Many of those who claim the title of music enthusiast are well versed in the discography of popular, male-fronted bands and musicians like Radiohead and Jeff Buckley; however, female-fronted bands and musicians are often pushed to the back burner of popularity despite their superiority.
Here are five underrated female-fronted bands and musicians that any lover of sonic waves should listen to during and after Women’s History Month.
pinkie promise
Houston-based pinkie promise describes their music as “pop punk made for & by princesses.” Their songs “i wish that you would die,” “greener” and “penny for a profile” perfectly capture the absurdity of being a teenager. UT San Antonio students who fall in love with pinkie promise are in luck because the group frequently plays in San Antonio, and tickets typically range from $10-$20. Updates can be found on their Instagram: @pinkiepromiseband.
Bettie Serveert
Nothing captures the somber yet comforting feeling of driving in the rain quite like the 1993 Bettie Serveert album “Palomine.” The Lucinda Williams-esque band has been labeled as pop-rock and indie-rock, but neither description seems to accurately capture the band’s serene atmosphere. Listeners should pay close attention to the songs “Cut ‘n Dried,” “Ray Ray Rain” and “Palomine.” The band peaked with their 1993 hit record. However, they have consistently been making music since and released a single titled “Evil Side” this year.
Amaria
Amaria is the most popular artist on this list, yet her 637,000 monthly listeners are not near the recognition she deserves. The relatively new R&B artist self-produced her first single, “Morning,” as a teenager in 2020. Amaria’s 2023 release “All For You” is truly a no-skips-album; notable tracks from the dreamy record include “Lying To You,” “Will It Last Forever?” and “All For You.” The dreaminess continues in her transcendent 2024 album “Free Fallin’,” featuring “Over” and “Back To Me.”
Tei Shi
While Tate McRae and Sabrina Carpenter bear the standard pop sound, an alternate artist raises the bar to make something amazing. Tei Shi is a New York based independent artist who makes songs in Spanish and English. The New York artist hit the ground running in 2015 with her first EP, “Verde,” which features addictive tracks such as “Bassically” and “Go Slow.” Her second album, “La Linda,” is perfect for summer, especially the songs “Even If It Hurts (feat. Blood Orange)” and “A Kiss Goodbye.”
Evita
Evita’s music is melancholic and distinctive. She is best known for her nostalgic 2019 single “You Already Know.” The singer is from Los Angeles and has a diverse discography, with smooth, groovy songs like “Let’s Not Say” and vivacious tunes like her single “SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN.” Despite only being 26, Evita has been making music for 10 years and is a quadruple threat, working as a singer, songwriter, producer and director. Listeners should dive in by playing her 2025 EP “Love, Temptation.”
It is important that listeners pay attention to women-made art year round, not just during women’s history month. Doing this will ensure exposure to the best quality music and art.
