Following International Women's Day and in Celebration of Women's History (HERstory) Month, The MIC wanted to do something special to highlight women, female-identifying and queer artists.
As a women-founded and run company, The MIC Music Group and The MIC Mag, strive to highlight the incredible women in the independent and emerging artist music scene. We spoke to artists about their experiences as artists in an often male-dominated space and any advice they wish they heard, or have learned throughout the years!
Songbird
As an independent artist for 9 years, Songbird has felt uplifted most in the independent music community by other women in her group chat! She explained, "A bunch of us on Instagram made a group chat to interact with each other's posts! We all make sure to like, comment, and share everyone’s stuff, it has helped all of us so much." The best advice she's received from another female indie artist was to "Keep putting out content you love!" When Songbird was just starting out, the advice she wished she heard was, "Don’t let anyone stop you. No matter what others think, just write and sing what you love." One tip she would like to share is to "say to be persistent. Keep working hard and something will happen." Learn more about Songbird here, and watch Songbird On The MIC here and here!
Check out her links here!
"Work hard, harder than anyone expects you to! Because you can achieve so much more than you think." - Songbird
Lupe Dragon
Lupe Dragon has been an independent artist for as long as she can remember. One of her favorite indie artists she's watched live and shared the bill with is Gina Royale and her guitarist, Emily. She said they're "awesome people [she] met during college and super duper positive and uplifting people that inspire me to this day!" Some of the best advice she's received from another female indie artist is that "it’s okay to take breaks when you don’t feel inspired." When she was just starting out, she wished that she heard, "You can do anything a man can do. And sometimes…better than a man can do. Don’t let men in the scene mansplain things to you and make you feel less than." Learn more about Lupe here, and watch Lupe On The MIC here! Check out Lupe's links here.
"Piece of advice: keep GOING! If you love music don’t stop playing and writing music. You will continue to evolve and improve and get better every step of the way." - Lupe Dragon
MØNTE
For 8 years now Sophia Montalbano has been creating music as MØNTE. She explained to The MIC Mag that she's had too many negative experiences within the music industry as a female artist. It wasn't until recently that she's "been able to make some amazing friends in the industry. Songbird, Kiersten Blue, and Sof, to name a few, have really been uplifting me and other women in our local music community. It's really difficult as a woman to do what we do, people don't take us seriously, pay us less than, and treat us generally without respect. So having friends like them really means so much to me! As well as my friend Slyvana Joyce. She has really been a mentor to me, she has been in the music industry a lot longer than me and is really such an impactful and amazing person to have in my corner." When she was first starting out in the music scene, she wishes someone told her to, "Get some thicker skin, because people will criticize you for EVERYTHING. So, you have to be true to yourself and genuinely not care what other people think. But in that same vein listen to the important people and the opinions that you value. Also Collaboration is everything!" Learn more about MØNTE here, and watch MØNTE On The MIC here! Check out MØNTE's links here.
"Never be afraid of collaboration! Make friends! It makes this experience a lot more enjoyable!" - MØNTE
Dani Zanoni
Dani Zanoni has been an independent artist for almost a decade now. Throughout her experience in the industry she says she's, "had the privilege of meeting and working alongside some incredibly talented, humble, and genuine women throughout [her] career thus far. With that said, mostly everyone [she's] encountered cheers each other on, and supports each other." She says, "It's just a really refreshing and beautiful thing to experience in what's painted to be such a cut-throat industry. We all just want to see each other succeed." Through her other female mentors, she's learned not to, "try to fit the mold of what you think everyone else wants you to be like, sound like, look like...stay true to you and the right people will follow. You are not and can not be for everyone and that is more than okay." Early on, she wishes she heard that, "You don't have to say yes to every opportunity that is presented to you, and you most definitely should never feel bad about or be afraid of saying "no". Trust yourself."Learn more about Dani here, here, and here. Watch Dani On The MIC here! Check out Dani's links here.
