When, in middle age, my music tastes started to widen, something else occurred to me. Not only was I rooted in the music of my childhood and adolescence, I noted that little of the music I bought and listened to was by women. Sure there was some – a bunch of Carole King albums, Elite Hotel by Emmylou Harris, some Blondie and Carly Simon – but mainly it was music by men, often for men. Slowly, with the vital assistance and encouragement of BBC Radio 6 Music I found there was much more to life than different genres of American music, made mostly by men.
At a brief glance, the music I buy is still predominantly male in production but increasingly I have realised, somewhat belatedly, that actually women can make some great music, too.
So here, without additional words, is a playlist of music by women I’ve bought in the last few years. Try it and like me you might like it!
- Regret by St Vincent
- Sunset by Caroline Polchek
- I Was Neon by Julia Jacklin
- Lighthouse by Mattiel
- Rae Street by Courtney Barnett
- N.Y.C.A.W by Gwenno
- It Changes by Amber Arcade
- Sen Benim Mağaramsın by Gaye Su Akyol.
- Stay Soft by Mitski
- Last Night by Arooj Aftab
- Green Garden by Laura Mvula
What’s your favourite?
