Atwood Magazine Celebrates Womxn – Womxn’s History Month 2020

2020 feels like it’s only just started and yet it’s already March, presidential candidates are dropping like flies, and there’s a virus taking over the world that’s named after a brand of beer. Needless to say, it’s been quite the tumultuous start to a new decade. Today, and throughout the month of March, however, we’ll take some time to celebrate Womxn’s History Month, reflect how far womxn have come, and most importantly, realise all we’ve yet to achieve.

At Atwood, we want to take the chance to highlight 50 of our favourite womxn. These are artists who we asked to reflect upon the meaning of womanhood, talk about the womxn in music they admire, and, together, they curated a special playlist for us to celebrate Womxn’s History Month. And without further ado, I’ll let them take the stage.

– Nicole Almeida, Managing Editor

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Aimée, Aisha Badru, Alex Porat, Alex the Astronaut, Ariel View, Aunty Social, Bandits on the Run, Beauty Queen, BIRTHH, Callie Peters (The Ballroom Thieves), CYOTE , Eliza Shaddad, Fassine, FYOHNA, Genevieve Stokes, GRAE, Grenade Jumper, GRLwood, Jack River, Jaguar Jonze, Jenny Banai, JGrrey, Josie Dunne, Josie Man, Kacie Marie, Kyshona, Lady Donli, Lily Kershaw, Lindsay Latimer, Lou Canon, Love You Later, LPX, Maddie Jay, Maddy Myers (Moon Panda), Maeta, Maya B, Megan Parks (The National Parks), Micki Maverick, Natie, Nectar, Odessa, pronoun, Rose Gray, Shenna, Siv Jakobsen, St South, Suzy & The Lifeguard, Tatiana Hazel, The Aces, The Still Tide, THICK, UPSAHL, Zoe Mead (Wyldest)

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Atwood Magazine Celebrates Womxn

:: Aimée ::

To me womanhood represents strength, empowerment, and compassion.

:: Aisha Badru :: 

Womanhood is a journey of embodying the balance between being strong and being soft.  

I really admire Alice Phoebe Lou, singer-songwriter and instrumentalist from Berlin. I love the way she can go from singing about your everyday musings on love and then sing about politics and women’s liberation. This has inspired me in a big way to find my voice not only as a singer, but as an activist as well.

 Alice Phoebe Lou’s song “Orbit” is the one I’d like to add to the International Women’s day playlist . I chose it because I’m really feeling the theme about breaking free from the chains of social constructs and creating our own reality.

:: Alex Porat ::

To me, womanhood is about knowing your value. It’s about carrying your own opinions proudly and being happy with who you are. It’s about embracing who you are on the inside and being the best version of yourself possible. Womanhood is about knowing your worth and knowing no one can take that away from you.

There are many women figures that I admire in the music industry. If I had to pick one right now…I would pick Billie Eilish. I admire her for being herself throughout the years. I feel like no one can sway that girl and it’s something I really like to see. Her music is so fun to listen to and her sense of fashion keeps us all on our toes – I love it.

I have been listening to “Boss Bitch” by Doja Cat every single day because it makes me feel so good! Whether I’m crossing a street, at the gym, or in bed about to fall asleep – this track makes my life better. I think anyone that wants to feel empowered should have this on their playlist.

:: Alex the Astronaut ::

I think it is anything. I don’t think it should be just be one thing or one short list of things. I think it’s an endless expanding group of ideas and it should always be like that. 

I admire my manager Cathy Oates; she’s worked with some of the biggest artists in the world and still values kindness. She’s a role model and a friend to me and she manages to balance her incredible intelligence with humour and compassion and I hope one day I can move through the world with half of the grace and care that Cathy does.

“Better in Blak” by Thelma Plum always brings tears to my eyes and gives me goosebumps. It’s devastating and powerful and everyone should hear it.

:: Ariel View ::

We define womanhood as being strong, independent, and fighting alongside others who might not feel equal in this society. Womanhood means always being true to yourself. It means to be bold and courageous enough to encourage and empower others 

Sza Is a very influential artist to us, she’s very talented in a lot of ways- she’s a great singer, she writes great songs, but she’s also a great songwriter for other artists and we admire the people in the shadows creating excellent content for others.

“Friday Nights” – because we feel it’s easily relatable for anyone. Inclusion and representation is really important to us and we want people to have something to relate to no matter how they identify.

:: Aunty Social ::

Womanhood to me is shedding the historical and cultural traditions of the female role that limit a womans light and power. It is about not just ‘allowing’ woman the freedom of expression, but also encouraging and celebrating it. It is about questioning where our ideals stem from, and how they effect the way we treat ourselves, and others. Allowing fairness to guide our judgement and exercising our self-awareness.

Brittany Howard because when I listen to her music I think of freedom and that’s all I’ve ever wanted to achieve. You can hear the struggle of finding that freedom in her songs, you can hear how bad she wants it and how she finally got it. That’s the feeling she gives me when I listen to her.

“Baby” by Brittany Howard because it is one of my favourite tracks from her new solo album Jaime.

:: Bandits on the Run ::

Sydney Shepherd: To me, my womanhood is a celebration of both the feminine and masculine energies that coexist inside me. When I feel the most womanly is when I feel the most full; the most brave, the most ambitious, the most tender, the most girly, the most humorous, the most sexy, the most inspired, the most vulnerable, the most capable. My woman energy is about circles and cycles, about recycling, renewing, and being in tune with the internal and natural forces that shape my life.

