Ladies, festival season is upon us. And this means standing in a park or forest in the scorching summer weather to see your favorite artists play to thousands and thousands of people. However, as festival lineups are being announced, it’s clear that there is definitely a bias when it comes to booking the acts. Singer, Lily Allen, tweeted a photo of the lineup poster for Wireless festival in London showing just how few women were booked to play. So with that, let’s go on and celebrate some women in the music industry that inspire me everyday to be proud of who I am despite my gender identity.
1. Beyoncé
Okay I know this is pretty basic, but come on. Everyone loves Beyoncé, and I’m pretty sure everyone has experienced the phenomenon that is #Beychella in some way or another. Beyoncé continues to impress from starting off in the uber-successful girl group, Destiny’s Child, to releasing her visual album, Lemonade, and even coming out with an active-wear line, Ivy Park.
2. SZA
Another AMAZING artist, who really only made it big this past year, is SZA. A native of St. Louis, surprisingly, SZA’s breakout album, Ctrl, made Instagram and Twitter absolutely lose their minds. While the redemption arc of a self-proclaimed “side-hoe” may not be relatable for all listeners, there’s no denying that SZA’s beats are extremely catchy, and will have you groovin’ in your car on the way to that summer job you hate so much.
3. Kali Uchis
Kali Uchis is a singer that I was recently put on to via Tyler the Creator, but OH BOY AM I OBSESSED. She just released her debut album, which features writing/production credits from Gorillaz, Damon Albarn, Romil Hemnani (of Brockhampton), Thundercat, Jorja Smith, Kevin Parker (of Tame Impala), and Tyler the Creator. So, if you’re familiar with any one of the members of this all-star team, you know that the album is a masterpiece.
4. St. Vincent
I’ve been listening to St. Vincent for YEARS, but she just came back with an entirely new era that exudes feminine power and sexuality that I am ALL ABOUT. Annie Clark is one of the most talented musicians I’ve ever seen (her ability to play the guitar is actually out of this world so do yourself a favor and look up a live performance on YouTube). She shows that it’s possible for women to be successful in their career while embracing their sexuality, and I love that she isn’t afraid to go against what’s typically expected of indie-alternative female performers. We love to see it.
5. Dolly Parton
Last, BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST, is my queen, Dolly Parton. I think my love for Dolly started ironically, but now I’m a full fledged yee-haw. Dolly has been spitting lyrics promoting gender equality, re: Just Because I’m a Woman, since the 1960s, and continues to impress with just how multifaceted she is as both a performer and a woman. When she played Glastonbury music festival in 2014 she had one of the biggest crowds the festival has ever seen, and she absolutely SMASHED her performance of Jolence. My love for Dolly will never die, and I plan on having my ashes scattered at Dollywood when I die.