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International Women’s Day 2021

 

Today marks International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate and uplift women and marginalised genders.

Challenging our bias on gender equality, not just today but everyday is an important way to collectively create an inclusive society.

In keeping with today and every day, we want to shine a spotlight on the work of female creators. Below we’ve picked and highlighted some artists and songs they’ve created, we hope you enjoy finding out more info on some of our favourite female artists here at Tramlines. Or, if you already know about these amazing people, then this is just a friendly reminder of some of their incredible work.  

We’ve also created a playlist for you, a mixture of tracks that show strength, vulnerability, tenderness, sensuality and beauty. There’s songs to cry to, dance to and shout to. Enjoy HUN.

Tramlines HQ X

 

Queen Latifah – Ladies First 

 

Ladies First was the third single on Latifah’s debut album All Hail The Queen, the song was co-written with english rapper Monie Love, they wanted to uplift women and express what they were seeing and how they were feeling at the time, a collaborative effort between two women who wanted equality for all. 

Queen Latifah was the first woman in Hip Hop to be political and Ladies First gave a very strong message about Black women to the white America.

Latifah aka Dana Owens wanted the song to show female strength and a lyrical ‘kicking down the door’ in a male dominated industry and world. The early years of Hip Hop saw a heavy masculine atmosphere – budgets for female rappers were much, much lower than those of men. Black women in particular were undervalued and underrepresented (and still are) and Latifah wanted to make women feel like they were number one. 

This song holds so much power, play it loud Queens!

Sophie – It’s Okay to cry 

Glaswegian born Sophie exploded onto the 2010s dance scene with her fizzy pop electronic music. A pioneer of new sound and one of the most influential artists in the last ten years or so, Sophie’s genius production, creativity and original sound was nominated for a Grammy for best dance/electronic album in 2018.

An icon of the transgender community, Sophie was unafraid to bend gender norms, the message and visibility that was achieved through her music was astounding. 

Talking about gender identity in a 2018 interview with Paper magazine, Sophie said “Transness is taking control to bring your body more in line with your soul and spirit so the two aren’t fighting against each other and struggling to survive … It means you’re not a mother or a father – you’re an individual who’s looking at the world and feeling the world.”

Earlier this year, Sophie passed away in a tragic accident, her label said “true to her spirituality she had climbed up to watch the full moon and accidentally slipped and fell. She will always be here with us.”

It’s Okay to Cry is a euphoric and chilled out dance song off the album, OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDE. With sparkly synths and beautiful calming vocals, this is the perfect song if you need a virtual musical hug. 

Nao & Lianne La Havas – Woman 

Lianne La Havas and Nao’s 2020 track Woman is empowering and soulful, the two very exciting and unique singers have produced a song that definitely shouldn’t go unnoticed. The vocals speak to the strength of Women and the power of self confidence “If God is Woman, then on Sunday I’ma worship us.”

After it’s release Nao tweeted –

“I truly believe this is the start of a new dawn where being a woman—esp a woman of colour—can and should be celebrated. This is our time! We all deserve to be celebrated.”

Lianne and Nao have graced us with their performances at Tramlines – La Havas’ beautiful headline set in 2013 and Nao’s spellbinding performance in 2015 are something we reminisce on regularly here in the office.

Listen and watch the vibrant music video below, it’ll be hard to resist that grooooooooove.

Robyn – Dancing On My Own 

Cue Millenial Anthem.

I’ve listened to this walking, with my pals and literally danced to it on my own. If you need a pick me up, throw. This. Song. on.

Robyn has graced us with her pop presence for over two decades, in 2005 she founded her label Konichiwa Records, which helped change her image whilst she started making pop with an edge. 

Dancing On My Own, was released on the 1st album of the three-part Body Talk series and consequently led to European stardom and a cult fave in the US. Robyn’s adult pop songs have a sense of teenage emotion to it, something which I think we can all relate to. 

Everything about the song is meant to make you sing, smile and dance.

We would recommend grabbing your headphones, going for (another) walk and playing this banger. It’ll lift your spirits in no time. 

Playlist

We’ve pulled some songs together to celebrate IWD 2021. There’s a mixture of power, strength, vulnerability, tenderness and beauty, celebrating music from females and marginalised genders.

There’s songs to cry to, dance to and shout to. Follow and listen for a dash of empowerment and confidence x

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