“I love rock n’ roll so put another dime in the jukebox, baby.”
Though the song was originally debuted by a band named Arrows in the 1970s, it didn’t become famous until female rocker Joan Jett covered it with her band Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
Along with Joan Jett, there were several other female musicians who made it big in the rock genre throughout the earlier decades. Pat Benatar, Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks and Patti Smith are just some of the women who have made a name for themselves in rock and roll, yet it still seems like a lot of the ones in this generation are not as recognized.
To change that, here is a list of 8 female rockers you should be listening to:
Alynda Lee Segarra
Lead singer and banjo player for Hurray for the Riff Raff, Segarra grew up in the Bronx but currently lives in New Orleans with her other bandmates. They have been releasing music since 2007, starting with their EP Crossing the Rubicon, and have popped out six albums after that, including their most recent one titled Small Town Heroes that came out last year. Her expressive and distinct voice would make Janis Joplin proud and will continue to make her more prominent in Americana and folk rock. Look out, Mama, she’s coming home.
TORRES
Also known as Mackenzie Scott, this independent musician and singer-songwriter prefers to go by her pseudonym of TORRES. Currently living in Brooklyn, she grew up in Georgia before moving to Nashville, Tennessee for college where she recorded her debut album Torres in 2013 and just released her album titled Sprinter in May. She’s opened for artists such as Sharon Van Etten and Brandi Carlile and will be touring through Europe this fall. While listening to her sing, it’s clear that artists like PJ Harvey are a huge influence on her sound.
Lianne La Havas
This British folk singer first surfaced in 2010 but didn’t release her first album Is Your Love Big Enough? until 2012. She’s already opened for artists such as Bon Iver and has even contributed her voice to tracks for Alt-J and music legend Prince. With her 2015 album Blood and her upcoming tour through the UK and Europe in September, Lianne La Havas will only continue to shine brighter.
Samantha Crain
Originally hailing from Shawnee, Oklahoma, Crain began writing songs at a young age and started touring at the age of 19. Already releasing several EPs and records, she just released her most recent album Under Branch & Thorn & Tree in July. While she’s well known among the Oklahoma indie rock and folk scene, music blogs such as Stereogum are slowly starting to take notice of her.
Asli Omar
Omar’s sultry and unique voice has helped her and the Tontons become prominent in the Texas music scene. Since 2007, she and her band have released two EPs and two studio albums and have played small shows around the country. On their Facebook fan page, they describe themselves as simply sounding like “the Tontons” and don’t want to be compared to any other indie rock band.
Thao Nguyen
The lead singer and guitarist for Thao & the Get Down Stay Down has been compared to Fiona Apple, Sinead O’Connor and Regina Spektor. San Francisco-based Nguyen has also collaborated with acts such as Tune-Yards. While Nguyen and her bandmates haven’t released any new EPs or albums since 2013, they still continue to open for various bands and just recently finished going on tour with The New Pornographers.
Brittany Howard
Howard is the lead singer and guitarist of Alabama Shakes. Her voice, which has oftentimes been described as a female Otis Redding, lends to the Southern rock band’s dynamic sound. Probably the better known of the female rockers, Howard and her bandmates have been nominated for three Grammys and still keep coming out with new music.
Courtney Barnett
This singer-songwriter and guitarist originally from Melbourne, Australia slowly started to get recognized after her song “Avant Gardener” came out on her double EP A Sea of Split Peas last year. As you listen to her songs, you can hear the influence Nirvana has on her through the guitar riffs on each track. With the release of her debut album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, in March receiving widespread critical acclaim and her current tour around the country, Barnett is slowly becoming the rock world’s newest “it” girl.
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