By Lark Allen

Within the ever-changing world of alternative music, this scene is seeing more and more bands that are female-dominated. Back in the 90s, it wasn’t uncommon to watch all-female bands headbang and smash their guitars. Since then, however, there was a major drop in the number of women who were in rock bands. Thankfully, within the past few years, more and more female-centric bands in the rock world have been cropping up. Whether it’s the catchy melodic tones of Potty Mouth, or the nostalgic, dreamy melodies of Jay Som, it’s safe to say that women in the alternative scene are back--and they’re not going anywhere. 

Here are five female bands and artists to keep on your radar:

Potty Mouth-This all-female three piece band hails from Massachusetts, and they know how to make a song stick in your head (in a good way). Since releasing their second album earlier this year, titled “SNAFU,” the band continues to crank out singles and actively tour. “SNAFU’s” songs range from slower to fast-paced, but each track is jam-packed with energy. 

This song’s about, well, being lied to. Off of SNAFU, “Liar”  is one of the album’s faster tracks, and the perfect song to listen to when you need to blow off steam. Immediately starting off with a punch, the song builds up energy to a chorus you’ll want to sing--or scream--along to. 

Jay Som-It’s hard to describe the sounds of Jay Som, aka Melina Duterte. Originally from California, her music has elements of 90s shoegaze, but with a modern twist. Anak Ko, Jay Som’s album released this past summer, has lilting tracks that immediately evoke a sense of nostalgia. With beautiful tracks that have a simple composition, Anak Ko is the perfect summer album to play year-round.

Consisting of only a few chords, “Superbike” catches your ear immediately with it33s retro quality. Hazy guitars combine with a steady drum beat that compliment Jay Som’s soft vocals. Even though the lyrics are bittersweet, they go together with the song’s hopeful melody.

Vivian Girls-Another three-piece all-female group, Vivian Girls are back from hiatus with their album Memory, released in September. The band, out of Brooklyn, NY, have joined forces to create a fuzzy, whimsical album. With heavily distorted guitars and dreamy vocals, Memory is the perfect balance between dream-pop and dark, twisty rock.

This fast-paced song’s laid-back vocals waft through the listener’s ear to create a dreamy sound. It’s just the right blend of melodies and heavy guitar work, reminiscent of 90s shoegaze bands. “Sick” manages to be quiet yet in-your-face at the same time, a feat easily accomplished by the band. 

Hatchie-From Australia, singer Hatchie embodies pure 80s and 90s nostalgia in her most recent album, Keepsake, released in June. Punchy drum beats mix with simple, open guitar chords in her latest record. Hatchie’s voice is like listening to a sugary sweet lullaby that you can’t get enough of. While the songs are flowy and light, there’s a definite driving beat underneath all the glimmer.

This 2018 single captures the essence of Hatchie’s sound: simple, sweet and catchy. With longing, heartfelt lyrics “Sure” opens up with a sparkling guitar riff and leads into an utterly addictive chorus you’ll be humming for hours after listening to it. 

Fazerdaze-Amelia Murray, stage name “Fazerdaze,” has the dreamy lo-fi sound down. Even though her most recent album, “Morningside,” came out in 2017, her music is definitely worth exploring. From New Zealand, her voice is soft and melodic--if the perfect summer day could be captured in a song, Fazerdaze is the one to do it. Soft but peppy drum beats flow through her songs which often feature simple and pleasant guitar solos.

“Little Uneasy” // This song really captures the essence of Fazerdaze’s sound--it’s got the lilting guitar solo, a catchy beat and those soft vocals that she does so well. Aside from being heavily melodic, “Little Uneasy” also harnesses Fazerdaze’s ability to harmonize, culminating a hazy chorus.