5 female-fronted bands that belong on your playlists
By: Sophia Terry
Rock music has long been a male-dominated genre but recently there has been a surge of female-fronted bands who are dominating the music industry. Here are five up and coming rock bands that deserve all of your attention.
Forever Emerald
Forever Emerald is an upcoming pop punk band from Los Angeles. It’s made up of five members: Devin Papadol (vocals), Brodie Higgs (guitar), Leah Sly (guitar), Taylor Fischer (bass) and Gio Hernandez (drums).
Though the band was formed in LA, the members are from across the U.S. and each have a unique background. Their music, inspired by artists like Paramore and State Champs, discusses the struggles of transitioning into adulthood with a classic emotion driven pop rock sound.
Approaching the anniversary of their formation, Forever Emerald has released their debut single, Candy, along with a music video.
Following the single, the group is planning on releasing their first full length album. All the members love travelling and are looking forward to touring and seeing the world together.
“The idea of never really knowing what’s going to happen next is really exciting,” said front-woman Devin Papadol.
Destroy Boys
Destroy Boys is an Oakland-based garage rock band formed out of high school. One album and Rolling Stone feature later, members Alexia Roditis (vocals/guitar) and Vi Mayugba (guitar) have built up a strong following across the U.S. and Europe. Their music captures the gritty anger of 90's riot grrrl, with lyrics that reflect the struggles of being a teenage girl in the 21st century, resulting in relatable songs that could be the soundtrack of any girl power movie.
Joined by Ethan Knight (drums) and Falyn Walsh (bass), Destroy Boys released their second full-length album in October of last year, which reached over a million streams last week. As they continue touring with friends Mannequin Pussy, along with their appearance at Dirty Penni Fest 4 in Los Angeles, Destroy Boys is going nowhere but up, right into the glass ceiling.
Sharptooth
Sharptooth is an all-inclusive and all-aggressive, hardcore band made up of members Lauren Kashan (vocals), Keith Higgins (guitar), Lance Donati (guitar), Phil Rasinski (bass) and Conor Mac (drums). They tackle current issues and focus on building a space within the punk rock community for the marginalized, including women, people of color and queer people.
Up until their first full album release, Sharptooth had been self-releasing music and touring since 2012. As a result of their traditional background, when it comes to performing, their work is explosive and powerful. They have been recognized by Alternative Press’ top 20 rising hardcore bands following their tour with As It Is and are continuing to tour with Obey the Brave this July.
Doll Skin
Doll Skin, comprised of members Sydney Dolezal (vocals), Meghan Herring (drums), Nicole Rich (bass), and Alex Snowden (guitar), are Arizona’s modern mix of riot grrrl and pop punk. The groups music challenges topics ranging from drug use to manipulative exes. The quartet are all about expressing themselves, whether that be through their music, their brightly colored hair, or from their unique fashion sense. By being themselves, they have created a platform for other girls like them to have a way to express themselves.
Last week, Doll Skin released their third studio record, Love Is Dead And We Killed Her. Dolezal’s powerful vocals paired with melodic guitar riffs and a strong rhythm section make each track unique but undoubtedly powerful.
The band are currently touring through the U.S. but will move onto Europe on the first of September.
New Years Day
New Years Day is a heavy rock band that have gradually become goth icons since their debut in 2007. Led by singer Ash Costello, the band has had a number of other members since their creation. Despite the change in members, the group has maintained the same spirit they always had.
Ranging from heavy metal to glam-goth, New Year’s Day has done a lot of experimentation through their career. In their most recent album Unbreakable, which released early this year, the group reimagined their song-writing process, and decided to “say exactly what I want to say” as Costello said. The album is full of honest lyrics, loud guitars and even louder vocals. Every track is an anthem of self-discovery and self-confidence.
Following their album release, New Year’s Day has been touring intensely. They have dates booked across the U.S., UK and Canada through late November. So if you want a chance to see these heavy metal legends, grab your tickets here.
