March is “Women’s History Month,” and I, like many others, am baffled as to why give women one fucking month? As a music fanatic, many of my favorite bands are fronted by some of the most talented people I have ever heard who happen to be women. The women of psych/occult rock have captivated me, intrigued me, and moved me in a way that many male vocalists have failed to do. Honestly, I am just drawn to the dynamics and the depth of the female voice, especially in heavy music.
Over the years, women have genuinely fought hard to make it in a largely misogynistic and male-dominated industry. The fight continues and probably always will, but women are not backing down. The strength of the women in music is undeniable and is even, in my opinion, proving to do it as an equal if not superior gender.
Psychedelic and Occult Rock have seen a massive uprising in female vocalists/writers/instrumentalists over the last ten years or so, creating a sort of renaissance. It is impossible for me to list every one of my favorite female artists, but I have compiled a list of some of my absolute favorites as of right now. I have also compiled a Spotify playlist that acts as a companion to this piece. Hopefully, you will discover something new and maybe even find a new favorite band.
To all the women in music and worldwide, I salute you but not just for a month but for 365 days a year.
Eva Mutunda – Magick Brother & Mystic Sister
Hailing from Spain, Magick Brother & Mystic Sister came to me as a recommendation from my buddy Andy. After hearing the first song, I was hooked, and the album became a mainstay in my ears. It’s hard to put a label on this amazing band, but it’s psychedelic, it’s groovy, and it sounds like it could have been the soundtrack to the movie Oceans 11. Mutunda has such a hypnotic voice that reminds me of Astrud Gilberto. Mutunda’s voice combined with the atmospheric, dreamy, and ambient music creates a soundscape that is exciting, soothing, and perfect late-night music.
=======================================================================================
My Shaolin – Lykantropi
Swedish Occult band Lykantropi has been a favorite band of mine since I heard their album Spirituosa in 2020. In 2020, their follow-up album, Tales to Be Told, was my favorite album of the year, and rightfully so. Lead vocalist, My Shaolin, has a voice, unlike anyone I have ever heard. Her voice is soulful, warm, and she sings in a lower register creating a darker, sparse, and dynamic vibe that is haunting, soothing, and beautifully discomforting. Shaolin performs this with ease and sings each song as if it was born as a part of her physical and spiritual being.
=======================================================================================
Jillian Taylor – Ruby the Hatchet
Hailing from Pittsburg, PA (sorry, Lady L!), cosmic psychedelic space rockers Ruby the Hatchet slayed my face when they supported German psych rockers Kadavar last year in Atlanta. Ruby the Hatchet is fronted by Jillian Taylor is a fantastic vocalist who embodies the vocal aura of Grace Slick with the stage presence of ‘70’s era Ozzy fronting Black Sabbath. Taylor has a truly unique voice and a soulful delivery that hits me where it counts. She’s a dynamic, stylish, and captivating frontperson fronting a band that everyone should be keeping an eye on.
=======================================================================================
Zubaida Solid – Siena Root/Solid Zue & The Crooked Teeth
Swedish vocalist Zubaida Solid is one of the busiest vocalists on this list. When she isn’t fronting Swedish roots rockers Siena Root, she can be found fronting her own band, Solid Zue and the Crooked Teeth, or even sitting in with street performers and sounding as if she had been playing with them for years. Zubaida Solid is an energetic, dynamic vocalist and stage performer. When I think of people born to be on stage, she is definitely one of them. Solid is a kind-hearted, sensational blues vocalist who possesses qualities that make blues music great. With a vocal style and sound beyond her years on this planet, Zubaida Solid is one of those vocalists that will keep the legacy of blues music alive and well for many years to come.
=======================================================================================
Lisa Lystam – Heavy Feather
Along with Zubaida Solid, Lisa Lystam is also a vocalist in Siena Root. Lystam stepped into the band to take over for departed vocalist Samuel Björö without missing a step which allowed Siena Root to complete a tour for the album A Dream of Lasting Peace. Lystam is also the lead vocalist for her own blues/rock outfit, Lisa Lystam, and The Family Band. Her powerful vocals and soulful delivery are good for the soul, and it’s like soup. It’s warm, comforting, and hotter than hell.
=======================================================================================
Josefina Berglund Ekholm – Children of the Sun
Swedish psych-rockers Children of the Sun have been blowing my mind since I first heard them back in 2018. Their full-length debut Flowers made my top albums list of 2019 and has since been a mainstay on my turntable. Only in her early 20’s Ekholm has a voice that sounds as seasoned as a vocalist twice her age. She belts out songs without restraint or holding back, which takes Children of the Sun’s songs completely over the top. Ekholm’s delivery is delicate as a flower when the song calls for it and then hell-raising, rip the roof off, and tear shit up when the song calls for it. Ekholm is going to be a singer to keep our eyes on for years to come.
=======================================================================================
Jasmin Saarela – Jess and the Ancient Ones/Jess By The Lake/Exploding Eyes Orchestra
Anyone who knows me knows that I have been a HUGE Jess and the Ancient Ones fan since first hearing them in 2014. Lead vocalist Jasmin “Jess” Saarela is by far one of my all-time favorite vocalists. She has such a distinct voice, and she sounds like nobody else on this planet. As a vocalist, she is a chameleon as she can change her vocal styling within one song more so than most vocalists can’t do in two or three songs. The three bands that Saarela fronts all call for something different, so her ability to be dynamic and accommodating makes her not just an amazing vocalist but also a master of her art.
=======================================================================================
Maria Fowler – Galley Beggar
Hailing from the UK, psychedelic eclectic folk band Galley Beggar rocked my world with their 2017 album Heathen Hymns. Fowler’s voice is gentle, powerful, and quivery, just like the classic, medieval/traditional folk singers of yesteryear. Fowler also articulates every lyric she sings, which lets the listener know the full extent of each song’s story. Listening to her sing is like settling into a warm bath with a glass of wine. It’s soothing and comforting. I could listen to her sing all day, and if you like some mellow, eclectic, psychedelic folk-rock, Galley Beggar is your band, and Fowler is on top of the heap.
=======================================================================================
Laura Dolan – Electric Citizen
Pittsburg, PA psych-rockers Electric Citizen, emerged on the scene back in 2014 with their album Sateen. Hearing Electric Citizen is one thing but seeing them live is a whole other ballgame. Dolan is an electrifying performer, and she commands the stage like she fucking owns it. Like most of my favorite singers on this list, Dolan has such a distinct voice that I could pick her out of a lineup. Her vocals are subtle when they need to be and full of attitude that at times sounds like she could kick your fucking ass at any point. She also can exercise these dynamics in one song at times. Laura Dolan is a powerhouse, and without her, Electric Citizen would just be, well, Citizen.
=======================================================================================
Alexandra James – Twin Temple
When me and a buddy did a weekend trek to see two Graveyard shows back in 2019, they had a band in tow as their support act called Twin Temple. We had no idea what to expect from them as we hadn’t even given them a listen. What we got was a fucking blow to the senses. Who would’ve ever thought of a Satanic Doo-Wop band? James leads the show as she struts the stage in her finest esoteric wares and one of the most epic beehive hairdos I have ever seen. With a voice that sounds like it could have led some of the great legendary groups such as The Chiffons, The Crests, and the Capris, to name a few, James’ live persona is charismatic, captivating, and dare I say titillating? Twin Temple is a gateway band to a whole new generation of music listeners to a world of music that many never experiences. Alexandra James is a powerhouse siren, and nobody should go without hearing this band.
About The Author