Regina Strayhorn: So much of womanhood is tied to our united fight against the patriarchy. Women are constantly slammed with impossible contradictory standards and traumatic experiences. It bonds us. A lot of womanhood, to me, is about embracing this crazy strength born from the battle against violence. Who knows if it’s an innate feature of being a woman or not, but every single woman I know is a fighter. They’re a hunter searching for respect, individuality, tenderness, and freedom. When I think of womanhood, I think of our power in searching for better. How we’re constantly reinventing womanhood for ourselves, choosing our identity on our terms, our way. And how badass that is. We’re artists, creating a new vision for ourselves and for the world.

Sydney: What instantly comes to mind for me are the enduring talents, the women who are older who are still making music and thriving. Women like Stevie Nicks and Debbie Harry and Dolly Parton who are still vibrant and touring and writing (and gorgeous!). Their work spans decades and has made such an impact and they STILL aren’t done. Their music is woven into the very fabric of their lives, they have committed themselves so wholly to their art. I love and admire that so much.

Regina: Janelle Monáe, Yola, Angel Olsen, Faye Webster, Margaret Glaspy, Beyoncé, Solange, the women of Lucius, Lucy Dacus, Aldous Harding, Haley Heynderickx, Brandi Carlile, I could go on and on. Truthfully I admire so many people. It’s hard to put something out there. If you do that and do it well, I admire you.

Sydney: “Hammond Song” by The Roches. It’s haunting, gorgeous, and I never get tired of listening to it. I learned that the song was written about one of the sisters in the band wanting to go off and follow a boy she was in love with, and the other sisters’ response to that. I love that this song arose from such a specific circumstance but feels so universal and personal all at once. And Bandits of course are very much inspired by those three-part harmonies!

Regina: “I Like That” by Janelle Monáe. It’s one of my favorite songs. It’s a celebration of self-love, and an acknowledgment that being confident in yourself is an act of rebellion. Janelle Monáe’s whole album, Dirty Computer, was a revelation to me. Not a single skip on that album!

:: Beauty Queen ::

Womanhood is having the power, strength and independence to achieve whatever you want. It gives you the intelligence and patience to make well rounded decisions and find peace in little moments. 

I admire Caroline rose because she makes great dance decisions and wears bold and also comfortable outfits onstage.

Sofia Wolfson – “Party Favors”: I admire her focus on her craft and her songwriting is so pure!

:: BIRTHH ::

Let’s start by saying that in my opinion the concept of womanhood itself means feeling free to express our gender identity however we please. There is no right way of being a woman, the sky is the limit when it comes to this. As a cis-woman my womanhood is something I never had to think too much about, it means very little to me in terms of self expression, this is a privilege I have and I don’t take it for granted. At the same time though, negotiating this world as a woman has deeply marked and influenced my life in so many ways. Like every single woman living in a patriarchal society, I experience systematic oppression as a consequence of being female. This is reflected in my career, in my personal life, in the way others perceive me and also in the way I perceive myself. I don’t wanna put womanhood in a box, and that’s why I don’t like this question too much, however I wanna use this space to remind everybody that when it comes to womxn’s rights there’s still so much work to do and it’s crucial that we navigate it from an interceptional standpoint. If you’re reading this please make sure that the voices of the women in your life are heard, especially women who also belong to other minorities, give more space to trans women, to disabled women, to women of colour, we really need to do better and I have lots of hope for the future.

I am constantly surrounded by women I admire, it’d be really hard for me to pick one, all the women in my team are incredible, all the women who are killing it as mixing engineers, as PRs, as producers, I have so much respect for each and everyone of them, of us. I am so proud. 

“Faceshopping” by SOPHIE. Because this song slaps and SOPHIE is a genius.

 :: Callie Peters (The Ballroom Thieves) ::

Womanhood means always having to watch your own back and be your own advocate. It’s being born with the strength and ability to handle everything, along with the doubt and skepticism of the whole social hierarchy. It means constantly having to prove and push harder, which is just a bonus set of abilities in the end. Womanhood is pure uncharted and unrecognized strength. 

It’s downright impossible to pick one person, but maybe these women can all make a band together to become one collective answer. Firstly, there’s Abbie Duquette. She’s our tour manager, and the best thing to happen to us in a long time. She’s completely in charge, and makes nothing but stellar choices for our touring party and herself. Her quiet confidence disarms any second guessers without aggressive confrontation. She’s secretly a step ahead, all the time. She’s light, firm, trustworthy, patient, hilarious, and whip smart. She’s a wonder, and I admire her very much. 

And the moms! How do they do it? 

Kanene Pipkin from The Lone Bellow, Emily Frantz from Mandolin Orange, Cary Ann Hearst from Shovels and Rope, Anaïs Mitchell, Suz Slezak from David Wax Museum, among so many others. If they did all start a band I’d have to suggest the obvious: Abbie and the Moms. 

“Four Women” by Nina Simone 

This song is already gorgeous sonically, but it’s also highly important to the story of women in America. It details four of the archetypes of black women before 1970, when women were barely able to sing and speak freely, never mind about gender and race together. 

:: Cyote ::

Women are magical, and being a woman comes with holding a special kind of responsibility. 

“Womanhood” to me, means honoring the source of that which not only gives life – but that which nurtures life as well. Nursing potential… & fiercely protecting the integrity of those/that she loves and holds dear.

