Written by: Catherine Plato and Diane
Anderson-Minshall
Photographer: Courtesy Broadzilla
We could have crammed our special
music issue with 200 women and still not have enough
room to fit in everyone we love. But we’d be remiss if
we forgot to mention these staff faves.
Shelby Lynne
http://www.shelbylynne.com/
Is
it just us, or does Lynne look a lot like Alex from
The O.C.? Our gaydar is piqued, and we can’t stop
listening to Lynne’s latest CD, Suit Yourself, a
follow-up to 2003’s Identity Crisis. “I’ve
learned a lot in six years,” she says, “and the main
thing I’ve learned is not to second-guess myself.” A
longtime Johnny Cash fan (one polemic on the CD is
“Johnny Met June,” written the day Cash died), Lynne
will appear alongside Reese Witherspoon in the Cash
biopic Walk the Line. Did we mention Lynne plays
guitar on every track on her CD? “They let me in,” she
says of her boy bandmate. “You can be a girl singer, but
I really felt like one of the boys, which is where I’m
most comfortable.” Amen.
Ms. Led
http://www.msled.com/
Released
on Election Day 2004, Ms. Led’s latest album delivers
feminism and empowerment packaged in punk. These
Things We Say is the Seattle-based quartet’s fourth
release. In addition to playing addictive, anthemic
tunes with socially aware lyrics, Ms. Led has also
actively supported nonprofits such as the Northwest
Coalition for Human Dignity. Fearless and outspoken, Ms.
Led offers hope in a grim political climate. As lesbian
frontwoman Lesli Wood puts it, “The most important point
is that even after this election, the fight’s not over.”
Missy Higgins
http://www.missyhiggins.com/
Higgins has been Australia’s best-kept secret
for way too long. After winning a national demo
competition while still in high school, Higgins skipped
the surefire road to fame and instead spent a year
perfecting her songwriting. Years of jazz training shine
through the polished, soulful pop vocals on her debut
CD, The Sound of White. Her single “Scar” hit No.
1 on the Australian singles charts and landed her an
ARIA Award (that’s an Aussie Grammy). With her knack for
lyrics and those big brown eyes, it’s only a matter of
time before she mesmerizes the States as well (our
publisher is already her biggest U.S. fan).
Deita Klaus
http://www.deitaklaus.com/
The
self-professed Goth Queen of the Galaxy (and yes, she’s
a lesbian!) has finally risen from the L.A. Gothic
underworld with her latest release, Order of the
Golden Dawn. With tracks like “Bloody Kisses,”
“Vampire” and “Gothic Gospel,” the album could
admittedly have a selective appeal. But Klaus’ pure
talent propels lyrics so erotic and enticing, she’ll be
sure to hook a couple Abercrombie-clad fans along the
way. Plus: We know she’s got scads of dyke fans already
— they bombarded the CURVE office with love letters to
Deita even before we knew who she was.
Isle of
Klezbos
http://www.metropolitanklezmer.com/
This soulful, all-lesbian klezmer sextet (get
it? Klezbos?) has been weaving tradition and innovation
since 1998. The band members all draw noticeable
influence from their diverse musical backgrounds,
including jazz, zydeco, ska and Celtic, creating a
coherent and uniquely Yiddish sound in a predominantly
male-dominated field. Their new album, Greetings From
the Isle of Klezbos, delivers fresh, soulful
renditions of klezmer dance, modal trance grooves,
retooled vintage Yiddish swing and tango, and inspired
originals. Already staples of the New York Jewish music
scene, they’re gaining more recognition from the queer
community with their recent appearance at Michigan.
Ethereal
http://www.etherealvox.com/
This 25-year-old poet/singer-songwriter once
told a message board of fellow musicians that she’d just
die if CURVE reviewed her CD. Well, call the paramedics,
because Ethereal’s new CD Mythillogical — with
fablelike songs about imprisoned deities and warring
goddesses — has been on constant rotation in our
editor’s CD player. That’s because the post-New Agey
songs (especially those about sexual freedom) are
mesmerizing and seductive.
