwriting.
Japanese Breakfast
Japanese Breakfast is the solo musical project of American musician Michelle Zauner. Her music is often described as “indie rock” or “dream pop.”
Zauner began her musical career as a member of the indie rock band Little Big League. In 2013, she started Japanese Breakfast as a side project while she was still a member of Little Big League. Japanese Breakfast’s first release was a self-titled EP, which was followed by her debut album, Psychopomp, in 2016.
Psychopomp received critical acclaim from music critics, and Japanese Breakfast has since become one of the most acclaimed indie rock female musicians. In 2018, she released her second album, Soft Sounds from Another Planet, to even more acclaim.
Soft Sounds from Another Planet was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 2018 Grammy Awards, making Zauner the first Asian American woman to be nominated for that award.
Lucy Dacus
Lucy Dacus is an indie rock singer-songwriter from Richmond, Virginia. Dacus rose to prominence in 2016 with her debut album, No Burden. She has been praised for her poetic lyrics andraw, emotive vocal performances. Her sophomore album, Historian, was released to critical acclaim in 2018. Dacus has toured with indie rock luminaries such as The Decemberists and Matt Berninger of The National. She is currentlysigned to Matador Records.
Why You Need to Know Them
There’s something special about female indie rock musicians. They’re unapologetically themselves, they make great music, and they’re often underrated. Here are four of the best indie rock female musicians you need to know.
Their Music is Catchy
Don’t Sleep on These Musicians – The Best Indie Rock Female Musicians You Need to Know
The music industry has long been male-dominated, but in recent years, women have been making a comeback in a big way. If you’re a fan of indie rock music, then you need to check out these female musicians who are leading the charge.
1. Courtney Barnett
Barnett is an Australian singer-songwriter who first gained attention with her EP “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”. She has since released two full-length albums, “Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit” and “Tell Me How You Really Feel”. Her songs are both catchy and relatable, with lyrics that deal with everyday anxieties and observations.
2. Liz Phair
Phair is an American singer-songwriter who made a name for herself in the early ‘90s with her debut album “Exile in Guyville”. She has since released six more albums, the most recent being 2010’s “Funstyle”. Her music is confessional and often frank, dealing with themes of sex, relationships, and femininity.
3. Mitski
Mitski is a Japanese-American musician whose 2016 album “Puberty 2” was named one of Pitchfork’s best albums of the decade. She has released four albums in total, each one exploring different genres ranging from lo-fi to punk to pop. Her music is introspective and personal, delving into themes of mental health, loneliness, and identity.
They’re Paving the Way for Women in Music
Today, women in music are making a bigger impact than ever before. In genres like indie rock, female artists are paving the way for a new generation of female musicians. Here are some of the best indie rock female musicians you need to know.
Courtney Barnett
Barnett is an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist. She rose to prominence with her 2015 debut album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, which was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Her 2016 album, Tell Me How You Really Feel, was also nominated for a Grammy.
Barnett’s music is characterized by her deadpan vocal delivery and lyrical observations of everyday life. Barnett has said that she is influenced byboth punk rock musicians like Sleater-Kinney and folk musicians like Bob Dylan.
Mitski
Mitski is a Japanese-American singer-songwriter and musician. She released her debut album, Bury Me at Makeout Creek, in 2014 to critical acclaim. Her 2016 album, Puberty 2, was also widely praised by critics and named one of the best albums of the year by several publications.
Mitski’s music is often described as introspective and confessional. She has said that she is influenced by both indie rock and punk rock musicians, as well as R&B singers like Lauryn Hill and Frank Ocean.
Waxahatchee
Waxahatchee is a solo project of American musician Katie Crutchfield. Crutchfield began performing under the Waxahatchee name in 2010 and released her debut album, American Weekend, in 2012. Since then, she has released three more albums: Cerulean Salt (2013), Ivy Tripp (2015), and Out in the Storm (2017).
Crutchfield’s music is often compared to that of Liz Phair and Cat Power. Like Barnett and Mitski, her lyrics deal with personal themes such as love, heartbreak, and anxiety.
They’re Changing the Face of Indie Rock
Female musicians are making incredible waves in the indie rock scene and it’s about time you knew their names. These women are not only supremely talented, they’re also rocking the boat and changing the face of indie rock as we know it. So without further ado, here are the best indie rock female musicians you need to know.
1) Courtney Barnett
Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett is a force to be reckoned with. A master of story-telling, her songs are both personal and relatable, often written about the mundane details of life that somehow manage to be profound. Barnett’s voice is unique and commanding, rising above her grungy guitar riffs to create a sound that is wholly her own.
2) HANA
HANA is the solo project of Hana Pestle, who was previously a member of the band The Format. Pestle’s ethereal voice floats atop delicate synth melodies and resounding bass lines, creating a sound that is both dreamy and empowering. With lyrics that grapple with concepts like mental health and heartbreak, HANA’s music is both beautiful and cathartic.
3) Japanese Breakfast
Japanese Breakfast is the solo project of Michelle Zauner, who was previously a member of the band Little Big League. Zauner’s evocative songwriting tackles topics like loss and identity with honesty and sensitivity. Her music is atmospheric and intimate, drawing you into her world with each listen.
4) Mitski
Mitski Miyawaki, known simply as Mitski, is a Japanese-American singer-songwriter whose music spans genres including indie rock, punk rock, and electronica. A multifaceted artist, Mitski writes songs that are at once vulnerable and powerful, often exploring themes of mental health and relationships. Her music is emotional and arresting, staying with you long after the last note has faded away.