Mona Deghan of Mute Records and also Mon Amie Records inspires me every single day. 

By “day”, she works as the Senior Director of Marketing for Mute Records.. 

By night: she (solely) runs her own label out of her apartment, DJ’s parties all over Brooklyn // Lower Manhattan & works as a wedding DJ outside of that to pay for her father’s medical expenses – as he is currently suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.

She’s an amazing wife to her husband, colleague to anyone who’s ever worked with her, and friend to anyone who’s had the pleasure of meeting her.

I’ve been working in music for about a decade now, and Mona is truly one of the hardest working women in music that I know. She’s also one hell of a kickboxer, and I’m pretty sure like Chuck Norris… she never sleeps. 

Am I allowed to choose my own?? If so: “red” by Cyote! 

If not.. definitely: “Drip” by Lizzy Jeff

:: Eliza Shaddad ::

Womanhood to me means becoming an adult, I feel grown up and strong if I think of myself as a woman. 

Imogen Heap – a complete trailblazer, forging an amazing path forward in music with tech and ‘Mycelia’.

Nina Simone – “Ain’t Got No”.  It’s a perfect song about freedom by an incredible woman!

:: Fassine ::

One fraction of womanhood for me personally is accepting that whilst compassion is innate in all of us, and it is not specifically a stronger feminine attribute, it is certainly an emotion that women veer towards naturally, and that this is something to be proud of, in all areas, especially in the workplace.

I admire Kate Tempest for her talent, tenacity, perseverance, work ethic and most importantly her honesty, not matter how uncomfortable to hear. In a world that is now so easily offended, it’s hard to say what you truly feel, without a storm coming your way. The difference here is, not only is she saying what she thinks and living true to who she is, she is also someone who takes the time to educate herself before she speaks. 

I have chosen a song by friend and fellow artist Kerry Devine, a song called “Work You” from her debut album Away From Mountains. I chose this because I know the woman behind the music. I love the unearthly feeling in the song and her artistry, the unnerving world she has created, but for me, knowing everything she is as a woman, everything she has mastered and become, is just as important as my admiration for her work. Knowing an artists’ journey and their story, is as inspiring as the music itself.

:: Katarina Gleicher (FYOHNA) ::

Being a woman is my favorite thing about myself. I love it. I don’t know that “woman” necessarily means anything specific to me, I think the boundaries of what defines a “woman” are expanding as we’re asked to look at gender as a whole and question the rigid lines we’ve put in place for so long. To me, there is an undeniable resilience and beauty that resides in the feeling of womanhood. But I think that’s what being a woman really is. It’s a feeling. It’s a feeling that has always been in flux and has always pushed against constraints that try to possess it. 

A woman I deeply admire is Amber Bain AKA The Japanese House. I think she captures this feeling so well, even if that’s not the intention of the song.

“Chewing Cotton Wool” – The Japanese House

:: Genevieve Stokes ::

Womanhood has meant many different things to me over the course of my life. As a young teen, I felt uncomfortable with the societal standards set for women. I felt disconnected from my body and afraid of seeming too feminine, or not feminine enough. However, as I’ve grown more comfortable in my body, I’ve come to realize that womanhood is more than other people’s expectations for and perceptions of me. It’s whatever I want it to be. I’m still figuring it out, though.

Rico Nasty is one of my favorite artists and most important female role models. She’s a punk rap artist that wears gender-bending outfits and doesn’t give into industry sexism. She was a teen mom and has endured her fair share of hardships, but she’s still super badass. I love that her music empowers other women to express their emotions and find strength in their individuality. 

I chose my song “Surface Tension” because it’s about growing into myself. I was 16 when I wrote it, and was struggling to feel confident. I relied on other people’s opinions of me  and didn’t have a strong sense of self. The song is about growing up and finding my worth. 

:: GRAE ::

I think embracing yourself for who you are, choosing how you define yourself, taking control of what you do and standing for what you believe in, are all factors that make up womanhood. It’s not just about different sexes and anatomy, it’s something that comes from within.

I’d have to say my manager, Laurie. And on the topic of ‘womanhood’ – Laurie is someone who really, really helped me get to a place where I felt confident with myself. She taught me how to take control of my life and career. She’s an amazing role model to have and I feel so grateful to be on this entire journey with her. 

Oh most definitely the Eurythmics ft. Aretha Franklin “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves.” I’m a huge ’80s music fan, like very very much so. This song always puts me in a good mood… Reminds me of who I am and all the goals I have set for myself. We should all be feeling that ‘independent woman’ vibe – it’s a powerful one 😉

:: Grenade Jumper ::

I’m still figuring it out. I felt alienated from “womanhood” until I was around 18/19, but I think now it means embracing your vulnerabilities and emotions to make you strong, connecting with other women on a deeper level and harnessing femininity as a means to explore who you are. 

There are so many I admire – Laura Jane Grace is the most truly bleeding-heart punk figure on the planet and I have endless love for her. Maz DeVita from WAAX, SZA, Kim Gordon, H.E.R and Carrie Brownstein are all women who I am inspired by currently too. 

“Everything Has Changed” – Best Coast. 

Best Coast are one of the greatest indie bands of the 2010’s and Bethany Cosentino flexes her songwriting abilities so well here, she is such an incredible creative figure too working across TV now! 

“Gazed” – Grenade Jumper 

We wrote this song what feels like a long time ago now, but we still have so much cathartic fun playing it live! 

