Welcome to another edition of Feminist Friday – the part of our week where we gather around our fave feminist videos of the moment usually centered around a common theme. This week we’re all about the women making music with a message of empowerment or social cause.
First up is UK artist of Nigerian descent Debra Ohalete whose new EP, Pussy Monologue, pays homage to the global phenomenon ‘The Vagina Monologues’ written by artist and activist Eve Ensler. With rapper STKZ guesting on key track ‘Tempted’ and producer M3NSA on mix duties, the EP sees Ohalete step it up, in preparation for a busy year ahead. Check her out on Spotify:
As with Eve Ensler’s episodic play which inspired the release, the EP touches on brutal honesty and being outspoken about the female viewpoint in contemporary society, not being perfect and expressing one’s innermost thoughts, no matter how much they may upset or challenge people. Take a listen to ‘Tempted’ below:
The second artist we’re featuring may be a familiar face to some. Nashville artist Olivia Lane was recently featured on an upcoming episode of NBC’s popular new songwriting competition series ‘Songland’– a show that sets out to give undiscovered songwriters a chance to create a hit. Olivia was also recently named one of Rolling Stone Magazine’s “Country Artists You Need To Know,” and 1 of 5 “Breaking Big” acts by Entertainment Weekly, which is why we had to include her in this column!
Her song ‘Perfect Skin’ is a track about finding beauty and comfort in one’s own imperfections. She released an intimate and personal lyric video to accompany the track, and we are already in love with the lyrics because they are so relatable.
“IF YOU NEVER EVER LOVED A MIRROR YOU’VE NEVER REALLY SEEN YOURSELF MISTAKES LIKE FRECKLES, LABELED POTENTIAL STARING BACK AT YOU AS NAKED REFLECTIONS OF LINES AND STRETCHES YOU CAN’T SEE THROUGH…”
“YOU’RE NOT A PICTURE YOU CAN AIRBRUSH YOU’RE NOT A PAST YOU CAN ERASE YOU’RE NOT ALONE WHEN YOU FEEL TOO MUCH YOU’RE HUMAN, YOU’RE MAGIC, AND YOU BREAK…”
The final video this week packs a punch and leaves us on a high ready for a weekend of girl power! Bebe Rexha’s new track ‘You Can’t Stop the Girl’ was pegged as the female empowerment theme for Disney’s new ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ starring the one and only Angelina Jolie. Directed by Sophie Muller, the music video features scenes of Rexha reimagined as Maleficent and wandering through the film’s fantasy landscape, leading a marathon of women and snippets of the film. The variety of running women highlight body positivity, people with physical disabilities and racial diversity, according to Variety.
Take a listen and watch the video below!
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