Hi! So this week, I wanted to write about the various female musical artists that inspire me, both as a writer and a music fan, hopefully convincing readers why they should listen to these lovely and talented ladies.

1. Chelsea Wolfe

Serene. Ethereal. Captivating. These are the three words that I can describe this Los Angeles folk-doom beauty. In her sound, there is a sense of foreboding calm and it can especially be heard and felt in tracks such as "Simple Death," "Virginia Woolf Underwater" and "The Waves Have Come." Chelsea Wolfe is an artist that I would recommend to everyone, though her influences come from the more darker sects of the music realm (i.e. Bathory and Burzum.)

2. Myrkur

A one woman black metal project from Denmark, Myrkur is a force to be reckoned with. In a scene that is predominantly led by men, and can often be very hostile to women, Myrkur proves that she does not let these odds stop her from making her mark in the scene. What makes Myrkur particularly striking is her balance in sound. Tracks such as "Norn" and "Nordlys" give us a taste of the more calm and serene side of Myrkur, while tracks such as "Onde Born," and "Skogen Skulle Do" forces listeners to recognize that Myrkur possesses the primal and raw energy that black metal encompasses and that she is truly deserving of a place among the greats such as Bathory and Summoning. Thus, I strongly recommend this wonderful artist to everyone, regardless of genre preferences. Also, her live performances are absolutely stellar; I was fortunate enough to see her a month ago at the Observatory in Santa Ana as she opened for the great Behemoth and from this experience, I fell more in love with her because not only does she have a powerful voice, but also an incredible stage presence that puts anyone watching under a spell.

3. Lana Del Rey

I was a sophomore in high school when I first heard of Lana, but it wasn't until the following year when I realized how unique this woman is. Much like Chelsea Wolfe, Lana's music can be sultry and foreboding. Unlike Wolfe however, Lana can also be upbeat. Songs such as "Lolita," and "This is What Makes Us Girls," demonstrates this. But then songs like "Ultraviolence" and "Gods and Monsters," also highlight the darker undertones of Lana, undertones that discuss themes of love and sexuality and the struggles of loneliness.

4. Jack Off Jill

Jack Off Jill is a prime example of what it means to be a rrriot girl. Although aggressive and often controversial (with songs such as "Angels F**K Devils Kiss" and "Media C-Section"), Jack Off Jill is a fun band to listen to while working out and just when you are angry at the world.

5. Marina Diamandis

And last, but by no means least, Marina Diamandis, otherwise known as Marina and the Diamonds. I adore Marina and her music for several reasons: 1. her songs focus on women and how women are portrayed by the world; like in the concept album Electra Heart, where each song is a different stereotype that women are often subjected to such as Primadonna and Homewrecker. But, the album is also an embrace of these stereotypes and are in turn made to be liberation anthems, which is also continued in her follow up, Froot. 2. Her songs are genuinely fun to listen to ("How to be a Heartbreaker") and heartfelt and relatable (i.e. "I'm a Ruin" and "Starring Role".)

Overall, each of these artists all have unique qualities in their music that have in one way or another influenced me as a writer, especially Chelsea Wolfe and Myrkur, both of whom I find to heavily pull from because of the melancholic and mystical aspect in both their composition and lyrics.