Steff Mahan
http://www.steffmahan.com/
With a voice that’s pure and powerful and lyrics
that are heart-crafted and rock-solid, it’s hard not to
get hooked on this alt-country songstress. After a
year-long U.S. tour to promote her self-titled debut
album, her sophomore release, 42.50, is a
compelling collection of people, places and stories from
life on the road. When Q Television decided they wanted
to air a series on the lesbian crooner’s concerts, it’s
no wonder they were willing to go the distance: all the
way to Nashville for her sold-out shows (one has already
aired; the next is up this fall).
Wishing Chair
http://www.wishingchair.com/
Engaging performances and haunting harmonies
have already made the lesbian folk root duo Wishing
Chair a hit at folk festivals across the country. We
know: Last year, when we failed to mention them, we
received many a complaint from readers. Kiya Heartwood
joined forces with the multitalented Miriam Davidson 10
years ago, and they have released six CDs since,
including their collaboration with trad-grass
instrumentalist Kara Barnard, Dishpan Brigade.
Poetic, political lyrics, stellar vocals and an eclectic
variety of instruments make this an essential addition
to your contemporary folk collection.
Shonen
Knife
http://www.oglio.com/
When
Shonen Knife made their way to the United States in the
’80s, word of mouth and celebrity fans like Nirvana and
Sonic Youth made them stars. Almost two decades later,
this Japanese pop band is still kicking it and Oglio
Records has re-released their first four albums to help
fans like us remember that raw sugar buzz we got the
first time we heard the band.
Emma’s Revolution
http://www.emmasrevolution.com/
A musical uprising of truth and hope, one x
1,000,000 = change is the powerful and promising
debut by Emma’s Revolution. You may know Humphries as
the author of folk anthem “Swimming to the Other Side,”
which rose to fame thanks to national exposure on NPR.
After she joined forces with folkster Sandy O, the duo
went on to play at venues around the world, including a
performance of their song “We Are One” in a South Korean
demilitarized zone. Their earlier CD Hands was
the No. 1 best seller on Amazon.com for three days after
“If I Give Your Name” took top honors at the John Lennon
Songwriting Contest. Better yet: They’re sans clothing
in Jayne Toohey’s Naked Folk calendar (along with fellow
lesbian folkie Janis Ian).
Broadzilla
http://www.broadzilla.net/
Hell hath no fury like three chicks torn between
the trailer park and punk delirium. From the streets of
Motor City come the high-octane vixen rockers
Broadzilla, whose second album, Lady Luck, sold
out its first and second pressing, following up their
first release (Broadzilla vs. The Tramp-o-Lean),
which also sold out in record time. Why? These girls
rip — and they aggressively confront tired old sex
stereotypes while doing so.
Natasha Bedingfield
http://www.epicrecords.com/
This Brit has fans on four continents (and gold
status in Singapore and South Africa), and her North
America debut album, Unwritten, proves why. In
the tradition of U.K. female singer-songwriters like
Annie Lennox and Dido, Bedingfield promises never to
make what she calls “empty music. I’m not interested in
lines that go, ‘blah blah blah.’” And it shows, with
songs like “Silent Movie” (about a communication
breakdown) and “We’re All Mad” (about how people are
often judged instead of accepted).
Someone’s
Sister
http://www.someonessister.com/
Georgia Winfree and Katherine Jones, the
singer-songwriters who make up Someone’s Sister, draw
many comparisons (like k.d. lang and Patsy Cline) but
trust us: These wailing chicks proved on their recent
debut, Hand Me Downs, that they’re in a class of
their own.
Antigone Rising
http://www.antigonerising.com/
Finally, a reason to go into chain coffee
outlets: Antigone Rising’s From the Ground Up is
the debut CD in a series of first recordings from
emerging artists that Hear Music and Starbucks want you
to hear. Don’t let the coffeehouse distribution fool you
— the five chicks of Antigone Rising are pure rock. With
powerhouse lead singer Cassidy (who joined Aerosmith on
“Walk This Way”), Antigone offers up a cross between
Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Dixie Chicks with plenty for Joan
Jett fans as well.
Anna Egge
http://parkinsong.com/
The
fourth CD from this mesmerizing singer, Out Past the
Lights, is a haunting and effortless breakthrough
and even more compelling because proceeds go to the
ParkinSong Foundation, a New Jersey group dedicated to
fight Parkinson's disease.
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