International Women's Day: ten artists making waves in 2022

Where would music be without women? Over the years, we’ve seen countless iconic, genre-bending women who have paved the way for other women musicians and redefined what we thought we knew about music. Without women, the industry would be duller, lacking inspiration and simply boring. 

So let’s take a moment to appreciate and admire the artistry of women musicians over the years. There’s Amy Winehouse, Joan Jett, Etta James, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Ella Fitzgerald, Sister Rosetta Tharpe (AKA the godmother of rock and roll), and so, so many more who defined their eras and helped shape music. 

But let’s focus on the present. Who are the legends of today? Who will future generations think of with the same level of admiration and appreciation as we do with those legends listed above? We compiled ten artists who are making some serious waves in 2022 for International Women’s Day. Check them out below.

Little Simz

The 28-year-old rapper from London released her first three albums independently, with the third winning the NME and Ivor Novello Best Album Award and being shortlisted for the Mercury Prize. If that wasn’t impressive enough, Simz released her album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert last year, which received an insanely positive response with some hailing it as the best album of 2021. It’s only onwards and upwards for this young talent.

Arlo Parks 

2021 saw Arlo shoot to fame with her debut receiving wide critical acclaim and climbing to number 3 on the UK Albums Chart. Her debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams received nominations for three Brit Awards, won the Mercury Prize for Best Album, and is nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the Grammy Awards. She’s achieved so much already at such a young age (just 21 years old), and we think she’s only just getting started. Prepare yourself because Arlo might just take over the world. 

Mitski

Songwriter Mitski has been making music for quite some time now, having self-released her debut back in 2012. She continued to release music until she took a four-year break for her mental health. Now, Mitski’s back and making arguably the best music of her career, and it’s all anyone can talk about. It’s impossible to scroll through Twitter or TikTok without seeing someone mention the genius of her lyrics, the importance of her music, or hearing a snippet of her tunes. 

Megan Thee Stallion

Since Megan burst onto the scene, she’s been everywhere. She’s dominated the charts with hits such as WAP, Savage ft Beyonce, and Thot Shit, which won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance, one of the three Grammys she has under her belt. Outside of music, we’ve seen her collab with Popeyes, Nike, Cash App, and more, demonstrating how crucial she is to pop culture right now. Finally, Megan is the second female rapper to ever win the Grammy for Best New Artist, proving she’s here to make some serious waves. 

Peggy Gou

If you know anything about electronic music, you’ve probably heard of Peggy Gou. Peggy Gou is a South Korean DJ who has been smashing it on the decks since 2014. Since then, she’s released a total of seven EPs and started her own record label in 2019. She’s also the first Korean DJ to have played in Berghain, an iconic club in Berlin known for its world-class DJs. 2022 is looking busy for the rising star with performances set to go down at Mad Cool, Parklife, Coachella, and Primavera Sound. 

Doja Cat

Doja Cat is well on her way to becoming an icon of a generation. With infectious hooks, energetic flows and incredible versatility, it seems there’s nothing Doja can’t do. She releases hit after hit with Say So, Need To Know, Kiss Me More, Woman, Streets, and Juicy being among her most popular. It’s worth mentioning Doja rose to fame after her joke song about being a cow, Mooo!, became a meme. Although, in fairness, Mooo! is an absolute banger too. 

Muni Long

After years of penning tunes for some of the world's biggest artists including Cheryl, Rihanna, Big Sean, Mary J. Blige, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Little Mix, and Ariana Grande, Muni Long has seen some serious success with her tune Hrs And Hrs. Taken from her EP Public Displays of Affection which was released in 2021, we’re certain she’ll release another bop soon, attracting even more fans of smooth RnB jams. And having released three EPs over two years, in 2020 and 2021, we're hoping we can’t get another in 2022. 

Meet Me @ The Altar 

Formed in 2015, this American pop-punk band have already come a long way. The band, who all lived in different states at the time, worked collaboratively online to create their infectious, upbeat tunes. After going viral and receiving praise from All Time Low and The Wonder Years, the band signed to the label Fueled By Ramen. The label is crucial to the scene, having signed some huge bands such as A Day To Remember, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, and Twenty One Pilots. It's safe to say the band is well on its way to world domination. 

Wolf Alice

Wolf Alice have been making fantastic tunes for some time now but them winning the 2022 Brit Award for Group of the Year will have put the band on many people’s radars who wouldn’t have heard of them otherwise. The alt-rock/indie band are adored in the indie scene for their ethereal sound and ability to change genre seamlessly. The band are currently on tour and will be landing in America soon before coming back to Europe and the UK to play some gigs and make a few festival appearances. 

Honey Dijon 

If you've been browsing electronic music festivals to attend in 2022, you’ll have noticed the name Honey Dijon on a good few lineup posters. Honey Dijon is an American DJ who is taking over the underground electronic music scene. Her ability to command a room with her delicious, multi-genre sets is unrivalled, and with such influence, and with a second album on the way, we reckon she’ll be huge in no time. 

There are so many astounding women who are creating music that will help shape the entire landscape of their respective scenes. It’s amazing that we’re able to witness so many of them at such crucial, pivotal moments in their careers. We’re certain these women will absolutely smash it and become important figures in their genres and we can’t wait to see what they do next. 

Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.