:: GRLwood ::

When we became first pubescent, and began bleeding, it was then that we were told we are being set apart and under everyone else in school. That was the day I died. To no longer be at equal level with your peers on the playground and being told that you are a woman, and are no longer just a kid like everyone else was a fucking funeral. 

However now we have slightly different feelings. We both identify as non-binary but are aware that we exist and play roles in society that are perceived female. and If that’s empowering to someone, we would never want to change that because our experience is female though that may not be how we identify. 

Fucking Laura Jane grace, of course is one of them. I remember the first time I ever saw her on stage when I was 15. Seeing her, I felt a deep down rumble in the bottom of my heart that told me that she was very very special and somehow like me, and that I have to do my life path as hard as I can for people like us, tho I didn’t know what that meant at the time. 

“Deviant” by gender confetti

This song is powerful and is a statement that there are many of us and we know what its like, but we are together through it all, and that we embrace ourselves no matter how hard society wants us to remain small and separated.

:: Jack River ::

It means being whoever you want to be, and feeling no boundaries due to your gender.  I know there are changes from girl to woman as there are from boy to man, but I see us all as people on individual journeys – so womanhood is whatever it means to each individual.

Taylor Swift, for making historical advances in rights and royalties for artists, for talking business publicly, for using her voice, for ever being herself. 

Angel Olsen – “White Fire” – this song always brings me back to myself, it speaks of being inside the womb, of laughing of crying, of walking away from yourself and coming back, of burning your fire for no witness.

:: Jaguar Jonze ::

I think womanhood is embracing your definition of femininity and sexuality and backing yourself with confidence, class, strength and assertiveness.

I’m actually going to go with Van Picken. She runs Comes with Fries who runs my team in Australia. For anyone who knows her, there’s always the same sentence that gets circled around about her – “She’s a gun.” She never stops, works so hard, and is across so many different pies and smashes it all out of the park. I admire her gung ho, ambition and courage, and if I can apply a slice of that into my everyday, then I’d be proud. 

“Made of Glass” by KT Tunstall. This song is off a record that my dad introduced me to when it first came out. It’s now a song I listen to before every single show for a few reasons. 

1. It helps me soothe the performance anxiety to a manageable level
2. It’s the perfect melodic range for my vocals to warm up, so I always sing along to get those vocal folds ready haha
3. The message in the song always reminds me that vulnerability is okay, and why I do what I do in my art and music

:: Jenny Banai ::

When I turned 13 years old, my parents planned an extra-special celebration for me, inviting family, friends and loved ones, and specifically the matriarchs in our family. It was a celebration, inviting me into womanhood, essentially. I remember them setting up a sudo-threshold marked by balloon bouquets, through which I crossed, from my parents to the older women on the other side- a physical representation of girlhood to womanhood, I guess. I don’t think I understand the full effect this gesture has had on me. But, it’s the first thing that popped into my head when asked about womanhood. When I hear that word, I have a sense of pride about it. I’m proud to be a woman. I think of strength. I think of endurance. I think of high pain tolerance. I think of nurturing. I think of wisdom. I think of healing. Being a woman isn’t something to defend or state or insist upon; it is my existence as a human… who will never stop growing… “for I have put my childish ways behind me” (1 Cor. 13:11) 

I need to work on thinking about this- women I admire (or anyone for that matter). I’m racking my brain and am a little disappointed in myself that names don’t immediately pop into my head, because I know there are many women to be admired. MANY! I’ll give an honest answer and say that as a musician I actually struggle finding time to listen to or pay attention to what’s going on around my own creative head. I’ve always sort of been a girl with her head in the clouds- a dreamer. I carry the burden to care for others around me; to lead others around me. But who do I admire and who am I led by? I want to say, Joni Mitchell. I was late to the game when I first heard her music. I started hearing her name when people told me I reminded them of her. I listened and realized, ‘nope. I don’t think I sound like her at all!’ hahah. But! I do admire her songwriting choices and her honest and humble character. She takes risks and writes music that doesn’t always make “sense” and I like that, maybe because I relate to that in my creative process. But, who am I admiring here then? This is a good self-reflective question. 

“Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell (Original Studio Version, 1969). I choose this song because it sounds like being a human, a human who realizes, “I really don’t know as much as I thought, but I’ll continue loving and I’ll continue experiencing”. To be a woman is to be a human; a human of a special kind (Also, I relate to this song. So here I am talking about me again. Good self-reflection).

:: JGrrey ::

Womanhood means never having to answer to anyone, no one can tell me shit. 

I’m a grown ass woman. 

Esther Phillips, she didn’t get enough recognition.  

Esther Phillips – “Home Is Where The Hatred Is” – so powerful!!!!!!

:: Josie Dunne ::

To me, the truest form of womanhood is just showing up and being yourself. I guess that’s also the meaning of being a person in general – man or woman. But as women, we’ve been told what we can or can’t be in history so I feel incredibly lucky that I’m coming up in a time when that expectation is breaking down. Now more than ever, women are encouraged to dress how they want, say what they want, and do what they want. I always joke that I dress like I just got off the set of the movie “The Sandlot”- my daily uniform is usually a Cubs hat, some kind of vintage sports t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. I don’t think that would have been encouraged for a female in previous decades, but to me, being confident in how you express yourself is the most important thing to do as a woman, especially now. 

