Recommendations for Western All-Female Bands—from Legendary Groups to Promising Newcomers

BanbooHinds

HINDS | Bamboo (Official and unique video)

Hinds is a four-piece girl band from Madrid, Spain.

They’re known for their lo-fi, garage rock sound.

Though they look like a cute, contemporary girl group, contrary to that image their sound is pleasantly loose, making them a curious band you can listen to in a relaxed way.

Pretend We’re DeadL7

L7 – Pretend We’re Dead (Official Video)

A song with a call-to-action message produced by vocalist and guitarist Donita Sparks.

It’s one of L7’s more accessible tracks, reaching No.

8 on the U.

S.

Alternative Songs chart and No.

21 on the UK Singles Chart.

Watch Your BackThe Coathangers

The Coathangers – Watch Your Back (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

The Coathangers are about to mark their 10th anniversary.

Their playing is still rough around the edges, but that’s part of their charm.

They don’t fit neatly into the “girls’ band” category; they’re a flagship act of garage punk.

Their retro fashion is on point, too.

You’ll Be MineThe Pierces

The Pierces – You’ll Be Mine

The Pierces are a band formed by sisters Allison and Catherine Pierce, who were raised by hippie parents in Alabama.

This song is the first single from their fourth album, You & I.

The album reached No.

4 on the UK Albums Chart.

HittenThose Dancing Days

Those Dancing Days “Hitten”

When music fans hear about bands or artists from Sweden, many—regardless of genre—can’t help but feel a certain special aura.

Those Dancing Days were a five-piece from Stockholm, Sweden, formed in 2005 by teenage members.

Discovered by Wichita Recordings, the London label known for putting out quality indie rock, they released their debut album in 2008.

They drew attention in Japan as well, and their show at Daikanyama UNIT—their only performance in Japan—remains an unforgettable memory for me personally.

Though their playing wasn’t exactly virtuosic, their ensemble worked in a miraculously balanced way, and the wonderful, nostalgic melodies sung in an alto voice that belied their youth haven’t lost any of their luster.

It’s truly regrettable that they disbanded after releasing their second album in 2011.

I Heard You SayVivian Girls

Vivian Girls – Take It As It Comes [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Centered on a lo-fi, noisy guitar sound, they debuted with an album in 2008 featuring a style sprinkled with elements like oldies-influenced girl-pop melodies, neo-acoustic, and shoegaze—making them a leading figure that heralded the arrival of a new generation of girl bands.

They aren’t virtuoso players per se, but the unique flavor of songs born from their exquisitely balanced ensemble—something only they could achieve—is truly special.

It’s also worth noting that with each release, their innate melodic sense became even more refined.

Although they sadly disbanded in 2014, the members went on to pursue solo projects such as La Sera.

In 2019, they reunited and released a wonderful comeback record.

ALALACansei de Ser Sexy

ALALA – Cansei de Ser Sexy

A girls’ disco-punk band from Brazil.

The vocalist, Lovefoxxx, is a Japanese-Brazilian, and their songs are sung in both English and Portuguese.

Their cute yet wild sound and performances won them popularity, and Sub Pop—the label that signed Nirvana—fell in love with them and launched their global debut.