Tag: female empowerment songs

Song of the Day Machete – Gena Perala

Canadian singer-songwriter GENA PERALA unleashes a bold, cinematic anthem with ‘Machete’ — a fearless blend of grit, glamour, and emotional intensity that cuts straight through the noise.

‘Machete’ wasn’t part of the original recording plan. “I already had more than enough songs,” Gena says. “But after our first day in the studio, I played a rough idea for the band. Within 20 minutes they had cooked up this killer arrangement—I knew right away the song had to be on the album.” That night, Gena finished writing the lyrics. By the next day, Machete had fully taken shape.

The track draws from a personal story of subtle but persistent bullying Gena faced as an adult in a sport she loved. “It wasn’t always overt, but the exclusion was real. One night I came home and thought, ‘Do I quit? Or do I fight for myself?’ I wrote this song. Needless to say, I fought.”

Sonically, Machete is a smoky slow burn—badass, brooding, and a little dangerous. With its spaghetti western swagger and femme fatale energy, it’s no surprise fans have said it sounds like it belongs in a Tarantino film. “I love the way it turned out,” Gena says. “There’s nothing else on the album—or anywhere—that quite sounds like it.”

The cover art adds another layer of personal history to the release — a photo taken by Gena’s father somewhere on the carnival in rural Manitoba. It features a young Gena, her brother, and the gypsies, capturing a moment that feels both timeless and dreamlike. “It’s wild how well it fits the spirit of the song,” she says. “Something about that image—the little girls with the guns. It’s a paradox: innocence armed with defiance.”

‘Machete’ follows the release of Gena’s first two singles, ‘I’m Gone’ and ‘Goodbye Friend’ offering a bold new glimpse into her upcoming album.

Connect with Gena Perala via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/GenaPeralaMusic/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/genaperala
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@genaperala
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@genaperala

Source: Gena Perala

by Categories: Songs of the DayTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

OUT TODAY: Clara Pople shares self-empowerment single, ‘Hot Moon’.

CLARA POPLE‘s brand new single, ‘Hot Moon’ broods a strong atmospheric drive, soothed over by her delicately light vocals which creates a laid-back and magical experience. If you’re unfamiliar with Clara Pople, she is a promising indie pop/trip-hop artist from North West of England, that’s well and truly connected with nature and her latest single mirrors that bond, the chaotic energy that a Full Moon brings – and her resilience in carving a name for herself in the challenging music industry.

Speaking about the inspiration behind ‘Hot Moon’, Clara Pople shares: “This is my empowerment anthem for all women and people who can feel overpowered by the forces of nature. Hot Moon is a song about the ebbing and flowing tides of being a woman. How nature can control our mood and how, whilst infuriating, we just have to give in sometimes and let the madness take over.”

Crediting her upbringing in a family of strong women and her education at an all-girls school for instilling a sense of resilience, Clara she feels confident and empowered enough to navigate a path into the music scene, her way and on her terms. She created The Boat Gigs, which have quickly become a word-of-mouth sensation in London’s underground scene. The gigs, which feature a lineup of three emerging artists, have become a lifeline for musicians looking to play in a supportive environment without the usual pressures of self-promotion.

South Cumbria-born Clara came up with the idea of The Boat Gigs after moving onto a boat. She envisioned turning the intimate and airy space into a venue. What began as a personal experiment has blossomed into a vibrant monthly event, situated at St Pancras Old Church in London, where Clara will be performing at tonight’s (19th September) headline show.

She explains: “Hosting gigs on the boat just felt natural. I needed a venue where I could headline, so I thought, why not create my own show every month and build a community around it? It’s been incredible seeing how these gigs are helping other emerging artists as well. They’re the OG form of what a gig should be—built-in crowd, guaranteed pay, and a chance to connect with like-minded musicians.”

