"The Future of Rock is Female"

I’m a huge advocate for supporting women, especially in the music scene. The music scene is no longer just a boys club and there are a huge number of women from all different walks of life, dominating and tearing up the scene and it’s not going to stop any time soon. Seeing strong women make a name for themselves and grab rock n roll by the balls is more than inspiring. Whether you’re an aspiring musician, someone that wants to work in the music business, or just want to some positive role models in your life – just experiencing these women live or hearing their stories can impact your life in some shape or form.

One of my biggest influences is Lindsey Way, the bassist in Mindless Self Indulgence. For years, Lindsey has been a role model for me and so many other young women. From being an incredible performer, a talented artist (despite not even finishing art school), being an advocate for fiercely supporting women’s rights and equality, on top of being an amazing parent. You know those people that are just effortlessly cool and you’re like “oh wow, I need to be their best friend”? That’s Lindsey. My girl taught herself to play bass in a week and completely nailed the audition to be MSI’s bass play by almost setting the room (and lead singer Jimmy Urine) on fire. If that doesn’t inspire you to go after what you want, then I don’t know what will.

One of more frustrating things about being a woman in the music business has to deal with those that want to discredit you simply because you’re female. Hearing things like “whose girlfriend are you?” “You can’t be back here unless you’re working.” "What's it like to be a girl in a band?" The list goes on. Because clearly, you can’t be backstage at a show unless you’re trying to sleep with the band, it’s not like there’s female musicians, techs, merchandising managers, tour managers, and so on. In times like this I’d like to refer to one of my favorite tweets from Lindsey, “I’m not fucking the bass player, I AM the fucking bass player.”

Now, before this turns into an essay about my love for Lindsey, I’d like to shed light on a few other women in rock that have inspired me in one way or another. Whether they’ve inspired me to love myself, fight for what I believe in, to go after what I want, or to stand up for myself and live unapologetically. Here are a few of the bands and women that have made an impact on me, the music scene, and are continuously paving the way for those to come.

1.      Lindsey Way and Jennifer “Kitty” Dunn (Mindless Self Indulgence):

2.      Hayley Williams (Paramore):

3.      Chantal Claret:

4.      Ash Costello (New Year’s Day):

5.      Brody Dalle (The Distiller’s):

6.      Sierra Kusterbeck (VersaEmerge):

7.      Lynn Gunn (PVRIS):

8.      Courtney Love (Hole):

9.      Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill):

10.  Cassadee Pope (Hey Monday RIP):

11.  Taylor Momsen (The Pretty Reckless):

This is only a glimpse of the many women that have inspired me. Huge shout out to all of the women in the music world that have impacted my life. Cheers to the women on stage, and especially those behind the scenes that continuously make things happen and help run the show. The women in the audience thrashing around in the pit, screaming every word back at the artists on stage. The future of rock is in your hands.

“Every night I sweat, I hurt myself and I don’t stop until the job is done because I want every little girl in the audience to walk away thinking that this is possible, that they can do this.”- Lindsey Way.