The lack of female presence in the media is very clear. The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found that just like in film and television, the music industry needs more female artists.
It’s also no secret that the indie music genre is dominated by male singers. Just take a look at Spotify’s indie playlists. Despite this, the indie scene is full of talented female artists- you just have to look for them
These five artists are sure to impress, not only for their sounds but also for what they stand for. If you want to spice up your indie playlist, check them out.
Chloe Lilac
Chloe Lilac started producing music from a young age. She joined her first band at only 8 years old. Lilac writes music with powerful messages about female empowerment and mental health. In her free time, she also teaches young girls how to produce music to encourage women to take up more space in the music industry. At 17 years old, she released her latest album “DOUCHEBAG” last year.
Samia
Samia is a 24-year-old self-published artist. Her musical breakthrough was with her song “Someone Tell The Boys,” an anthem about anti-mansplaining. She wrote that song in response to collaborating with a lot of male artists who thought they were better than her because they were men. Her song was added to Spotify’s “Badass Women” playlist shortly after. Since then, she has produced new albums and a long list of singles.
Amaria
Tampa singer-songwriter Amaria is a rising star. She was added to Spotify’s “Fresh Finds: The Wave” playlist and has since released new music. She released six singles last year and started 2021 strong with a single released before the end of January. Her music is easy to vibe to and can fit right into any indie playlist.
Vagabon
The 26-year-old singer-songwriter Vagabon makes music that encompasses all the genres she loves. She takes inspiration from different sounds like pop, punk, trap, and African music. Vagabon talks about empowerment and being unapologetically herself. She told NPR that she is learning to take up space and be proud of her work, regardless of appearing selfish. Her music talks about important issues like generational exhaustion and boundaries but also references pop culture, like Destiny’s Child. Her 2019 album “Vagabon” is sure to impress.
Banat
Mumbai based singer-songwriter Banat decided to pursue music as a full-time career during her last year of law school. She describes her music as a folksy-neo alternative. Banat is all about self-worth and getting out of that comfort zone, and she is often found encouraging others to be unapologetic and to break out of their shells. She released her latest album Flish last year.
If you want to hear more, check out TikToker Carly Bogie’s Spotify playlist “wild & women & whatever”.