In case you haven’t heard, Black women can rock outt, too! Since the early days of rock and roll, as far back as the first recordings ever released, Black women have played an integral role in the expansion and evolution of the genre. Many Black women have contributed significantly to various genres, even though they have been sometimes overlooked and ignored.

On the landscape today, Black women have followed the trail blazed by Big Mama Thorton, Sister Rosetta Thorpe, Odetta, Betty Davis, and the “Queen of Rock &Roll” Tina Turner, who all fought against oppressive patriarchy with their musical offerings.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, here are 5 Black Women To Watch In Alternative/Rock

Brittany Howard

Rising to prominence as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter of the Alabama Shakes, Brittany Howard is truly one of a kind. In her remarkable career, she received four Grammy Awards, including Best Alternative Music Album, and has been nominated nine as a member of the group. As a side musician, Howard was the bassist for the Thunderbitch and played acoustic guitar along with double bass for the trio Bermuda Triangle. In 2019, Howard released her debut studio LP, “Jaime,” garnering critical acclaim with seven Grammy nominations, winning Best Rock Song for "Stay High." Her newest album, ”What Now,” was released in February 2024.

Big Joanie

As a self-proclaimed “Black feminist punk band,” the London-based group Big Joanie has a unique sound and perspective that is centered on liberation through music. After being frustrated with the lack of intersectionality on the music scene, Stephanie Phillips formed the group in 2013 with Kiera Coward-Deyell and Chardine Taylor-Stone to be a voice of and for marginalized groups in society. Since the group’s inception, Big Joanie has released their debut EP “Sistah Punk” in 2014, followed by “Crooked Room” in 2016. Their LPs include “Sistahs" (2018) and “Back Home” in 2022, both of which received rave reviews. With the addition of Estella Adeyeri, Big Joanie is poised to be one the best…

Adia Victoria

Describing her music as "gothic blues," the musicality of Adia Victoria melds rock, punk rock, blues, punk rock, and even country music. A native of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Victoria grew up a Seventh-Day Adventist but moved to New York to “make it big” after high school. Following a move to Atlanta, she received a guitar for her 21st birthday and began playing the blues, which would change her life. After building her own band, Victoria released her first single, "Stuck In the South" in 2014. So far, she has released “Sea of Sand” (2014), “How It Feels” (2017), and “Baby Blues” (2017). Her LPs include “Beyond the Bloodhounds” (2016), “Silences” ((2019), and “A Southern Gothic” (2021), which have all been well-received by critics and her ever-growing fan base.

Nova Twins

Hailing from London, England, the Nova Twins are a thrilling, gender-bending duo of vocalist/guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South. The childhood friends first formed the band in 2014 under the moniker BRAATS and released their first song "Bad B*tches,” they haven’t looked back. Eventually, they dropped their self-titled  EP (2016), “Thelma and Louise” (2017), and “Mood Swings” (2017). In 2020, they released their first LP, “Who Are the Girls?” and “Supernova” (2022). Described as “devilishly-heavy & vivid punk-rock” by NME, Nova Twins has played some of the biggest festivals, including Glastonbury, Pukkelpop, Boomtown, Good Things Festival, Mad Cool Festival, and several more,

Alemeda

Sudanese-Ethiopian singer/songwriter Alemeda is making waves in the music world by unapologetically being herself and refusing to be confined to a single music genre. An emerging star on the rise, her music is a fusion of alternative rock, country, pop, and Afrobeat influences. The 23-year-old, first inspired by Disney’s “High School Musical,” released her debut single, “Gonna Bleach My Eyebrows,” which has gained over 8 million streams and counting. Her latest release, “First Love Song,” features an “indie-alt-pop” motif that bodes extremely well with her vocal dexterity, With her first official EP set to be released this year, Alemeda is well on her way to making a major impact on the music scene.