“Rebel girl, Rebel girl, rebel girl, you are the queen of my world!” These iconic lyrics are from Bikini Kill’s song “Rebel Girl.” You might’ve heard it in popular movies or shows like Moxie, Sex Education, or Not Another Teen Movie. So, where did this fierce, raw, and fun sound come from? The Riot Grrrl movement arose in Olympia, Washington. It began as a group of feminist women in the punk scene who were tired of the male-dominated culture. They started organizing meetings and spreading awareness about the ongoing sexism in the scene.
From there, Riot Grrrl genre was born, quickly traveling to nearby cities like Seattle.
The sound of Riot Grrrl music was highly inspired by female rock performers from the 1970’s and 80s like Patti Smith, The Runaways, and The Raincoats. Some of the most well known Riot Grrrl Bands include Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Le Tigre, and many more. Music wasn’t the only thing the Riot Grrrl scene offered, This movement was about creating a space where there’s more representation for women and other minorities. This punk subculture incorporated lots of DIY, zines, art, activism, and political involvement. These vibrant colored DIY zines Riot Grrls distributed expressed different political messages, and feminist punk ideologies that challenged societal norms.
So how’s the scene nowadays? Although it’s not as prominent as it once was back in the 90’s, it’s slowly but surely making its comeback due to the recent political climate. Social media’s recent interest in Riot Grrrl has also helped bring this movement back to life. Platforms like tiktok and Instagram have allowed new generation Riot Grrrl bands like T@B GRRL & Jigsaw Youth to gain more exposure and encourage their audiences to share and embrace Riot Grrrl culture.
T@B GRRL is an up-and-coming Riot Grrrl band from New Jersey. Their band members consist of vocalist Gigi Barwald, bassist Alijah Williams, guitarist Julia Landi, and drummer K.P. Antone. T@B GRRL’s music is highly influenced by femme-fronted punk bands, such as Bikini Kill, as well as newer bands like Pretty Sick and Dazey and the Scouts.
Jigsaw Youth is another up-and-coming female punk band, they’re from Staten Island, NY. Their band members consist of vocalist and bassist Maria Alvarez, guitarist Natacha Beck, and drummer Alex Dmytrow. Jigsaw Youth draws a lot of inspiration from the Riot Grrrl movement, a lot of their songs incorporate topics of social issues and feminism. Their energetic performances and unique approach to raw distortion and alternative rock are exciting so you should check them out!
