Female Musicians

[fragility]

I’m trying to gently steer my 5yo daughter to the more rock/prog/metal side of things from pure Disney (admittedly, I love a good bit of Disney too) I’m putting a few music videos and live performances on to try and make it as interesting as possible and I’m really aware of presenting some role models she can identify with. The whole boy/girl thing seems to be a really big deal at this age, so I’m keen to make sure we get some female representation in, but it’s not something I’ve ever thought of consciously that much.

 

So hit me with your favourite bands with female musicians to add to the playlist.

[GBH]

Halestorm?

[PaulThePlug]

not quite metal, but maybe a valid excuse to view some kate bush vids on you tube... 😉

[JapanAxe]

Gail Ann Dorsey was a mainstay of David Bowie’s band from the mid 90s onwards. She is a phenomenal bass player, no slouch as guitarist, superb singer, and cuts a striking figure on stage. On YT look for Reality Tour, Glastonbury 2000, BBC 2002.

EDIT: Some rock there but not prog or metal.

 

Edited July 26, 2020 by JapanAxe

[hooky_lowdown]

Kate Nash, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Anna Calvi, Elastica, Talking Heads, Pixies, PJ Harvey, Sleigh Bells, Blood Red Shoes, The White Stripes, The Subways.

Mainly rock artists and bands, but all have strong female role models, imho.

[fretmeister]

Night wish (vocals)

Alice Cooper (current guitarist Nita Strauss)

Anneka Von Giesenburgen (solo and with Devin Townsend)

Amy LeVere

Joanne Shaw Taylor

Samantha Fish

Horrorpops (vocals and double bass)

Halestorm 

 

[Nail Soup]

What used to be called Indie music has a pretty good proportion of female artists. Try listening to 6 music for a day or two and should hear a lot of female solo, female fronted and all or mostly female bands. Try PINS, Porridge Radio, Hinds for example. Not really rock/prog though.... I’ll see if I can think of something that fits that.

[JapanAxe]

If your daughter enjoys watching Olympic standard gurning there’s always Haim...

[Cuzzie]

Me’shell Ndegecello, 4 non blondes, alanis morisette, L7, St Vincent, Sheryl Crow, Esperanza Spalding, Janelle Monae, Ida Nelson

I know I have crossed a few genres But...

[Guest]

The Warning.

[hooky_lowdown]

1 hour ago, Cuzzie said:

L7

Not sure the OP would want their 5 year old to be introduced to L7, recalling a particular performance on channel 4s 'The Word' many moons ago. 🤣

[Cuzzie]

Just now, hooky_lowdown said:

Not sure the OP would want their 5 year old to be introduced to L7, recalling a particular performance on channel 4s 'The Word' many moons ago. 🤣

That was horrific, and made my eyes bleed, I can still feel the burn - I apologise but take no responsibility 

[Drax]

2 hours ago, fragility said:

I’m trying to gently steer my 5yo daughter to the more rock/prog/metal side of things from pure Disney (admittedly, I love a good bit of Disney too) I’m putting a few music videos and live performances on to try and make it as interesting as possible and I’m really aware of presenting some role models she can identify with. The whole boy/girl thing seems to be a really big deal at this age, so I’m keen to make sure we get some female representation in, but it’s not something I’ve ever thought of consciously that much

She’s 5 ! Let her be a 5yr old. Lots of great current pop music she can identify with - way more than the creaking list of old women above - most are older than her nan! 

Car playlists are good way to mix her music and yours. My 8yr old daughter is a huge fan of Wengie (parents will know) but from long car journeys found some surprising gems she enjoys - Thundercat and the Prodigy. Sgt Pepper and Thriller have also gone down well with all my kids.  

 

[funkypenguin]

Floor Jansen, Anette Olzon, Simone Simons, Orianthi Panagaris, Anika Nilles, Me'shell N'degeocello

[Painy]

How about Babymetal?

 

[fragility]

Thanks everyone!

[uk_lefty]

8 hours ago, fragility said:

I’m trying to gently steer my 5yo daughter to the more rock/prog/metal side of things from pure Disney (admittedly, I love a good bit of Disney too) I’m putting a few music videos and live performances on to try and make it as interesting as possible and I’m really aware of presenting some role models she can identify with. The whole boy/girl thing seems to be a really big deal at this age, so I’m keen to make sure we get some female representation in, but it’s not something I’ve ever thought of consciously that much.

 

So hit me with your favourite bands with female musicians to add to the playlist.

My daughter is a bit younger but she loves the Trolls films. The first one got her in to some classic disco music and the sequel has a bit more rock. OK, it's not all original artists and words are changed but you can easily go "if you like that then you'll like this..." So Gwen Stefani plays the DJ in the first film which got my daughter dancing along to some No Doubt the other week. 

Other than that if she likes guitar music then anything that has Orianthi or Nita Strauss could be good. 

[SICbass]

Or Jennifer Batten?

[Burns-bass]

Taylor Swift is a multi instrumentalist and an incredible pop songwriter.

Go back about 50 years and you’ve got Dolly too. Might not be your thing but these two women have written songs that change lives.

 

[itu]

I would suggest Prince, as he had many women in his bands like Wendy and Lisa, Rhonda Smith, Ida Nielsen and so on.

I don't think we need to divide the scene purely to wo/men, there are many very interesting "collaborations". Oleta Adams has incredible voice that is supported by some musicians. Esperanza Spalding sings and plays bass... how about Spice Girls, and take a look at Alissia Benveniste and her band:

I think that it is reasonable as well as important to show that wo/men are equally good as musicians/leaders/composers/etc. but I also like the idea of equality over separation/segregation. Yes, I do come from a family and country where people are already quite equal. There is still work, yes, but we have had a woman as a president and a prime minister, so some glass ceilings have already been broken.

[KevB]

Loads of prog bands with female vocalists.

[Barking Spiders]

I'd stick with Disney. Kids tastes will change in their own good time or they may not even like music at all. My older two, now in their early 20s, have never shown any great interest in music though my son was into Fiddy Cent when he was younger but I never tried to put him off

[adamg67]

10 hours ago, fragility said:

I’m trying to gently steer my 5yo daughter to the more rock/prog/metal side of things

Why? (and especially why prog? )

[uk_lefty]

18 minutes ago, adamg67 said:

Why? (and especially why prog? )

Why not? My kids used to get Black Sabbath sang to them as lullabies when they were babies. Some of the bass lines hummed gently really worked! 😊

[gjones]

My niece, Stina, started off singing Disney tunes with a hairbrush, this is her now.