Paramore has been my favorite band for nearly 8 years, since I discovered them in 6th grade. Paramore is what got me into the rock/alternative music scene and is probably the reason why I like every other band I like. Paramore has stood out over the years because of lead singer, Hayley Williams. There aren't that many women in the rock scene and Hayley has definitely helped pave the way for more women to end up on tours like Warped Tour and make a name for themselves. But over the years, every time I see a new female-fronted band trying to make its way in the scene, there's tons of comments saying that this band is just trying to copy Paramore and I'm sick of it.
Every time I see a "this sounds just like Paramore" comment I get so angry because all people are seeing is the female vocalist (that may or may not even sound like Hayley) in a band with guitars. Guess what? Hayley wasn't the first woman in rock, and she won't be the last. There are so many amazing female-fronted bands in the scene right now that sound nothing like Paramore, yet they still get compared. There are bands that are influenced by Paramore and look up to them as role models, but these bands are still creating their own sound. A band like All Time Low, who has been influenced by Blink-182, can stand as its own in the scene but a female-fronted band like Tonight Alive can't get anywhere without hearing a million "you're trying to be like Paramore" comments just because Tonight Alive is a pop punk band with a female singer. There are plenty of bland pop punk bands with male singers that sound so similar to other bands but no one says anything about it. Oh that band is just influenced by that band. Then why is it so different for female fronted bands? It's like people think that just because Paramore got successful, then no other female-fronted band can do that.
A ton of my favorite bands are female-fronted bands. My favorite band is Paramore. BUT I do not like these female-fronted bands because I like Paramore. I like every band for different reasons. Yes, maybe at first listen I notice a band may sound somewhat similar to Paramore, but once I get more into a band's discography, I can see their own unique differences. Maybe I just prefer the female voice against pop-punk instrumentals. Maybe I just really want women to be successful in the music industry, especially the alternative scene. Maybe I just like whatever bands I like because my ears say to my brain, "yes I like this keep listening to this." I can't choose the music I like.
To end this article, here's a list of my favorite female-fronted bands that ARE NOT trying to copy Paramore. They deserve just as much love and attention as Paramore.
Against the Current
Song: Running with the Wild Things
Album: In Our Bones (2016)
Bad Seed Rising
Song: I Can Feel You
Album: Awake In Color (2016)
Beautiful Bodies
Song: Capture and Release
Album: Battles (2015)
Courage My Love
Song: Stereo
Album: Synesthesia (2017)
Doll Skin
Song: Shut Up (You Miss Me)
Album: Manic Pixie Dream Girl (2017)
Echosmith
Song: Goodbye
Album: Inside A Dream (2017)
Flyleaf
Song: Again
Album: Memento Mori (2009)
Icon for Hire
Song: Supposed To Be
Album: You Can't Kill Us (2016)
Jule Vera
Song: Lifeline
Album: Waiting on the Sun (2017)
New Years Day
Song: Kill or Be Killed
Album: Malevolence (2015)
The Pretty Reckless
Song: Take Me Down
Album: Who You Selling For (2016)
PVRIS
Song: What's Wrong
Album: All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of Hell (2017)
SAINTE
(Current project of 3/5 members of We Are The In Crowd)
Song: Technicolor
Album: Smile and Wave EP (2017)
Stitched Up Heart
Song: Monster
Album: Never Alone (2016)
Tonight Alive
Song: Lonely Girl
Album: The Other Side (2013)
VersaEmerge
Song: Fixed At Zero
Album: Fixed At Zero (2010)
We Are The In Crowd
Song: The Best Thing (That Never Happened)
Album: Weird Kids (2014)