With the release of ‘Hot Moon’ – out today (19th September) – across various music platforms – and her thriving boat gigs, Clara Pople proves there is room for creating music that’s true to oneself, while building a strong community of like-minded musicians. Why not listen to ‘Hot Moon’ below…

Connect with Clara Pople via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/ClaraPopleMusic/
X: https://x.com/clarapoplemusic
IG:https://www.instagram.com/clarapoplemusic/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@its_clara_pople

by Categories: new singlesTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Song of the Day: Lady – Deb Fan

Hong Kong-raised and Los Angeles-based artist and producer DEB FAN‘s single, ‘Lady’, is an intricate alt-r&b track which emerges from Deb’s recent pilgrimage to Hong Kong—her first visit in over three years—which reconnected her with the vibrant yet overwhelming pulse of her hometown, prompting a deep reflection of the complexities of modern femininity from her perspective as a Taiwanese immigrant living in the US. Co-produced alongside Max He, ‘Lady’ blends the live instrumentation of 90s R&B and the visual soundscapes of impressionist-era classical music, reclaiming themes of rebirth and challenging stereotypes at the intersection of technology, tradition and femininity.

In the accompanying music video (directed by Breanna Lynn), viewers will see that ‘Lady’ is set against the backdrop of a traditional tea party following Qing Ming Jie (清明節, or Tomb-Sweeping Day), a Chinese festival which blends mourning and remembrance. The visual artfully navigates the concept of techno-orientalism, challenging reductive stereotypes with its narrative and sound. Deb’s exploration of this theme questions the outdated portrayals of Asian cultures as both futuristic and culturally stagnant. The full-female cast subverts the clichéd image of the Asian female cyborg, blending high-tech elements with traditional symbols to stake their claim on their own identity.

In ‘Lady,’ Deb Fan shares that beyond defiance, her freedom of choice in defining her identity is what matters most: “There’s some beauty in made-up rules. King of my world with none to lose.” The song is a bold statement of self-empowerment, reclaiming narratives and defying stereotypes in a world that often seeks to define them for us.

Deb Fan has earned praise from tastemakers at Billboard, Lyrical Lemonade, MTV, Luna Collective, Ones to Watch, That Good Sh*t, and Gen Direct to name a few, as well as Spotify Editorial Playlists – All New Indie, Ethereal, Outliers, .ORG, Poses, high-rise, Fresh Finds, Fresh Finds: R&B, Fresh Finds: Indie, Mood., Radar: Hong Kong, Simmering, +852 Rising as well as over 30 New Music Friday playlists including a top 15 on USA NMF for her last release “9AM IN LONDON”. Deb also covered R&B Rising on Tidal and is set to be a featured Tidal Rising Artist for 2024. In 2023, she went on her debut tour supporting Hojean, and will play the KOHAI showcase in June 2024.

‘Lady’ is the first single released from Deb’s forthcoming sophomore EP ‘Kowloon Demos’. Why not check out the video for single below…

by Categories: Songs of the DayTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Laura Pieri regains her power in the music industry with EP ‘Frankie’.

Multidisciplinary music & visual artist LAURA PIERI reveals her new EP, ‘Frankie’. The EP will be accompanied by a short film which will premiere on June 17th.

The 4-track EP came to be when Pieri was at the point of almost giving up on her career. Inspired by what her farewell to the industry should sound like, the story of Frankie, a woman reclaiming her power, was born. In an EP that cycles through the great, bad, good, and ugly of self-discovery, Pieri emerges as an artist who has rediscovered her voice. The EP was co-written with an all-female team of songwriters and executive produced by Skyler Cocco.

The EP follows the protagonist, Frankie, who represents a woman navigating male-dominated environments. She is a foil story for women in predatory industries. Inspired by stories like Frankenstein, Suspiria, and Persephone, the characters in the Frankie story represent not only the ability of women to adapt and camouflage according to the circumstances of the moment, but also the sensation of imprisonment of having the need to have a myriad of versions in order to do so.

Across the EP’s 4 tracks, Pieri guides us through Frankie’s journey from disillusionment, anger, and finally, acceptance. “The EP was born out of a transitional phase for me,” Pieri writes. “I was mourning what I believed was me needing to give up on my career. I had felt that walking away was a necessity, and instead set my goals into pivoting into academia with corporate America as the end goal. However, leaving one male dominated field for another and feeling similar feelings come up made me see I was trying to run away from ghosts. Instead of running, I sat with them, and from that the story of Frankie, a woman reclaiming her voice and power, was born.”

