International Women’s Day 2023
Let’s dance!

We love celebrating women in music and this year, for our International Women's Day playlist, we have gone with an alternative theme, with artists you may or may not be aware of, and the incredible impact they have had on music and the world. 

It's true to say right now that if you aren't angry, you aren't paying attention.

With the overturn of Roe V Wade, and the continual oppression of our sisters across the globe, the future of women's rights are at risk, so if you're ready to light the proudly difficult feminist fire in your belly then join us as we journey through music from these incredible humans who are using their art for activism.

Some of our featured artists on this playlist:

Peaches

An iconic feminist musician, producer, director, and performance artist, Peaches has spent more than two decades pushing boundaries and breaking barriers, dramatically altering the landscape of popular culture as she forged a bold, sexually progressive path that’s opened the doors for countless others to follow. Through music, art, film, theater, television, and books, she has upended stereotypes and embraced taboos, challenging social norms and patriarchal power structures while championing LGBTQ+ rights and issues of gender and sexual identity with biting wit and fearless originality.

 

Panic Shack

Romi, Sarah, Emily, and Meg were fed up of music being a ‘members-only club’ at its best and a phallocracy at its worst so, they decided to do something about it.

Cue, Panic Shack. 

Armed with brash, witty lyrics and killer hooks, they crashed through the UK music scene with a tidal wave of ear-crunching noise. Immediately building up a reputation for their raw, unapologetic live shows and off-kilter songs, Panic Shack prove that DIY does it better. 

 

The Gits

While the Gits were a band who made a strong impression with their music during their all too brief run, it was how the group suddenly ended that would come to dominate their story. Playing a unique and passionate fusion of first-era punk, hard rock, and streetwise blues, the Gits had a sound that set them apart from their peers in Seattle in the late '80s and early '90s, when the city was hip deep in the grunge explosion. The Gits also had a fearless and charismatic frontwoman in lead singer Mia Zapata, but just as the group seemed poised to move up to the next level of popular acceptance, the potential of both the Gits and Zapata were snuffed out when she was  murdered in the summer of 1993.

 

The Linda Lindas

The Linda Lindas first played together as members of a pickup new wave cover band of kids assembled by Kristin Kontrol (Dum Dum Girls) for Girlschool LA in 2018 and then formed their own garage punk group just for fun. Sisters Mila de la Garza (drummer, now 11) and Lucia de la Garza (guitar, 14), cousin Eloise Wong (bass, 13), and family friend Bela Salazar (guitar, 17) developed their chops as regulars at all-ages matinees in Chinatown, where they played with original L.A. punks like The Dils, Phranc, and Alley Cats; went on to open for riot grrrl legends Bikini Kill and architect Alice Bag as well as DIY heavyweights Best Coast and Bleached; and were eventually featured in Amy Poehler’s movie Moxie. 

 

When the pandemic put a pause on shows, The Linda Lindas went on to self-release a four-song EP, make their own videos (including a get-out-the-vote effort with friends such as Tony Reflex from Adolescents, Adam Pfahler from Jawbreaker, Tae Won Yu from Kicking Giant, Allison Wolfe, Lois Maffeo, Money Mark, and Mike Watt), and grow a following beyond Los Angeles. But they never expected or could have even dreamed that their performance of “Racist, Sexist Boy” for the Los Angeles Public Library in May 2021 would take them from punk shows to TV shows. 

 

Le Tigre

Le Tigre is an American electronic rock band formed by Kathleen Hanna (of Bikini Kill), Johanna Fateman and Sadie Benning in 1998 in New York City. Benning left in 2000 and was replaced by JD Samson for the rest of the group's existence. They mixed punk's directness and politics with playful samples, eclectic pop, and lo-fi electronics. The group also added multimedia and performance art elements to their live shows, which often featured support from like-minded acts.

 

Young M.A

Young M.A is a hardcore rapper from New York City's Brooklyn borough. Her approach is summed up by "It's a cold world, so f*ck it, I'm a cold girl" -- a line from her introspective track "Though the Day," in which she also raps about the murder of her brother. She gained prominence with the 2016 single "OOOUU," then continued to rise with the 2019 LP Herstory in the Making. Second album Off the Yak appeared in 2021.

 

Miss Bolovia

Singer, songwriter, psychologist, producer and DJ from Argentina l. Fuses styles such as cumbia, hip hop, dance, cumbia villera and reggae. In his work, the lyrics are characterized by protest content.

 

The Gossip

Over the course of nearly two decades, the Gossip evolved from a stripped-down punk trio to a band capable of reworking disco, pop, and R&B in ways that felt fresh and genuine -- and made an icon out of lead singer Beth Ditto in the process.

Originally from Searcy, Arkansas, Ditto, guitarist Nathan Howdeshell (aka Brace Paine), and drummer Kathy Mendonça moved to Olympia, Washington and formed the band in 1999. That year, they released a self-titled 7" on K Records, while their full-length debut, That's Not What I Heard, was distributed by Kill Rock Stars in late 2000. The Gossip were highly visible due to their exposure in magazines like Out and The Advocate, becoming icons in the gay and lesbian indie rock community. After touring with the White Stripes and Sleater-Kinney, they went back to the studio to record a follow-up, 2002's Arkansas Heat EP. They returned the following year with Movement, while Nathan also performed with Die Monitr Batss.

 

Against Me

Against Me! is an American punk rock band formed in 1997 in Gainesville, Florida, by singer and guitarist Laura Jane Grace. Since 2001, the band's lineup has also included guitarist James Bowman. After releasing three studio albums through independent record labels (Reinventing Axl Rose on No Idea records, and As The Eternal Cowboy and Searching for a Former Clarity on Fat Wreck Chords), Against Me! moved to Warner/Sire Records for 2007's New Wave, which reached no. 57 on the Billboard 200. White Crosses followed on Warner/Sire in 2010. In 2011, the band launched their own record label, Total Treble, to independently release future recordings.

In 2012, Grace publicly came out as transgender. After a long period of line-up changes and uncertainty surrounding the band's future, their sixth studio album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, was released independently in January 2014 to critical acclaim. The band's seventh album, Shape Shift with Me, was released in 2016. In addition, the band have four well known EPs: Crime as Forgiven by Against Me!, The Acoustic EP, The Disco Before the Breakdown, and New Wave B-Sides. They have released numerous singles, two live albums, and demo versions of the three of their studio albums.

 

Bikini Kill

Bikini Kill is a feminist punk band that was based in Olympia, WA and Washington, DC, forming in 1990 and breaking up in 1997. Kathleen Hanna sang, Tobi Vail played drums, Billy Karren (a.k.a. Billy Boredom) played guitar and Kathi Wilcox played bass. Sometimes they switched instruments. Bikini Kill is credited with instigating the Riot Grrrl movement in the early 90's via their political lyrics, zines and confrontational live show.

 

Want to hear more tunes from female legends?

Check out our playlist for International Women’s Day 2021.