My friend Jane runs a female-focused communications consultancy, ironically titled Pretty Little Head. Give them a call should you have any issues addressing a female audience in your business. She’s been my guide in this arena for many years now and kindly points out whenever I’m mandermining or manterrupting. I spend many paragraphs on these blogs mansplaining, I have no doubt.
Whether it’s a good idea to have a silo-ed “Women To Watch” episode I’m not absolutely sure. There are probably arguments against, but I’ll take that chance. I can remember when “Best Female Artist” was won with tedious regularity by Kate Bush or Annie Lennox in the NME, for what seemed about ten years. Now, look! There’s an endlessly coruscating calvacade, a veritable smorgasbord of female-led artists and bands to choose from. That’s something to be celebrated, isn’t it?
There are plenty of fantastic female artists music outside what I typically cover - obviously. Sombrero Fallout is nowhere near as broad as a Pitchfork, for example. But although we’ve played tracks by Lana del Rey and Billie Eilish in the past, there are plenty of mainstream places you can listen to artists like that. Likewise specialised and expert outlets know what they’re about when it comes to soul, r’n’b, hip hop, trap, rap, etc (though on this episode you’ll find a Celeste track, for example) and we wouldn’t pretend to compete in those spheres.
What we can help with is an angular, offbeat, heartfelt, humorous look at the world through music. Often - but by no means always - that shelters under the broad post-punk umbrella. Really it’s down to me, and if it feels right, I play it. Happily there are stacks of great female tunes out there right now and here’s a selection.
Tracklist:
Hunger for a way out, Sweeping Promises
Happiness isn’t a fixed state, Kynsy
Linda, The Buoys
Frame of reference, Drug Store Romeos
Blue, Newdad
Acid, Jockstrap
Strange, Celeste
Closer, Las Kellies
Mine, Gustaf
Something I do, Sweet Whirl
Desperate, Anna McClellan
Right round the clock, Sorry
My own person, Smoothboi Ezra
Truth nugget, Helena Deland
Mon ami Martien, Fleur