Female-led rock is back!

Soleil Caouette

Music Journalist

From Punk to Indie… these women are killing it in the music game right now. Here are some of the many female-fronted bands I enjoy listening to. Plus, since March is International Women’s Month here are four amazing options to add to your rotation.

Wolf Alice 

Wolf Alice is a London-based indie rock band, formed in 2010 with lead singer Ellie Rowsell and Joff Oddie, accompanying them in 2012 is their bassist Theo Ellis and drummer Joel Amey. I have been the biggest fan of their music since 2017 when their second album, Visions of Life, came out on all streaming platforms. This album specifically tells whimsical and dark stories of life and death in the literal and metaphorical sense. Ellie uses a lot of imagery and metaphors throughout her writing, and I love those kinds of songs where you get surprised by the wordplay. I would honestly go as far as to say that they have solidified their place as one of the most genre-defying bands in the music scene in the UK right now, so hopefully soon they will be more popular in the US. Wolf Alice makes music for the self-doubting and confused adults of the world.

Pretty Sick 

With about 300,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Pretty Sick is slowly gaining traction in the alternative rock world. Formed by the incredibly talented Sabrina Fuentes in 2014, this band has become increasingly popular with each album release. Fuentes makes anything from garage rock to more refined indie rock sounds. The song “Warm Hands” has a raw and gritty feel, and Pretty Sick has addicting instrumentals that will have you listening on repeat. Since Sabrina was only 13 when she founded this band, to see how her style progresses over time is interesting, as she comes into herself more. With the tracks “Sober” and “Telephone” she has a more melancholic tone to her songs than usual, and I think she is becoming more vulnerable with her lyricism. If you are into angsty and rough-sounding music, Pretty Sick is then worth a listen and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Mannequin Pussy

Now this Philadelphia-based rock band has struck my heart cords, and I will never stop talking about them. Mannequin Pussy’s music emulates aggression, romance and deep hatred for the state of the world and what we make of it [the world]. Marisa Dabice is the lead guitarist and vocalist who writes songs of sorrow and desire to connect with their audience in a way I haven’t seen other bands do. With elements of screamo and beautiful melodies, Mannequin Pussy manages to combine so many different styles within their music to create four cohesive albums. Their newest album released on March 1, titled “I Got Heaven,” stomps on social norms in a vulnerable and angry way sharing a new more adventurous side to the band.

Wet Leg

Off the southern coast of England, Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers decided to create the rapidly growing band Wet Leg back in 2019. These two women have gained so much traction in the indie rock scene, or just the music scene in general, for their record Wet Leg, released in 2022. They both have this silly sarcastic humor that shines through in their songwriting abilities. Since the band is so new putting out one album which is an insane hit is extremely impressive and rare. I hope to follow them on Wet Leg’s music journey as time progresses, and I recommend you tag along as well!