Underground Icons: Women Pioneers of the Indie Music Scene
Celebrating pioneering women in indie music who broke barriers and made history.

Indie music today is a far cry from what it used to be. The industry has made so much progress over the years and continues to evolve as the world changes. At every stage, we’ve had strong, talented, and inspiring women to help lead the charge. They are scattered throughout history but they all have one thing in common. They fought the odds and forged their names into indie history.

In this article, I’ll celebrate ten of the incredible women who have helped make the indie music industry what it is today. They are our heroines. Let’s meet them.

Patti Smith

In 1975, there were hardly any women doing punk rock. After several years of trying to find her way through that male-dominated industry, Patti Smith released her debut album, Horses. It came to be known as one of the most impactful punk rock albums of all time. Patti Smith’s introduction to the punk rock scene was a hostile takeover.

She went on to become one of the biggest punk rock artists of her time. She was also a fierce feminist and a multi-talented overachiever. She produced her songs, attacked social gender norms, and helped create the indie music world we live in today.

Bjork

Perhaps one of the fiercest performers to ever grace the stage, Bjork simply could not be ignored. She first made her name as the lead singer of an Icelandic band called the Sugarcubes but her real success came after she went solo. Bjork was popular for her complete disregard for genre walls. She experimented with genres, featured artists, from other genres, and made some of the most exciting music of her time.

She released eleven albums and has been on tour for most of the years between 1993 and 2023. Bjork is, no doubt, an indie music legend.

Kim Gordon

Kim Gordon ended up signing with a major label, but we cannot ignore the impact she made beforehand. She first formed a band with Thurston Moore, whom she later married, called Sonic Youth in 1981. Together, they introduced the world to a new subgenre called noise rock. After releasing six albums, however, Sonic Youth signed for a major label.

The new change didn’t affect their style of music, though. They continued to make their alternative music, releasing nine more albums before finally splitting up when Gordon and Moore parted ways. Kim Gordon still makes music today, but the real cause for celebration is the early music she made which helped define an era in indie music.

PJ Harvey

PJ Harvey MBE is the first Englishwoman on this list. Her solo career took off in 1995 and she has since released ten studio albums. She started her music journey as a young girl watching men dominate the music industry. After singing in a band for some years, she took her career into her own hands.

She became the only artist to win the Mercury Prize twice in 2011 after first winning in it 2001. The sheer longevity alone makes me shudder. She has also been nominated for the Grammys eight times but unfortunately has no wins.

Ani Di Franco

A textbook indie artist, Ani DiFranco is a true activist. She has released over twenty albums on the indie label Righteous Babe Records which she founded. In her music, it’s not hard to know what she cares about. DiFranco talks about the environment, LGBTQ rights, and feminism among others. Her story is one of courage and refusal to accept the status quo.

She founded her label at the tender age of 19 and set out to take over the music industry. Now, thirty-five years later, she has cemented her place as a true icon of indie music.

Kim Deal

Both the Pixies and the Breeders are a huge part of indie music history, and Kim Deal was a huge part of both bands. She joined the Pixies as one of the original lineup of musicians. She wrote the songs and played bass. After only a couple of years, the Pixies announced they were going on a break. Kim Deal wasn’t ready to break, however, and she formed a new band called the Breeders.

Kim Deal released five albums with the Pixies, nine with the Breeders, and one with the Amps, another band Deal formed for a short period. She’s as prolific as it gets.

Beth Ditto

Beth Ditto wasn’t just a woman coming up in the indie music industry, she also happened to be queer. With the voice and platform she had, Beth never failed to make sure everyone knew that women were just as capable as anyone else. She didn’t stop with music. She has dabbled in the fashion and the movie industries. If you’re wondering whether you can do it, Beth says you can.

Fiona Apple

Fiona Apple has a record that underscores her level of excellence. She has released five albums over a twenty-four year period and every single one of them has made it into the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 200s. She is one of the most decorated indie artists with an impressive lineup that includes three Grammys. Her trophies prove that the accolades are not out of your reach.

Kate Bush

In 1978, a nineteen year old Kate Bush saw her debut single rise to the top of the UK Singles Charts. She was the first woman to ever do it with a song written by the artist herself. The song remained top of the pile for four weeks. She went on to release ten albums, dominating the UK indie scene so much it earned her a national honor.

ST Vincent

As far as lead guitarists go, Annie Clark (or St. Vincent) has set the standard for everyone, not just women. Her creative playing and distinct style have earned her a place among the best guitarists of all time. She has released eight albums to date, the last only dropping this year, and she continues to forge ahead. Looks like she plans to continue setting the standard for a long time.

Final Thoughts

There several names missing on this list, but these ten women have been an immense part of the indie music industry. From different countries and eras, their separate actions have all served to get us to where we are. For that, we celebrate them. We must also make sure their work doesn’t go in vain.

So chin up, Girl. Your heroes did it. You can too.