Even in a male-dominated musical universe, women have been able to make their presence known. They have been here for ages: between the 30s and 50s, Sister Rosetta Tharpe made our hips swing with her Gibson SG. During the 60s, Joni Mitchell transported us to unknown, blissful lands with her signature Appalachian Dulcimer. In the 70s, Heart’s Nancy Wilson had our feet tapping the ground uncontrollably and the following decade, the legendary Joan Jett taught us what her “Rock ‘n’ Roll” was all about. The list goes on.
Yes, guitar music has been giving up to a whole new wave of other genres during the first decade of the 2000s. But as we all know, it cannot die. One simply cannot get rid of it. In fact, today, it is more alive than ever, and, once again, women are here to make sure it doesn’t go anywhere.
If male guitar artists have been in the limelight for a few decades, they seem to be losing their spot. With bands like Muse and Radiohead, which used to rule the early 2000’s, heading more and more towards synthesized sounds, not many performers seem to be holding on to the genre. One may place faith in psych acts such as Tame Impala and other emerging outfits, but truth is, since the release of their latest album, Currents, Kevin Parker and co. seem to have passed the torch when it comes to keeping the guitar legacy alive. Fortunately, women don’t seem to be ditching guitar music as much as men do: here are 5 female artists who are on their way to the top of one of the most prestigious universes in music history.
1 St. Vincent
Since releasing her debut, Marry Me, in 2007, Annie Clark, aka St. Vincent, has been praised by critics and legends like Dave Grohl. As a Sufjan Stevens protégée and one of the rare remaining multi-instrumentalists, St. Vincent has brought a new sound to guitar music. Mixing Jazz, Rock, and various other styles to create her own tone, this Oklahoma native has earned a premier spot in the Alternative genre. Her very particular guitar-playing style as well as a penchant for mesmerizing riffs, licks and melodies earned her a Grammy for her 2014 self-titled 4th album.
2 Courtney Barnett
Simply a guitar powerhouse. From soft ballads to hard-hitting, earth-shattering songs, Sydney has given the world an exceptional musical explorer. With her signature lyrical complexity and hair-raising riffs, Courtney Barnett got her status as the future of Rock music in 2014 by releasing a few singles from her debut album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. From the Metronomy members to Ellen DeGeneres, she has won the hearts of many, especially us.
3 Brody Dalle
Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme’s partner, Brody Dalle, managed to become a promising artist in her own right. With distortion-filled songs, rebellious lyrics and an incredible eye for show-woman-ship, the most badass artist on our list sure knows how to handle a guitar, and excels at mixing its roaring sound with her powerful vocals.
4 Lady Lamb
Don’t let the name fool you: she’s not as soft as you may think. Aly Spaltro, better known as Lady Lamb, started writing songs in a DVD store during her night shifts, recording sounds from dusk till dawn. This fierce Indie artist can transport any listener through genres: from Folk to Alternative, her repertoire doesn’t seem to end anywhere, and her vocals can fit any of those styles perfectly.
5 Torres
Having toured with Lady Lamb, Torres has also got us excited for the future of guitar music. Her darker, more heartfelt tone, often reflected through her vocals, can certainly move any listener. Magnificent arpeggios and power chords make up her exceptionally deep sound, which we couldn’t resist falling in love with.