Tuesday March 8th 2022 is International Women’s Day. We curated a playlist of mainly new music, but with a couple of old gems on there for fun too, to explore and echo this year’s theme #BreakTheBias. We have selected music we hope you agree help push forward the aim of the day, to raise awareness against bias and take action for equality.
It features some of my absolute favourites right now such as Ezra Furman who has just released her new song, Point Me Toward The Real. I was completely engrossed in Ezra’s radio shows over December as she stood in for Mark Riley and it led me to revisit her back catalog and I recommend any who are less familiar with her music to do the same. The knowledge and humour and brilliance shown in her shows shines in her music. It was important to include Furman on this list as she has only recently come out as a trans woman. After identifying as non-binary for many years, she told Rolling Stone, she found the word “woman” troubling for some time, not because of her personal feelings but because of lack of representation.
Also of note on the playlist is my new favourite, Self Esteem (Rebecca Lucy Taylor). Her live shows are a lesson in stage presence, and arguably, self esteem! Her album Prioritise Pleasure is one of those rare things in the days of streaming singles, and that is a crafted whole artwork that works as a collection. The lyrics are witty, dark, setting up the very conceit of pop music whilst celebrating it at the same time. As El Hunt says in her review of the album Taylor’s lyrics argue “– why should it fall to women to solve the behaviour perpetuated by men, after all? – and instead she celebrates the myriad of ways in which she prioritises and accepts herself without blame or guilt.” – Making her a perfect choice for an IWD playlist.
You can access the list on Spotify or Tidal.
