In recent years, female and femme musicians have taken the pop music world by storm. Artists like Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Charli XCX are dominating charts, playlists, and headlines, further cementing the imminent truth that, musically or otherwise, the future is female.
However, it isn't just the pop game that has seen a massive resurgence in female artists. Alternative music spaces are seeing a great renaissance of women and femme punk artists who are keeping the genre's distinct rebelliousness and grit alive while also using their platform to tackle misogyny, racism, and social activism.
As women continue to dominate the music industry, here are the female and femme punk artists you need to be listening to, like, yesterday.
These modern femme punk artists need to be in heavy rotation on your playlist
Amyl and the Sniffers
If you haven't come across Amyl and the Sniffers at this point, chances are you've been ignoring them on purpose. The Australian punk outfit has made massive headway in recent years and gained even further praise and recognition with their latest album, Cartoon Darkness, released in October 2024.
A band who is constantly provocative, dangerous, and charming in their honesty, Amyl and the Sniffers are one of the biggest names to come out of Australia's prominent punk community, combining snarky humor with a ferocious relevancy.
Their name alone screams crude and taboo, and Amyl and the Sniffers are unafraid to deliver bratty lyrics and hard-hitting guitar riffs while delivering messages and themes that advocate for marginalized people across the globe. During their intense live shows, frontwoman Amy Taylor is known for advising crowds to protect one another.
She advises men to not just protect women and femmes, but to hold their fellow men accountable for deplorable behavior. Also known for being vocal about the genocide in Gaza and the ongoing war in Ukraine, Amyl and the Sniffers are one of punk music's most courageous and refreshing names.
Niis
Rising from the grime and glamor of L.A.'s bustling rock music scene, Niis are one of hardcore punk's most exciting up-and-coming acts. Unafraid to expand beyond the signature brutality of the hardcore genre, Niis incorporates influences of grunge and garage rock to create a musicality that is addictive in its magnetic and inherent danger.
After releasing two EPs -- Not Niis (2020) and Must Be... (2022) -- the band released their debut full-length record, NIIS WORLD, through Get Better Records this year. Through tracks such as "The Bow," "Driveaway," and "New Pig," vocalist Mimi SanDoe balances sweet vocals with visceral screams to explore themes such as capitalism, misogyny in the punk music scene, and the oppressive forces society throws at us.
Combining sensual undertones with cathartic rage, Niis stand out as one of hardcore punk's most unique indie acts as they hold nonconformity and resilience as their primary artistic values.
Girl Tones
While initially making a name for themselves as a hard-hitting punk rock duo, Girl Tones are unafraid to expand beyond the conventional boundaries of the genre. Coming from a classical music background, sisters Laila and Kenzie incorporate '60s rock, garage, and classic punk elements to create a sound that is so uniquely their own.
Initially making their musical debut in 2024 with their single "Fade Away," the group has gone on to release numerous other singles, all of which earned the attention of Cage The Elephant guitarist Brad Schultz.
Girl Tones have gone on to support Cage The Elephant on both their recent U.S. and European tours, and earlier this year, it was announced that Girl Tones would be the first band to sign to Parallel Vision, the record label founded by Schultz, as well as Daniel Oakley and Darren Potuck.
Having only released a number of singles, all of which seem to explore every genre influence that Girl Tones pull inspiration from, it is clear that the two sisters are only just getting started. With their raw musical talent and high-energy live shows, Girl Tones are undoubtedly one of indie punk's most unique rising stars.
Scowl
Initially establishing themselves as a hard-hitting punk act, Santa Cruz-based rockers Scowl have become one of the leading bands who are redefining hardcore. With the recent release of their sophomore LP, Are We All Angels, through Dead Oceans, the group earned massive praise as they moved from hardcore to more upbeat, alt-rock influences, proving they are unafraid to go against the status quo, showing just how far hardcore can expand and grow.
Throughout their career, Scowl has been defined by vocalist Kat Moss, who is able to flawlessly balance guttural screams with melodic vocals. Moss's raw vocal prowess has coincided with the band's increased incorporation of softer vocal techniques, as well as grunge and pop-punk musical elements, resulting in a project that is equal parts feminine and ferocious.
While their new material is not as intense as what listeners might find on the band's debut LP, Where Flowers Grow, it is this sonic expansion that has defined Scowl as a band that is artistically unafraid.
Lambrini Girls
Even before releasing their debut album, Who Let the Dogs Out, at the beginning of this year, English punk duo Lambrini Girls gained serious traction through their fast-paced, unapologetic artistry and confrontational lyricism.
Consisting of Phoebe Lunny on lead vocals and guitar and Lilly Macieria on bass and backing vocals, Lambrini Girls have earned a great reputation for their music which advocates for a wide range of topical issues -- everything ranging from sexism in the music industry, police brutality, autism awareness, toxic relationships, and nepo baby culture.
Combining a passionate riot grrrl ethos with a classic British punk musicality, Lambrini Girls are keeping alive what rock 'n' roll is supposed to be -- informative, in-your-face, and shocking.
Throughout their career, the band has been criticized by anti-transgender campaigners, yet they have never faltered when it comes to calling out harmful voices both in and outside of the music scene.
Using their rising platform to advocate for gender-affirming care, condemn far-right politicians, and speak out against bigotry in all forms, Lambrini Girls are a femme-led punk group who are using their voices to stand up for all marginalized communities.
Die Spitz
Making a name for themselves in their local music scene in Austin, Texas, all-femme rock group Die Spitz has been categorized under many labels -- riot grrrl, punk, and rock. But no matter what listeners choose to define them as, one thing that can't be argued is the addictive intensity of their grungy, high-octane sound.
As they blast crunchy, heavy guitars over vocals that spit themes of feminine rage, the punk quartet has proven they are a rock 'n' roll force to be reckoned with.
Die Spitz has released two EPs, including their 2022 debut The Revenge of Evangeline and 2023's Teeth. The band has said they will be recording their debut full-length musical effort in the spring of 2025, so there's no doubt that exciting things are on the horizon for the four-piece rock outfit.
Never hesitating to decorate their undying musicality with grit and grime, Die Spitz are unafraid to explore the darker underbelly of rock music with a refreshingly youthful approach.