Debbie Harry
Whether you’re a fan of new wave music or not, you’ve probably heard of the band Blondie. The band, led by front-woman Debbie Harry, was a major step forward for disco, rock, environmental causes, and feminism alike. Though most of us know her from her work in Blondie, Harry has also had both a successful solo career as well as an acting career. She is also credited as the first female rapper, with her work on Blondie’s “Rapture”. Harry has been has recently put out a new album entitled “Pollinator” for which she has begun a campaign called BEE Connected where a portion of the proceeds she earns will be going to help save the bees. Other charity work of hers includes her devotion to fighting cancer as well as endometriosis. As an icon for feminism and rock music, Debbie Harry is definitely one of the most influential women in music history.
Kim Deal
We’re all familiar with grungy bands from the 90’s like Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam. Yes, these bands are iconic but they may have never been as good if it wasn’t for Kim Deal. Deal joined the band The Pixies in 1986, after answering to an ad in the Boston Phoenix. The band was looking for a bassist, and though Deal mainly played guitar, she was the only one who answered to the ad so she was chosen. The Pixies started on track for success right away. Their grungy style of music new and exciting for the 1980’s. Along with playing bass, Deal sang backup vocals, and co-wrote the songs with front man Frank Black. She even ended up singing lead vocals on “Gigantic”, one of the band’s most famous songs. Deal eventually left The Pixies after making her mark on the grunge scene to start her own band called The Breeders. Kurt Cobain, lead singer of Nirvana, has often said that he drew a lot of inspiration from The Pixies, proving that Kim Deal truly was an iconic influence.
Shirley Manson
Born in Scotland, Shirley Manson has been considered a feminist icon ever since she took the stage with the band, Garbage. Not only was she the chief songwriter of the band but Manson also modeled for Calvin Klein and was considered a grunge fashion icon. Manson’s distinct voice set Garbage apart from other band’s in the 90’s. Artists such as Lady Gaga, Florence Welch, Katy Perry, and Marina and the Diamonds have all voiced that Garbage was a big inspiration for them. Manson has also worked with numerous charities throughout her career, including working to fund cancer research, AIDS initiatives, and victims of the Haiti earthquake. Manson also considers herself an animal lover and has done charity work for PETA in Europe. If you want to listen to some womanly rage or just straight on 90’s grunge, I highly recommend giving Garbage a listen and checking out Shirley Manson’s original and iconic sound.
Lana Del Rey
When most of us listen to Lana Del Rey, we tend to wallow in the depressing lyrics, pretending we have the problems of a 1960’s bombshell living in LA. However, Del Rey has gone through some struggles that have contributed the darkness in her music. She has overcome alcoholism (she has been sober now since 2004), and often sings about her critics. Though Del Rey doesn’t necessarily consider herself to be a feminist, she’s very vocal about her political views and has even admitted to attempting to use witchcraft against Donald Trump. It’s truly inspiring how much she has changed and found happiness throughout her music career, watching her go from telling an interviewer that she had a death wish in 2014 to smiling brightly on the cover of her most recent album “Lust for Life”. Even though her lyrics don’t necessarily come off as relatable when you really listen to them, Lana Del Rey is definitely one of the most influential female artists of our generation.
story and graphics by isabella tyler