"Stand your ground. Believe in yourself. Don't let anyone try to tell you who you should be. Stay true to YOU. Don't let anyone walk all over you or make you feel small or incapable. Don't be afraid to walk away from a situation that doesn't sit right with you. Find the right people who are rooting for you and align with what you stand for. Most of all, remember why you started this journey and keep going." - Dani Zanoni
Your Best Nightmare
Erin Porter, known by her artist name, Your Best Nightmare has been developing her sound as an independent artist for the past two years. She felt the most seen when she performed at an International Women's Day show at The Fire in Philly. She says, "it was the most wonderful show I've been a part of. I felt so supported by my fellow women of music the whole night." Being apart of the indie music scene, she wishes she, "had been given a heads up about how uncouth some dudes can be to female artists." She explains she "never expected to have grown men tell me they want to wash my mouth out with soap, or talk to my partner about me while I'm still standing there. At this point in the game I've got great comebacks for a lot of one-liners they throw my way, but I wish I had been prepared with them in the first place." Your Best Nightmare's best advice is to, "Trust your gut. I've had men in the industry try to change my mind about my image, my brand, my sound, etc. None of it ever aligned with what I knew in my gut I wanted, and it never really felt like it was in my best interest to go with what they said. If your gut calls BS on something, it probably is." Learn more about Your Best Nightmare here, and check out her links here!
"Eat up each performance and don't leave any crumbs behind for the rest of them. I've found that I'm almost always underestimated or overlooked as a solo female artist when I load in or when I'm waiting for my performance time. That tune changes once my set is done. As RuPaul says, you have to have "charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent" and I can say without a doubt that bringing that energy to the stage each time never fails." - Your Best Nightmare
Kate Hall
Kate Hall of Love? Said the Commander has been an indie artist for over 20 years! When she was just starting out, she wishes someone said, "Don't hold back - let it out hang out!" Her words of wisdom to other female artists is to, "Stay true to yourself - BE REAL. Believe in what you're creating. If you don't believe it, no one will. Trust your vision and your instincts always. Don't sweat the small stuff, at the end of the day your music is all that matters." Learn more about Love? Said the Commander here, and check out their website here!
"Don't give up! Have fun and really try to embrace the chaos. It feeds the art. This business is not for the faint of heart and can be insanely challenging. YOUR ART IS WORTH THE FIGHT!" - Kate Hall
Madame Daley
Madison Daley, also known by her stage name, Madame Daley has been performing as an independent artist for the past three years. Throughout her time she's noted that one thing she loves about other females in this space is that they, "approach [her] frequently to perform on all-women bills." She says there's "been a real effort in the community to get each other on stage more and perform for larger crowds. It's fierce." But the one thing she wishes she heard three years ago was that, "You don't need permission to take up space, and in fact, some people will feel threatened by it. You have a right to exist on stage just like anyone else. Pick up the instrument and don't let anyone tell you that you shouldn't." Learn more about Madame Daley here.
"My song "Teenage Girls Made Rock N Roll" is about the experience of being a woman in music as a musician or a fan. To this day, it is our most popular song, and that is because so many women can relate to the hardships that they have to endure. I am overwhelmed by the many messages from young girls and women who have felt "seen" by the song. I am humbled and honored to uplift those ladies."- Madame Daley
Heather Cook
Heather Cook has been thriving in the indie music scene for over ten years, but she shared that the moment she felt most uplifted by another woman in the arts community, was actually very recently. She explains that she composed a modern classical music score for a ballet in New York, and met "Eryn Renee Young an independent choreographer who [she] got to work with on the piece and [they] really spoke to each other's strengths and supported each other's separate crafts." Cook says, "It was cool to see the intersection of independent music meeting independent dance, which just wouldn't have been possible without women supporting and encouraging other women." One of the most important pieces of advice she's learned is, "Never let the sound tech guy make you feel stupid." Which is truly a universal message for women in the music industry! When she was just beginning her journey, she wishes she heard was not to compromise her creative agency for others,"I've let a lot of ideas I love go out the window just because other people thought they knew better. Nobody knows better. Do whatever you want." One tip that helps Heather is, "My tip would be that if you are recording your music in a studio and everyone else in the room with you is a guy, try to have another woman in there with you even if it's just a friend hanging out for the day. Simply having another woman in the studio helps me be a little more confident to speak up and push back on ideas I don't agree with. Maybe other people are better at voicing their thoughts, but if you're a shy dude like me that caves easily, it's good to have some backup." Follow Heather Cook, and watch Heather Cook On The MIC here!