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, where she lived until the age of 16, Laura Pieri always dreamed of being a pop star. In 2014, she moved to America and split her time between New York and Los Angeles to further her education and simultaneously pursue a music career. Inspired by a wide array of artists like Prince, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, and Michael Jackson, Pieri hopes to blend her pop influences with her Brazilian roots and use her songwriting to connect with others.

‘Frankie’ was released last Friday (31st May) across various music platforms. Why not check it out below…

Must Listens: Sea of Tragedy, Come Clean, GODDESS ENERGY

by Categories: New AlbumsTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Holysseus Fly shares stunningly personal debut solo EP, ‘Birthpool’.

A tribute to her grieving process and subsequent creative rediscovery after recovering from breast cancer in 2021, HOLYSSEUS FLY‘s debut solo EP ‘Birthpool’ is a truly special six-tracker that brims with magnetic strength, devastating emotion and heartfelt beauty.

Opening proceedings with the first song written for the EP, ‘Bloom’, a track borne of self-imposed pressure during lockdown to write again after recovering from treatment, the scene is set for the EP’s themes of creative reclamation. Holysseus sings ‘I’ll bloom when I choose to’, a statement of determination to create for only herself. As the sonics progress from a skeletal beat through to a deep, harmonically-rich drop, driven by Holysseus Fly’s captivating vocal, the EP’s opener registers high on strength via stunning vulnerability.

‘Marigold’, released as a B-side to ‘Bloom’, is as devastating as it is beautiful. Brooding keys and a steady heartbeat kick drive the track as Holysseus’ yearning vocal builds to its heartbreaking climax, cracking with emotion. Easy to hear why this had big support from Annie Mac on her Chill Playlist and Jamz Supernova’s ‘Hit Reset Track of the Day’ on 6 Music on its release.

‘Within The Water’, sees the artist working through her fears via another soaring, heavenly vocal performance which received huge support on its release from Tom Robinson’s BBC Introducing Mixtape, as well as an audio walk feature on BBC 6 Music with Chris Hawkin and seen here discussing on ITV News.

In ‘Under Your Sun’ we see the singer’s jazz roots come to the fore in a mellow soundscape topped with deliciously soulful vox that convey lyrical themes of creative rebirth and strength through adversity with typical aplomb.

Holysseus Fly expands themes of empowerment with a lightness of touch on ‘Teach Me’, produced by The Staves’ Rob Pemberton and recently added to the BBC 6 Music playlist. A challenge to undermining patriarchal voices, we see the artist step into her main character energy with a knowing sideswipe at anyone who might dare come for her. A feminist flag in the sand delivered with signature radiant vocals and one of many ‘chef’s kiss’ moments on the record.

losing Birthpool is the gut-wrenchingly gorgeous ‘A Weight Too Heavy’. The track swirls with grief, self-examination and sense of release after a period of intense mourning. The shattering lyric ‘I can’t look for the ‘why’’ is delivered with rawness and immensity and confirms Holysseus Fly as an artist with a real gift for emotional honesty, not to mention heartstopping vocal abilities.

Deeply moving, sonically captivating and truly remarkable Birthpool is a jaw-dropping debut from this one-of-a-kind artist. A spellbinding star turn and solo debut from the Bristol based vocalist, songwriter and pianist. Do not sleep on witnessing her incredible journey through rebirth and rediscovery live with November’s shows likely to sell out as quickly as her previous dates. Holysseus Fly will also be supporting 6 Music’s Tom Robinson on his forthcoming sold-out UK tour. Big things lie ahead for this exceptional young talent.

Holysseus Fly says: “I started writing Birthpool in Spring 2021 when I was feeling low recovering from treatment for Breast Cancer. Just like a seed having been planted in winter, I cared for a growing garden of creative ideas and allowed myself to write what I really wanted. I had been holding myself back with self doubt and fear that expressing my feelings about cancer would make it my identity as an artist. Looking back on the process of making the EP, I see this music as a true and honest reflection of moving through post-cancer grief and nurturing a new creative identity. This is my Birthpool.” Have a listen below…

Must Listens: Bloom, Under The Sun, A Weight Too Heavy

by Categories: New AlbumsTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment