Girl power totally rules, and what better to fuel girl power than a healthy dose of indie frontwoman magic. These charismatic ladies rock the vocal microphone with as much or more finesse and raw rock as is needed to up the feminist quotient in your personal playlist. Check out some hot lesser-known leading ladies of rock who bring a sound hell-bound to make a woman proud.
Joan Sceline of Venus 6
Out of the ashes of dark rock band Doppelganger comes Venus 6, a deeply driving rock band with a powerful and charismatic leading lady, Joan Sceline, one of Doppeganger’s two breathtaking female vocalists. If you picture a modern Greek goddess brought to life, the image in your mind’s eye might closely resemble Venus 6 frontwoman Joan Sceline. Venus 6 exhibits an emotional subtlety along with a power and drive similar to that seen on Doppelganger’s “Meet Your Evil Twin.”
Music fans who like music like L7, The Donnas, Garbage, Concrete Blonde and Switchblade Symphony will likely enjoy Joan Sceline’s unique female vocal talent featured in both Venus 6 and Doppelganger, a sound which mixes well with the driving and fast-paced rock, bearing a solid alternative grrl-rock feel.
Kim Shattuck of The Muffs
The Muffs were a pop punk band with a ticklingly cute singer whose unforgettable voice ravaged the indie punk scene in the 90s. Though Kim Shattuck’s singing may at first sound like she might, just maybe, be a boy, and though her grainy, growly voice may be what some call an acquired taste, the infectious pop sounds and Kim Shattuck’s exciting vocal flip flops create a full-force fun sound that is sure to please any fan of real punky girl power who is tired of the usual female punk vocals.
Hope Sandoval in Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions
The leading vocal talent in somnolence sound heroes Mazzy Star rocks all on her own with “Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions.” Although the popular band “Mazzy Star” is still reportedly together as an act and working on a new album, Hope Sandoval dishes up a bit more of the rock in her solo endeavor with the Warm Inventions. Their album, “Through the Devil Softly,” came out in September of 2009.
Brijitte West of New York (NY) Loose
New York Loose, also known as NY Loose, is a fast-paced punk rock experience that toured with Marilyn Manson in the 90s. Their gorgeous blonde singer, Brijitte West, sings up a storm over tight poppy songwriting on NY Loose’s solid 90s album called “Year of the Rat.”
Girl-power highlights from “Year of the Rat” include breakout single “Spit” and girl rockfest “Kiss My Wheels,” which defiantly states to the world that “I belong to no one,” a feminist lesson no woman in a less-than-perfect relationship should ever forget. Gorgeous Brijitte West’s new work is with a solo project titled Brijitte West and the Desperate Hopefuls.