"Everyone's going to have an opinion of your craft, especially if you're a female artist, so just try not to let criticism or a lack of streaming numbers get to your head and instead remember why music is pure magic or none of this is really worth it. Let's support each other instead of comparing ourselves to each other, and more than anything, remind each other why female voices are important and why music is a miracle."- Heather Cook
Becky Crosby
Becky Crosby has been releasing her original tunes since 2019, but in the beginning, she wishes something mentioned to, "Be confident in your decisions. It's easy as a young woman in a male-dominated industry to question yourself and your thinking, but do what you think is best for your music and your career." Follow Becky Crosby, and watch Becky Crosby On The MIC here!
"Be you and never apologize for it. The only approval that you need for your music is your own."- Becky Crosby
Sahara Moon
For eight years, Sahara Moon has been creating music as an indie artist. She says, "There have been so many incredible women that I have had the pleasure of knowing in the independent music community that it's hard to choose which experience to share. Often times I find myself uplifted within the community whether it is in the performance of a song or long chats over coffee."
Overall the best advice she's received from fellow female artists is, "To believe in yourself!" Since the beginning, she said, "I have learned many lessons over the years and many have been through trial and error. A piece of advice that I wish I would have considered sooner is to trust the process. It is easy to become eager to grow. It's important to find your joy and know that wherever your path may lead will be meant for you." Her words of wisdom for other aspiring female artists is, "It can be tough out there. I am grateful to know so many kind people who have been instrumental in my journey, but I have experienced people I would consider to be "energy-suckers." Sometimes it is hard to detect these kinds of people. As a female artist in the music industry, it is important to recognize your worth and to not let anyone take that away from you. Never minimize who you are to satisfy the needs of others."Follow Sahara Moon, and watch Sahara Moon On The MIC here!
"It is important to enjoy the journey. Follow what your heart tells you. There are many twists and turns along the way, so remain open to where it may lead you."- Sahara Moon
Sierra Levesque
At just 19 years old, Sierra Levesque has already been an independent artist for 10 years! One of her favorite and most inspiring moments was when Nancy Wilson shared her cover of "Magic Man" by Heart on her Instagram Story. She said, "This was really memorable and encouraged me to keep posting covers of songs by other inspirational female musicians." The best advice she's received was from none other than the Runaways' Lita Ford. "I was lucky enough to have a FaceTime call with Lita Ford during COVID, and her advice was just to keep doing everything that I can and to keep working hard no matter what anyone else tells me!" When you're just starting out in this industry, Sierra says "try everything, even if you think it may not lead to an opportunity. I grew up performing anywhere I could, for any length of time. For example, I’ve performed on everywhere from on the back of trucks, to halls full of people where it was too loud for people to notice the music happening. Throughout all of this, I remained strong and pushed myself to say yes to any opportunity because at the end of the day, it may lead to something in a way that you’d never expect it to." Her best advice on gaining a following and connecting with like-minded female musicians is, "by posting as much as I can on social media. Any kind of content from photos, to concert recaps, to original and cover song videos have all helped me to meet a new person and to make a new fan." Learn more about Sierra here, and check out all her links here!
"Being an independent female artist has its challenges, but what I’ve learned is that there is a large community of us, especially on social media. I have been lucky enough to become friends with so many amazing female independent artists through Instagram, and this has helped me to learn and realize that we are truly never alone in our struggles. The community of women in music is great to be a part of and it’s always a place where I know I will be accepted and welcomed."- Sierra Levesque
your friend juniper
Danielle Moreland-Ochoa has been creating music as the indie artist, your friend juniper for six years. She says, "Thinking back, women in the industry have been my biggest supporters. It has mainly been women who have recommended me for performance opportunities, connected me with other great artists, given me opportunities and shared and engaged with my music. I honestly have so many stories of feeling supported by women or women-run organizations from songwriting retreats that made me feel really seen and getting a call from a woman I met once and really connected with about opening for one of my favorite artists. There is an intention behind a lot of women in the industry to provide avenues for other women. I see it in action all the time." She shares that the best advice she's received was from Paula Cole, "I had the great pleasure of being taught and mentored by Paula Cole while I was in school and she constantly spoke of musicians being cohorts. I learned from her how vital it was for all of us to support each other and be truly loving and giving as we pursued this career that pitted us against each other. As I have gone further in my career, I have seen how lonely it can be to view success as an independent pursuit. Success is found together." When she was just getting her footing in the industry, she said she wishes, "someone had told me more directly how many tiny moments would lead to me truly questioning my own talent or capabilities. I wasted a lot of time feeling uncertain and angry when I could have been perfecting my craft with confidence." Her advice is, "Network, network, network! Go to events and shows, find ways to collaborate with female artists and connect with people genuinely. Give time and energy to really supporting other female artists that you believe in. So much of a musicians journey is about who they meet and the friendships they make. Perfect your craft and meet people. Social media is great but do not spend all of your time creating content for tiktok and instagram. Knowing people is way more beneficial!"Follow Your Friend Juniper, and watch Your Friend Juniper On The MIC here!