I’m really lucky that I have a badass woman I look up to as my manager. Alicia Pruitt has been in the music industry for a long time and has always stayed true to herself and trusted her gut with total confidence. This whole week I’ve been a part of a massive songwriting camp that her and Katie Vinten (another super badass chick in the music industry I admire) put together with the most amazing writers in the world. I feel lucky to have a front row seat watching her conquer whatever she sets her mind to while also keeping a smile on her face. Alicia is a good human and a hardworking, rockstar of a manager!

I think you should put the song “Happy” by Julia Michaels on your Woman’s Day playlist. I got to open for Julia on tour last year and it was soooo inspiring watching her do her thing every night. The lyrics always really spoke to me. Plus, Julia being the kickass writer and artist she is, I know 100000% she deserves a spot on the playlist!

:: Josie Man ::

Being yourself. Womanhood means something different to everyone but to me it means feeling empowered in my own skin, and feeling comfortable and happy with who I am.

My marketing manager Nemat Abdela because she’s a powerful woman who gets things done and I appreciate her hard work so much.

“Hollaback Girl” by Gwen Stefani. It’s about being strong, independent and not taking nonsense from anyone !! Especially not men who shout at you in the street !

:: Kacie Marie ::

I know that womanhood means something very different for each individual identifying woman.  Personally, I feel that womanhood is understanding and embracing the power and magic within that develops through empathy, and intuition, then honing these attributes to become an advantage that can be used for strength and/or protection.  One of the pleasures in this journey is the lifelong crafting of these skills, for good…or for whatever one chooses to do with their special powers. 

 I admire FKA Twigs for her artistry, uniqueness, and her involvement and control in all of her projects. She has stepped outside of the usual pop formulas, to create art that connects emotionally. I appreciate her art, and I too will always strive and aspire to connect.

 The song I would pick is “Far East Ride,” by the band The Far East. When I first moved to New York City I found an unusual living situation, staying in a loft that was doubling as a rehearsal space for the band The Far East. I’m thankful to have had this introduction to their music.  I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the Far East practice and play with absolute focus and passion for years. I particularly enjoy seeing Maddie Ruthless lead a band with precision and grace. The product of all of this, is some really fucking good music! Check it out, I know you’ll love it too.

:: Kyshona ::

Womanhood, to me, means strength, vulnerability, and wisdom. There are so many sides to women. So many phases of life we get to lead as we progress in age. And with each phase we enter, we bring forth more wisdom. 

I truly admire Mavis Staples. From the beginning she has used her musical platform to spread the gospel of love and inclusion. To this day, her mission has not changed. To have a career as long as hers and to STILL have something to say AND the people still want to listen… that’s admirable in my eyes. 

“Listen” by Kyshona. I feel this message is one that reflects all who identify as women. We’ve been marching, campaigning, meeting and rallying to be heard. Even under the large umbrella of womanhood, there are so many that stand at multiple intersections to be heard (even amongst their peers).

:: Lady Donli ::

For me I’d say womanhood is a feeling. It’s one of those inward blessings, that you’re gifted as you grow. It’s so complicated and I can’t really explain it beyond that. 

I really admire Rihanna, she’s an entrepreneur and she’s an artiste. Just seeing her rise especially as a business woman has further established to me that I can be multi dimensional in whatever I do. 

I’d pick FLAVA by Lady Donli Featuring Amaarae And SOMADINA ! It’s an ultimate girl power anthem and it is women’s day after all.

:: Lily Kershaw ::

Womanhood to me means loving and taking care of yourself. Showing up for yourself and becoming the person you are meant to be by being the person you need to see exist in the world.

Patti Smith because she always arrived at her artistry with integrity by showing up as her authentic self.

“Cactus Tree” by Joni Mitchell because it was the first time I had heard a woman being unapologetically free in a song. She didn’t have a label and she didn’t exist within the narrow confines of what was socially acceptable for a woman. She wasn’t a wife, or a mother, or a daughter, she wasn’t even really a lover although the song describes her many lovers. She was a woman who was present. She was with you when she was with you. She existed in the now and nowhere else. She was here when it was the season. She went when and where she wanted to go.

:: Lindsay Latimer ::

I like to think womanhood is about inspiring other women to make a positive impact on their audience, either large or small. It must include taking confidence in yourself, in your own distinctiveness, and encouraging others to take the same. There’s enough dark in the world. To me, womanhood means to shed and share light through the woman you are.

I think it’s important to find people in your field who you can gain knowledge and inspiration from as you’re continuously learning and growing. With only 2% of music producers being female, I’ve looked up to Katie Herzig for awhile. While she produces herself, you’ve probably heard her expertise on a lot of Ingrid Michaelson’s music. I love her ability to serve complex sounds in a bite size manner.

“Bloodstream” by Lindsay Latimer. Addressing something so personal and heavy as addiction can easily be put off. In my choice of writing a song about my personal fight with social media addiction, my hope was for it to be something a lot of women can relate to. It’s the naked truth about how we can succumb to allowing other voices to dictate what things are to look like, such as beauty. Social media is a good thing, but it can be so toxic if we let it get out of control, which is what happened for me. I like to think that songs like this one have a chance of turning the light on for someone like myself in our constantly-comparing world of screens.

:: Lou Canon ::

The meaning of womanhood is ever shifting. In my youth it was centered around the transformation of my body. And now, it’s my state of mind —my moral compass. It’s my strength, my resilience, my compassion, my endurance.

Leah Fay Goldstein, a member (and dear friend) of the band July Talk. She’s badass in all the right ways. She says what’s on her mind, and advocates for positive change in the music industry (and beyond!) with a big, loud, graceful voice. Leah is doing it her own way with a giant heart.

I pick “Woman’s Work” by U.S. Girls for that opening line, “That woman’s work is never done.” 

:: Love You Later ::

To me, womanhood means emotional, physical, and mental strength, elegance, passion, feeling deeply, and unshakable beauty.

It’s hard to name just one, but right now King Princess is at the top of my list for women I admire in the music industry. She’s such a badass. She is so bold in her outward and inward appearance, her stances, opinions, and her music. She’s not afraid to freely express herself and I’m constantly blown away and inspired. 

Lennon Stella and JP Saxe – “Golf On TV”

I chose this song because not only is it such a catchy song with the heavenly vocals of Lennon and JP or because the melodies and lyrics are perfection – but because it illustrates a lot of confidence and self growth. We’re finally starting to get it – we need each other and need to know that we deserve a love that treats us like royalty, because that’s what we are. We deserve to be put first.

:: LPX ::

Mitski. She’s a lesson in staying the course and persererving, keeping your head down and doing the work all while creating music that is singular to her. She represents great artistry, hard work and consistency. Her success story is one I always remind myself for inspiration. 

Your Smith – “Wild Wild Woman”

She is a force of undeniable talent, from the music to the stage. She makes music that is wholly universal but powerfully subversive in an unassuming way. 

:: Maddie Jay ::

Womanhood for me means overcoming challenges and barriers, as well as finding ways to bask in community. It means being a role model and advocate, and it means forging new paths every day. 

Susan Rogers is one of the coolest women I’ve ever encountered. She teaches at Berklee in the engineering department, and was Prince’s engineer at the peak of his career. 

“Jeannie Becomes a Mom” by Caroline Rose. I immediately fell in love with this track when I heard it. Caroline is such a force as an artist and I love that she has a huge hand in producing her own music. The lyrics of the song really encompass a lot of anxieties that female artists have about our career timelines and how our lives are going to look a lot different than the traditional white picket fence idea of womanhood.

:: Maddy Myers (Moon Panda) ::

To me, womanhood is feeling completely and authentically myself. Feeling free with both my mind and body and not fearing vulnerability. It’s a tough thing to put into words…I think it comes down to feeling confident and true in yourself and your decisions. Easier said than done! There are so many amazing women out there to take inspiration from. 

There are so, so many that I admire like Angel Olsen, St. Vincent, Joan Didion, Patti Smith, CLAY… but someone who inspires me on a daily basis to be more authentically myself an feel at home in my womanhood is the artist Alice Phoebe Lou. Her music has such strong themes of strength, independence, and this beautiful vulnerability that weaves between it.

“Skin Crawl” by Alice Phoebe Lou. The first time I heard this I just felt such a fire light inside of me as I sang along with her, “and set fire to it!” 

I love how she points out all of these negatives that women have to deal with on a daily basis and then turns it into this empowering chant that we can all sing along with.

:: Maeta ::

To me, womanhood is about embracing who you are and what you love, and being unapologetically yourself. We’re always being told how to be, so it’s important to do what the hell you want, despite everybody else’s opinion.  

Sza, she’s so clever, bold, and real with her lyrics and I’m obsessed with her!!  

I would pick my song “Babygirl,” it’s all about self love, and taking time for yourself as every woman should and deserves to!! 

:: Maya B ::

Womanhood is a gift. Not only a gift to me but all of humanity. To me: Womanhood is a crazy whirlwind of existence that simply makes the world go round.

There are tons of women in this industry that are killing it, but one has always stuck out to me personally. The badass herself and my agent at WME, Sara Newkirk. I respect her for a plethora of things but mostly for her honesty and passion.

The song I’m picking to go on your IWD Playlist is my song “Selenas”. This song was written at a time that I felt disrespected as a woman and I wanted to make something that made me feel powerful. It was written and produced by me and in creating it I realized I actually am powerful. I hope it empowers you too.

:: Megan Parks (The National Parks) ::

Thinking of what womanhood means to me has actually been super difficult because I think womanhood is continually changing. It’s growing and pushing boundaries. It’s being powerful and empowering those around us. I love knowing that womanhood can mean so many different things.

A woman in the industry that I look up to is Kacey Musgraves. She’s such a talented songwriter and creates beautiful music.

The song I want on the International Women’s Day playlist is Kacey Musgraves’ “Slow Burn.” I was kinda in a rut for a while with finding new music that I liked or even cared listening to. Everything was sounding the same to me. I hadn’t ever listened to Kacey Musgraves before but started listening to her album when it was released and immediately fell in love with it. All the songs were connecting with me in a way that music hadn’t been for a while and I listened to it on repeat. Then she won album of the year and that made me super happy.

:: Micki Maverick ::

As a woman and a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community I feel particularly connected to my womanhood. In a society where women in my community are constantly boxed in and scrutinized, I feel my connection with womanhood has blossomed and transformed over the years. I used to cater to the ideals of what I was taught a woman “should be”, but through years of growth I’ve found that womanhood is not defined by femininity, rather the strength that dwells deep inside every person who identifies as a woman. 

Damn this one is difficult! I’m surrounded by powerful women in this industry, but I’d say for me a long time inspiration has been Kehlani. Especially seeing her through her pregnancy and now as a mother, watching her career and life continue to blossom is an inspiration to me and women everywhere. 

“Mojave”. The song I chose was written for my partner of 5 years. She has a tenacious spirit, and as a woman working in the entertainment industry she fights through stereotypes on the daily. This song was inspired by all of the amazing qualities that make her the powerful woman she is today, but also serves as an anthem for women everywhere who have it all on lock. This song is for everyone to rock to and tap into their strengths.

:: Natie ::

 I think it’s linked to confidence. Often, growing up as little girls and teenagers, we carry a lot of insecurities. Whether it’s our body shape, hair, way of speaking, there’s all these things about us that we try to hide or modify in some way. Becoming a woman is about embracing all these singularities, owning them and LOVING them. There’s a special glow from a confident woman, one that knows she’s the creator of Life, and source of creativity and abondance.

Alicia Keys. Been a fan since I was a kid, and I still dream of playing with her some day. I look up and relate to her in so many ways (she’s classically trained, an instrumentalist first, mixed race), she always aiming for authenticity and and she’s navigated this industry along the years by staying true to her values.   

Tough one! Really tempted to choose the single I just released “HKHT” because creating this track certainly was about embracing my womanhood more fully and I’m super excited to share it.

But if I had to pick one by one of my favorite artists it would be “Golden” by Jill Scott. This song feels like an anthem, carrying me through the hustle of these NYC streets.

:: Nectar ::

Everyone experiences their gender differently,  and to me, I think of womanhood as a guiding connective thread that has brought me to some of the most meaningful relationships that shaped who I am today. Womanhood puts me in relation to my mother, sister, friends, coworkers, the girls I looked up to growing up — I see myself most in these women. It’s deeply personal, and I often reflect on the different versions of myself throughout my life and how my current self is in conversation with them.

I really admire Lauren Rearick! She is the founder of the wonderful music blog The Grey Estates and has put in so much work to provide a space to showcase underrepresented groups in the indie music scene.

“Fire” by Waxahatchee. I’ve always been a big fan of Katie Crutchfield’s music, and I’ve had this song on repeat since it came out a few months ago. I love the stripped-down simplicity paired with the confidence of her voice. As I was thinking about my understanding of womanhood, I thought this song’s themes of self-acceptance and reflection tied in well.

:: Odessa ::

Womanhood means to me that you are entering the place where you begin to have a deeper understanding of yourself, and from that understanding you gain confidence in being you.

I admire Dolly Parton. She seems gentle, but also strong. Kind, but speaks her mind.

Lizzo – “Water Me.” It’s just a fun song to dance to! 

:: pronoun ::

Womanhood to me mean badass. Can’t ignore the fact every living human came out of one. 

By day I work at The Orchard, an indie distribution company, and many, many of the higher ups here are woman. All of them inspire me everyyday as does the company as a whole

Caroline Rose – “Feel The Way I Want” because she’s a badass and her record just dropped. She dances like no one’s watching, and thus, everyone is.

:: Rose Gray ::

Firstly MOTHER NATURE. Secondly inclusiveness. Thirdly unexplainable beauty inside and out. & last but not least my hormones and sensitivity are my super powers. 

My best friend. She is exactly who she wants to be in all forms of expression and its been beautiful to see this transition in her. 

“I’m Every Woman” – Chaka Khan

:: Shenna ::

Womanhood to me means someone who identifies as a woman who embodies independence, strength, and resilience. I believe women can achieve and conquer anything we put our minds too!  Growing up, I looked up to my mother due to her raising me and 3 of my cousins as well as encouraging us all to follow our dreams and providing for us.

I love Rihanna because she is a music mogul who has opened up so many other opportunities for everyone especially women in music, fashion, and beauty industry. She embraces all ethnicities, shapes, and communities equally and I love that about her! In my music, I focus on empowering others especially women to embrace who they are as well and artist like Rihanna set the standard!

I choose to have “Independent Women” Destiny’s Child on the playlist! I feel like this song was one of the first ones in my childhood that truly made me feel empowered! Hearing it today as an adult gives me that same feeling plus all three of these women are the epitome of powerful women in the entertainment industry and highly respected!

:: Siv Jakobsen ::

To me it means being the woman that I am, regardless of any set standards that we feel enveloped into as women. 

I really admire Norwegian artist, songwriter and label boss lady Ane Brun. Along with being an incredible artist and writer, she has kept her creativity free and has released all her records independently on her own label. She is someone I have looked to for both inspiration and advice throughout my career. 

I’ve chosen “Undertow” by Ane Brun, from her album It all starts with one. It’s one of my all time favorite songs, beautiful, moving and almost painfully honest.

:: St South ::

When I think of womanhood I think of how gender inclusive and accessible femininity needs to be in order for people to be truly happy in their bodies. I think of sensitivity and tenderness. I think of my female identifying friends, and our closeness. We have this platonic intimacy that can’t be explained. It’s a feeling of mutual softness and resilience. Feminine energy is so important to me. When I think of womanhood I think of a type of unity that bonds us beyond words. It’s a soft and unspoken, “I’ve been through what you’ve been through, and I understand”. 

