I still love and relish the discovery of new music. I love my past favorites, but I'm always thrilled to find new artists to follow. This year a trend in the music I've purchased has been what I'm going to call- "Smart Lady Pop." Being the mother of two young girls, I'm constantly on the lookout for female positive music- role models of creativity and with fresh energy- to turn to as alternatives to the copy cat, over-stylized, voice-enhanced, dress-up dolls of the trendy pop music scene. While I'll let my girls listen to the latest songs and even buy a few that don't totally offend me, I like to offer them some choices and in voices that I think they'll like. I don't want to shove Nina Simone at them full throttle all the time! So far, it seems to be working. Imagine my super-thrill when Hazel pronounced a Neko Case song from the "Hunger Games" soundtrack as her favorite!
Smart Lady Pop for me is made up of girls and women who write their own music, play their own instruments, dress the way they want and generally do their own thing. I hit the jack pot this year with a plethora of bands that have these qualities!
First off- Girl In A Coma. How can a band named after a Smiths song go wrong? They are amazing, two sisters and a friend from San Antonio with Latino roots and a strong connection to the punk and alternative scene. I love the story of how they started, two friends- Phanie Diaz and Jenn Alva wanting to start a band and discovering that a little sister had an amazing voice. Nina Diaz's voice is strong, unusual and thrilling. She does some interesting things with her voice that I find fascinating. I like that they also sing in Spanish and do some very unique covers. I came very close to trying to take H. to a concert in Ybor City over the summer. I re-thought that, but what a great first concert that might have been! I also love that they look like real women, not dolls made up to look like pop stars.
Check out their album "Exits and All the Rest", it's pretty great, also dig into their back catalog for a pretty cool cover album- "Adventures in Coverland." BONUS! I just found this link for two free songs, one that features Nina Diaz singing with Carla Morrison (someone I will also be looking into!) Latino Alternative Pop is the next big thing, don't you know? Check back soon for more bands I've discovered in my search for Smart Lady Pop.
There is a yard in my neighborhood, with a mysterious front garden. The house is shaded with oaks and the yard is dark and hard to see. There is a picket fence with an arbor entrance, begging me to peek. I drive by with my bicycle slowly, hoping to steal longer glances each time. I see colorful things hanging from the trees. I know it must be cultivated somehow in there. There is no grass, just lots of big growing things. I want to go in there so badly to explore! My yard, on the other hand, is bright and sunny and there is no mystery. It's all out for you to see, from whatever direction you are coming. When I think of the other house and garden, I am reminded of "The Secret Garden" and the moment when the children first discover the locked, walled-off, overgrown mess. It looks awful at first, but soon they will spy some roses and slowly discover the former beauty of the garden. What a find that would be! I think that this house I pass by might be just as intriguing. I would never have the guts to sneak in- and it might be disappointing to discover nothing much going on anyway. Maybe best to leave the mystery in the darkness and overgrown vines.