"You will have to work a little harder to be seen and push to be given the chance to show what you can do. Be confident all the time. Do not waiver on what you know you are good at. Speak up for yourself in the moments that count and connect with as many women in music as possible."- your friend juniper
Lindsay Sanchez
Lindsay Sanchez has been immersed in the indie music scene for many years and has been creating music with her band Emergencies for the past five. Her favorite story about being encouraged by another woman in the scene she said was when she was looking for musicians to form a Yeah Yeah Yeahs tribute band for Jersey City's big Halloween Event, "so I got in touch with Tracy Noel from 50 ft. Furies because I knew her current band formed originally as the Bikini Kill tribute band a few years earlier. Her advice was simple ("try a musicians forum on Facebook") but she was so encouraging... just super psyched to get another woman on the scene. Her energy motivated me to really make some moves and shut down any self-doubt I carried."Follow Lindsay Sanchez, the Emergencies and watch Emergencies On The MIC here!
"Don't overthink it... just give it a shot and see what happens."- Lindsay Sanchez
planet zuz
Zuzu adi, also known as planet zuz, has been creating tunes in her bedroom since high school. Being in the industry, the best piece of advice she's learned from other female artists is, "not to be intimidated by truly doing it yourself!" She said, " I'm a singer/writer before I'm a guitarist or a producer, and i would hardly call myself that. But I realize, I don't have to limit myself to one thing. Don't shy away from attempting new things (even if it's as simple as getting a midi keyboard) because it seems like it should be left to the pros. It's easy to step away from progress for the sake of lying in fear, or because you're unhappy with your skillset. But if you don't do it no one else will." One of her favorite moments of inspiration that truly uplifted planet zuz was when she was performing a show at Berlin Under A, "I remember watching doris club, an independent female artist, performing with her midi keyboard and creating beautiful atmospheric sounds. To see another female artist take control of the stage, relying on herself, her instruments, and her sense of creativity, inspired me to attempt to do more with my music. I usually sing over backing tracks and producing intimidates me. But, seeing another woman on the stage doing everything by herself and creating such an intimate, ethereal atmosphere with just a keyboard and her voice made me realize I could step into that too. Usually, I'm used to seeing men get crazy in Logic Pro or create beats, but that doesn't mean music-making and performing has to exist as this impossible, pretentious, and difficult sphere that i couldn't possibly grasp or enter. A little goes a long way, and the beauty lies in simplicity." Her words of wisdom being a female independent artist is, "As women, it's already easy enough to feel like we are behind in some way; insecure, or not doing enough. It's much easier to feel like we have to step aside. But I have a deep desire to be deeply involved in the process, which means I end up stressing myself out trying to do too much. I would say to take your time trying new things (producing, visual arts, playing guitar, writing lyrics), and don't compare yourself to others during the process. Stay consistent and organized, and stay levelheaded. Do what you can on your own, and test out all the waters, but don't carry the weight on your shoulders if it feels too heavy — there is a community that will uplift you and support you. Taking my time by myself and accepting help and support from my support system is how I'm staying afloat as an independent female artist. Follow planet zuz, and learn more about planet zuz here!
"Don't sell yourself short—in fact, don't "sell" yourself at all. Rather, simply exist in the knowledge that you are good enough and confident enough to keep accelerating, and give yourself grace all the same. Opportunities, inspiration, and support from others will come naturally from there."- planet zuz
Ela Martini
Pamela Martinez has been a budding independent artist, known as, Ela Martini for the past two years. She recalls feeling uplifted in the community when she was first starting to write her debut album, "I was rusty on guitar but driven to test out the songs I was working on. They weren't polished enough for gigs, so I attended open mics to keep my chops up outside of my bedroom studio.