There are so many! To name a few: 

Sharon Van Etten
Héloïse Letissier (Christine and the Queens)
Julia Jacklin
Adrianne Lenker (Big Thief)
Billie Eilish
Caitlin Park (HANDSOME)
Kat Edwards 

“Ass Like That” by Victoria Monét

It’s my most played track at the moment. It’s literally about going to the gym/working out. It’s sensually empowering while also physically motivating, and it’s just a really great soundtrack for your daily squats. 

:: Suzy & The Lifeguard ::

Womanhood to me is strength. It’s this incredible opportunity to encompass a whole range of qualities and emotions; to create. It’s limitless, really. Femininity has so many facets. It’s inspiring how every woman can embrace and appreciate herself differently – even visualize and pave her own new path. A strong woman who is fully realized is truly unstoppable.

I really admire Jody Gerson, Chairman & CEO of Universal Music Publishing. Over the last three decades, Jody has either discovered or played an instrumental role in many of my favorite artists. Despite having accomplished so much, Jody comes off as being very humbly in the moment. She brings this grounded transparency to business and her role as an executive, while at the same time, maintains this intuitive quality. She listens to her gut. She’s in touch with her creative side. I think that’s why she so gifted at predicting trends, identifying talent and has paved the way as an overall powerhouse. Instead of sacrificing anything to get where she is, she’s done it on her terms & played to her strengths. She has such an abundance mentality about the future of music and the opportunities it will continue to present. On top of all that, she’s a mom! There’s nothing Jody can’t do. 

“Airplane Arms” by Suzy & the Lifeguard

:: Tatiana Hazel ::

Womanhood to me means strength and perseverance.

 Bjork is a huge role model for me. The way she commands a room and is very confident about the execution of her vision and isn’t afraid to say exactly what she wants is so inspiring to me. 

“You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore

This song is one of the first feminist anthems that I can think of and it’s so empowering to think of being a woman in the ’60s and finally feeling properly represented in mainstream Pop culture. I love Lesley’s quote about the song too, “For me it was not a song about being a woman. It was about being a person, and what was involved with that.” To me that’s what being a woman is all about.

:: The Aces ::

Being unapologetically whoever you want to be and owning the skin you are in. 

Joan Jett 

“Simmer” by Hayley Williams . We have always been massive fans of Hayley and have loved seeing her step out and try something new and fresh. 

:: THICK ::

To us the concept of “womanhood” is constantly evolving. It used to be tied to sex characteristics and a specific role in society. We’re shifting into a world where “womanhood” is more expansive and includes all women regardless of assigned sex, personality style, and lifestyle. We think of if as a community of people who support one another through genuine care and unity.

Nikki: I have been digging the artist Girl in Red. I love her dream pop songs and am so inspired to hear that she produces everything in her bedroom! I am a total garage band junkie and love that style. Her lyrics are also relatable and she has been able to find the balance of writing romantic songs without the cheese, which is hard to do.

Kate: I’m sure other women would also reference her, but Kathleen Hanna is a pretty endless source of inspiration for me. Whenever I’m feeling self-conscious or worried about backlash, I think, “What would Kathleen Hanna do?” She shows so much strength and vulnerability through lyrics, interviews, and even commentary between songs in live performances.

 Shari: I’ve been really into Brittany Howard’s new album, it’s such an incredible album.

We chose the song “Mansplain” for the playlist! It’s an experience shared by most women and might be an eye-opener for people who don’t believe that a bias exists or that mansplaining doesn’t happen, BECAUSE IT DOES!!! This song isn’t a representation of all men, it’s us recounting our experience of masculinity in the music scene. We want people to laugh, roll their eyes, and shout along and introduce conversation around the issue.

:: UPSAHL ::

To me, womanhood means owning your shit, embracing your sexuality, and lifting up other women. 

I’ve always really looked up to Demi Lovato. She has taken her platform and her personal struggles, and started a conversation about body image, self-love, and independence. I think her speaking out has really inspired a lot of women.

“Bottom Bitch” – Doja Cat
This song is about hyping up your best friend. I feel like women are so quick to tear each other down, but a song like this is empowering for women supporting other women. 

:: Zoe Mead (Wyldest) ::

Being a woman is being just another human capable of anything and limited by nothing. It has very little to do with femininity, although social constructs may have us thinking otherwise. Gender stereotyping is toxic and it causes endless frustration and suffering from men and women alike. It is something born out of medieval views and now it’s 2020, we should be able to just drop the fact that some of us humans have vaginas and some of us don’t. 

It’s taken years, but I’m finally starting to feel comfortable in my own body, accepting my womanhood, but also not letting it dictate what I do, how I behave and how I present myself. I only really feel comfortable wearing baggy t-shirts and jeans. I like to strap my chest down with a sports bra, again because it’s practical and I don’t need the constant reminder of my body’s ability to breed (although I embrace the wondrous ability it has to do so). Sometimes I’ll wear something a little more ‘socially feminine’ but I do it because I want to, not because I’m expected to. Despite this, I made an executive decision about a year and a half ago to never wear a dress or a skirt on stage again. Skirts make me feel uncomfortable, unable to move freely and they ride up, especially when you’re wearing a guitar, which is all totally impractical and doesn’t work for me personally.

I want to be seen as an equal in society, able to carry heavy equipment, run fast and eat lots.  

Womanhood is defined by our mindset not physical form and is a world where anyone is welcome.  

Sharon Van Etten. She’s so emotionally raw and everything she sings and speaks about makes me feel empowered as a woman and a musician. 

Sharon Van Etten – “Seventeen” because who the heck doesn’t worship this song?

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