2008 Woodie Awards
Female Musicians Invade Indie-Rock Scene
Katie Meyer
Issue date: 10/18/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Gender is a socially constructed category that has historically limited the opportunities for women, including allowing them to artistically express themselves. Until recently, if a woman was trying to legitimately establish herself as a musician she had to either emphasize her sexual appeal, like Madonna, or publicly tackle the challenge of being a woman in a male-dominated industry, as seen in Ani Difranco's music.
In the past few years, however, there has been a significant amount of female artists bursting into the indie-rock scene. Three of them, Cat Power, Regina Spektor, and Jenny Lewis, have recently played shows in Manhattan, and are receiving critical acclaim for their musical talents and not their image as a female.
Lewis is famous amongst indie-rock fans for her work in the popular band Rilo Kiley. Lewis is an artist who has managed to continually recreate her status in American popular culture. In the 1980s, she was a young child who was breaking into movies, the most notable being the b-list favorite, The Wizard.
Unlike most child actors, Lewis did not succumb to drug use, obesity, or absolute career failure. Instead, she chose a different path other than film: music. In 1998 she formed the band Rilo Kiley with Blake Sennett, a former star of the 1990s Nickolodeon classic Salute Your Shorts. Since 1998, the band has managed to carefully evolve from a country-influenced sound to a more rock driven sound, led by the impressive vocals of Lewis.
The success of Rilo Kiley did not stop Lewis from expanding and developing her career as a musician. After working with the Postal Service and Cursive, Lewis signed on to Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst's record label, Team Love, to record a solo album. And, in January 2006, Rabbit Furcoat, featuring the Watson Twins, was released to rave reviews and impressive sales.
It is not uncommon for members of successful bands to branch out and record their own solo work. Rabbit Furcoat, however, is unique in the sense that is completely Lewis' own work. There is barely a trace of Rilo Kiley, which until now defined a large part of her career, thanks to the Memphis-influenced sound and the sweet vocals of the Watson Twins.
In the past few years, however, there has been a significant amount of female artists bursting into the indie-rock scene. Three of them, Cat Power, Regina Spektor, and Jenny Lewis, have recently played shows in Manhattan, and are receiving critical acclaim for their musical talents and not their image as a female.
Lewis is famous amongst indie-rock fans for her work in the popular band Rilo Kiley. Lewis is an artist who has managed to continually recreate her status in American popular culture. In the 1980s, she was a young child who was breaking into movies, the most notable being the b-list favorite, The Wizard.
Unlike most child actors, Lewis did not succumb to drug use, obesity, or absolute career failure. Instead, she chose a different path other than film: music. In 1998 she formed the band Rilo Kiley with Blake Sennett, a former star of the 1990s Nickolodeon classic Salute Your Shorts. Since 1998, the band has managed to carefully evolve from a country-influenced sound to a more rock driven sound, led by the impressive vocals of Lewis.
The success of Rilo Kiley did not stop Lewis from expanding and developing her career as a musician. After working with the Postal Service and Cursive, Lewis signed on to Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst's record label, Team Love, to record a solo album. And, in January 2006, Rabbit Furcoat, featuring the Watson Twins, was released to rave reviews and impressive sales.
It is not uncommon for members of successful bands to branch out and record their own solo work. Rabbit Furcoat, however, is unique in the sense that is completely Lewis' own work. There is barely a trace of Rilo Kiley, which until now defined a large part of her career, thanks to the Memphis-influenced sound and the sweet vocals of the Watson Twins.