The host of the open mic was so encouraging and kind. I get nervous performing solo, so shaky knees post-performance used to happen. Forcing myself to get onstage and play, and having her (along with other people) say they liked my music was an eye-opener. Total strangers started asking for merch and where my next gig was, and that was my cue to start booking shows and get the album out ASAP." In the very beginning, she wishes someone mentioned, "Never stop performing, and don't be afraid to try new things."
But the best advice she then received from other women in the space was, "Don't be afraid of releasing music. Your writing and music style or genre might change but it's good to see the lyrical progression and production skills you develop over time. This advice alone has me re-evaluating all the drawer demos I have saved and locked away. Some will remain that way because they're cringeworthy but we all had to start somewhere." She said she's learned that the biggest takeaway she learned is, "to always be kind, uplift other women and their work whenever possible, and don't be afraid to speak your mind, your truths, or your fears. A lot of what held me back was mental constraints, all the "What If...?" Assertiveness does not equal aggressiveness, although some will perceive it that way. Offer suggestions to "try things out" and people are usually receptive. Audiences vary from venue to venue, so do your research if you're looking for a specific demographic. Look into the bands that played there before and their audiences. Be open to collaborating! I've had friends send me instrumental demos and I'll write lyrics to them. It's a win for everyone involved. Attending a songwriting group or workshop helps locate your strengths and weaknesses within your songwriting and implement new techniques to re-evaluate your sound or flow." Follow Ela Martini, and listen here!
"Know your answer to "Why do you make music?"- Ela Martini
Karen Harding
Karen Harding, singer-songwriter and creator of the platform Sounds On The Couch, has been releasing her own music since 2021. She shares that, "For me, the biggest impact of being uplifted by women in the music industry has been on a broader scale. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to interview a combination of many experts in the music industry, as well as artists for my platform, Sounds On The Couch. Through these discussions, story after story came out about personal experiences of being a woman in music - both stories of empowerment and stories of struggle. It was through these stories that I came to find my own place in music and really establish what was important in my own journey." The best advice she received from another indie female artist was to, Just be who you are.. unapologetically.. the people who will love you and your music will follow you and you don't need to put time and energy into those who are not in your tribe." Before becoming an independent artist, she wishes she heard, "more discussion around the experience of social media when you are sharing music as a female independent artist." She shares, "It was a big shock for me starting out, how many men send message after message to women, minimizing them to sexual objects, when they are sharing their work. It is an everyday part of social media, however, we would not accept this behavior if we were face to face with these people, so it came as a big surprise to me that it's accepted in written form over social media. I would have loved to receive advice for effectively managing some of what you do receive and would love for this to be spoken about more to help other women who are sharing their work over social media, creating safe spaces for their artistic expression." Her words of wisdom is that, "Sometimes it can be challenging to turn down something that seems great, but if it doesn't feel right, the whole experience will be an uphill battle and it's much more rewarding to take on the people and opportunities that ignite you and leave you feeling valued and excited for the future." Learn more about Karen Harding here, and check out her links.
"Listen to your gut when you work and connect with people within the industry. There are always more opportunities around the corner and if someone does not respect or value either you or the vision that you are creating, it is not the right connection for you at this time."- Karen Harding
Stephanie Melvin
Stephanie Melvin has been dabbling in the music industry with various projects since 2011. Recently moving to Asbury Park from Washington State, Stephanie said, "we wanted to jump right into seeing bands and found a free show at the Seahorse on the boardwalk. That was the first time we saw the band Not Yer Baby, and I was blown away by them and their singer Carrot. We introduced ourselves after their set and it was our first experience with how warm and open and welcoming the music scene is in Asbury. She is very much the local ambassador for badass women in music and works so hard at making every Not Yer Baby show the best it can be. We’ve played several shows with them since and it’s very inspiring to find a like-minded, hardworking person like her." Stephanie's best advice is, "Other women are not your competition- it’s old advice but it can be so hard to internalize. I used to get very intimidated when I saw other women singing or playing in bands, and even get defensive about my own performances. I would always compare myself to them and it created this distance that kept me from making connections. These women are just people like you, they have all the same insecurities, and by reaching out we all have a lot to offer each other. When you see other women in your scene, be the hype person for them. There’s nothing more worthwhile than having genuine respect for and encouraging each other. The opportunities for great friendships and collaborations will come naturally from these connections, which are the cornerstone of a great community."
Watch Stephanie with her band, Separatr, On The MIC, and follow Separatr!