Female Empowerment Through The Experimental Pop Revolution
It’s no matter of opinion that when it comes to the music industry, women are underrepresented and oftentimes, belittled. People most often associate female musicians with the genre of traditional pop, and by doing this, female musicians are forced into an unimaginative box that limits their potential as artists.
However, a surge in the popularity of the experimental pop genre, and the surfacing of many experimental pop artists, has challenged these traditional societal ideals of women in music. As a somewhat avant-garde sound with deep roots in experimental jazz, experimental pop is its own beast of unique compositional elements.
Simply put, experimental pop is pop music that pushes the boundaries of traditional pop, incorporating elements from other genres such as dubstep, hip-hop, and even hardcore. It is usually distinguished by original synthesized sounds, electronic production, and a charming eclecticism.
Experimental pop is such an interesting realm for women to be stepping into due to the fact that it’s such a modern genre, that really doesn’t have a set definition of what it has to be. Because of this, artists can really use the sound to define themselves and set their own rules. It’s incredibly empowering to see other women contributing this, as they aren’t following the set standards and are carving their own unique lane.
While the concept of experimental pop has existed for decades, the genre has shifted and molded with the ages, allowing for many new artists to emerge and innovate, spiking its relevance. Surprisingly, many of these new experimental pop artists happen to be females, who are daring enough to challenge the traditional principles of the bubblegum pop box that women are often forced into.
Grimes
Among these artists is Canada-born singer, songwriter, and producer Grimes, born Claire Boucher. Grimes released her fifth studio album, “Miss Anthropocene”, in late February 2020, to some mixed reviews, but her 2015 project, “Art Angels” was met with vast critical acclaim. This was not new for Grimes, as her unique experimental pop music has been praised since 2012 when she received the Juno Award for electronic albums.
Grimes’ music most commonly incorporates elements of dream pop, R&B, electronic, and at times, hip-hop. Her most popular song, “Genesis,” builds a bouncy bass and flute sample into haunting vocals as she sings of a love affair. She takes on a unique perspective on love, as she discusses the paranoia that usually comes along with it.
Evidently, Grimes is not afraid to push the boundaries of music; not only with her unique lyrical idiosyncrasies when talking about traditionally positive ideals such as love but also through her experimental, genre-defying production.
Laura Les of 100 Gecs
Another experimental pop artist breaking traditional gender norms in music is Laura Les of two-man group 100 Gecs. Raised in the suburbs, Les has been working on music since 2013 and has since risen in popularity, as she has gone on tour with popular rap collective Brockhampton this year.
Les and her music as 100 Gecs has been described as “an anarchist assault on the ears” by Complex and most accurately exemplifies the concept of radically fusing genres. The song “Ringtone” on 100 Gecs’ first and only project, “1000 gecs,” blends the bubblegum-bassy pop sound with aggressive 808 bass drums and distorted vocals. The album “1000 gecs” itself sounds like a journey through the mind of someone having a nervous breakdown, as it jumps from pop to hip hop to dubstep to screamo within a flip of a switch. As Les scatters unusual electronic soundbites of water dripping and dogs barking throughout her production, she defies all the traditional elements of pop.
Experimental pop is an unusual genre because of its experimental, abrasive, genre-defying nature, and maybe hard for some to delve into. However, as a result of the various sounds, this genre encapsulates, looking into it can be worthwhile and rewarding for an adventurous listener. I originally stayed away from pop music just because of its reputation for being shallow and poorly made. The first artist that made me realize that pop may contain interesting subgenres was Charli XCX, especially her ‘Pop 2’ album. This album pulled me into electronic pop and made me see a different side of the genre. Experimental pop is supposed to be fun and challenging, and ultimately, I think that’s what makes it so enjoyable and rewarding. Although inaccessibility at times and typical stereotypes have kept many away from pop, further listening can reveal the true magnificence, innovation, and artistry of the genre.
Björk
Icelandic singer, songwriter, and producer Björk is yet another example of a prominent female experimental pop artist who has defied gender norms in the music industry for years. Her eclectic musical style draws from classical music, trip-hop, electronic, and avant-garde music.
Björk has a lengthy and impressive discography spanning back to 1993, when she left her band “The Sugarcubes” to pursue a solo career. Her twelve album discography has drawn upon a plethora of musical inspirations and has earned her both commercial and critical success.
As a young girl, Björk studied classical instruments such as the piano and the flute, singing on the side. Iceland’s punk rock scene shaped her music taste growing up and this, in conjunction with her other musical endeavors, inspired her to attend music school. Björk’s first solo single, “Human Behavior” epitomizes the unique concept of experimental pop with its clattered dance elements and youthful melodies.
Her third solo studio album, “Homogenic,” was utterly groundbreaking and epitomizes the genuine, passion-driven experimental pop genre, with its undeniable yearning for the sublime, gloriously abstract aspects of life. All the way down to its captivating album cover, “Homogenic” is a wonderful schizoid masterpiece of trip-hop, gorgeously layered electronic production, and melodies that can only be described as seductive. It’s yet another example of the many revolutionary stylistic switches allowed by the experimental pop genre.
Conclusion
Evidently, experimental pop and its captivating eclecticism and uniqueness is an inspiring and empowering genre for any women looking to break into the industry in non-traditional ways. Artists like Laura Les, Grimes, and Björk cheekily incorporate traditional bubblegum pop elements but add their own twist with dubstep and punk influences. Through this, these female artists are taking the traditional ‘norms’ of pop that they are often shoved into and doing something completely different, forging their own original path through the male-dominated music industry.
Article Written by Sydney Wills
