Many dubbed 2014 “the year of the woman”, and in 2015 women show no signs of slowing down. Whether you spent last year hooked on Taylor Swift’s 1989, freaking out about St Vincent, buzzing in the Bey-hive, or feverishly anticipating Sleater-Kinney’s reunion, women dominated much of our cultural conversation about music.
With International Women’s Day coming up this weekend, it’s a great time to appreciate the talents and ferocity of these amazing guitar-slinging women! Check out these awesome up-and-coming female guitarists in 2015:
1. Molly Rankin – Alvvays
Pronounced “always”, Alvvays hails from Toronto. Last year, their self-titled album of jangly, melancholy pop songs earned them rave reviews on Pitchfork and Rolling Stone. If you haven’t had the chance to see Alvvays yet, they’re planning quite a few American tour dates this year, including stops at SXSW and Forecastle Festival.
2. Angel Olsen
Angel Olsen‘s folky guitar style paired with her lovely classic-country vocals made her album Burn Your Fire For No Witness a stand-out release of 2014. I’ve seen her take the noisiest venue down to whisper-volume with just her voice and finger-picked acoustic guitar. You’ll have plenty of chances to see this indie it-girl this year. She’s got a busy tour calendar, including stops at Coachella, Sasquatch Festival, and Central Park Summerstage.
3. Jessica Clavin – Bleached
Bleached sound like a ’60’s girl group reimagined as a classic ’77 punk band, with a healthy dose of LA sunshine thrown in for good measure. They released their first album Ride Your Heart in 2013, and according to their Facebook page, sisters Jennifer and Jessica Clavin are currently at work on their second full-length release. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got my fingers crossed we’ll get to hear it in 2015!
4. EMA
When it comes to Erika M. Anderson, who releases music under the name EMA, I simply can’t fangirl enough! Her guitar, raspy vocals, and electronic instruments can create dark soundscapes and grungy rock songs. Her critically acclaimed 2014 album The Future’s Void painted a dark picture of the way technology is changing us and our ability to connect to each other. So far in 2015, she has created and exhibited a musical virtual reality performance art piece at MoMA PS1. EMA stands out to me both as a musician and an artist, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
5. Sadie Dupuis – Speedy Ortiz
Guitarist and songwriter Sadie Dupuis creates clever and driving grunge rock songs as the frontwoman for Speedy Ortiz. This Massechusetts band will be releasing their highly anticipated sophomore album The Foil Deer in April, and they have American tour dates booked for this summer. Go see Speedy Ortiz for a rock show you won’t soon forget.
6. Theresa Wayman – Warpaint
Warpaint‘s haunting harmonies complement both their quieter, moody tunes, and their more upbeat disco-infused jams. Warpaint’s music manages to be both atmospheric and funky, although it does occasionally tackle some dark themes. If you get the chance to see these ladies live, don’t miss it! They currently have lots of European tour dates booked, but they will be back in the states in time to headline Desert Daze in May.
7. Katie Crutchfield – Waxahatchee
Katie Crutchfield wrote and recorded the first Waxahatchee album in a single week at her family’s home in Alabama, which actually says a lot about the intimate and lo-fi vibe you can expect from this project. She will be releasing her third album, Ivy Tripp, in 2015, and plans to tour extensively this year. Keep an eye out for the name Waxahatchee, and support this awesome musician when she comes to your town!
Of course, there are thousands more amazing female guitarists out there! Who are you excited about in 2015? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured photo by Bruce
Megan L.