 Happy Women’s History Month to all my ladies out there!! I know it’s somewhat ridiculous that we need to set aside time to celebrate women when we should be doing it everyday, but it is nice to take the time to reflect on some of the amazing things we’ve accomplished over the years, and to get excited for all of the beautiful things to come. Some of those beautiful things include new music from certified queens RiRi, Lana, and Misdemeanor herself Missy Elliot at some point this year. You already know I’m counting down the moments until I can put my thang down, flip it, and reverse it when the long awaited follow up to 2005’s The Cookbook finally drops.
This year has only just begun and we’ve already been served some high quality bops, major music video content, and teasers from upcoming albums I truly cannot wait any longer for. March has been particularly prolific, and we’re barely two weeks in! In case you’ve been MIA, let me help you catch up on all the ways our favorite ladies have been writing music history this month. Solange, When I Get Home As pointed out by Complex, Solange truly did THAT by dropping When I Get Home at midnight at the tail end of Black History Month and the very beginning of Women’s History Month. There are no words I could say that would do the gorgeous follow up to the equally beautiful Seat At The Table any justice, but I would be remiss to not mention it at all. Solange has this uncanny ability to make all her music feel so effortless yet so deliberate at the same time. I don’t know if it’s her airy vocals, layered harmonies, or the undeniable coolness that emanates from everything she touches, but I drank this album up so fast and was genuinely mad at my Spotify for switching to a “similar to this artist” playlist when it was over. How does one even compare?! Everything I’ve listened to since has yet been able to quench the musical thirst I was left with in that moment. Oh! And hot take: Solange is my favorite Knowles sister. THERE I SAID IT. Maren Morris, GIRL I hate to admit it but it’s true, I’m a long-time country music hater. In my defense, I never gave the genre a fair shot, having only just pierced the surface of what it had to offer which resulted in me only being familiar with Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, who I thoroughly enjoy!. This year, I decided to give country and americana a try when I saw how much recognition the two genres were getting at the Grammy Awards in the forms of Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour and Brandi Carlile’s By The Way, I Forgive You. My exploration has continued with this month’s release of Maren Morris’ GIRL, whose titular track is her ode to being yourself despite your biggest insecurities and the seemingly inevitable judgement from others. The rest of the album is at times equally vulnerable, but never compromises on fun. It’s Morris at her best, and she even brings Carlile along for the ride on “Common”. Stella Donnelly, Beware of the Dogs Stella Donnelly is from Perth, Australia, and I am now convinced there’s something in the water there, as it is home base for so many amazing bands and talent musicians, like psych-rockers Tame Impala and pop chameleon Troye Sivan. Donnelly is definitely not the exception. I stumbled upon Beware of the Dogs while doing my Monday morning perusal of Pitchfork. Knowing Pitchfork is notoriously critical of everything every artist has ever made, ever, I had little expectations when clicking on the review for this album. When I saw that it boasted a whopping 7.6 score (impressive for an outlet where I’ve maybe seen a handful of scores above an 8, one of which is Solange’s latest FYI), I had to see for myself what got them so riled up. Donnelly is in one moment a true “shit starter” (her words!), and the next a stunning, emotional vocalist. Play “Old Man” and “Allergies” back-to-back to see exactly what I mean. Also, check out her Tiny Desk concert to have your socks charmed off by her delightful solo set. Some smaller but no less important items that need your attention! Sara Bareilles dropped a single called “No Such Thing” which reminds me of her sonic aesthetic circa “Gravity.” I’m not crying, you’re crying. Mariah Carey dropped a video for “A No No” which almost made me want to ride the subway. Lauren Mayberry of Scottish pop group CHVRCHES teamed up with living marshmellow and producer/DJ, Marshmello, to bring us “Here With Me” and I’m now ready for more summer certified bops. Rapper cupcakKe brought us “Bird Box” which only helped to solidify my belief that women are the most interesting thing happening to hip hop right now (see Tierra Whack, Young M.A, and Princess Nokia) And finally, I couldn’t catch the whole special, but I did see this clip of Alicia Keys and SZA honoring the late great Aretha Franklin on the CBS “Aretha! A Grammy Celebration” Sunday night. It made me thankful that I lived in a world in which Aretha existed and brought with her so much joy, and that women like Keys and SZA would be bringing that same energy for many years to come. So Happy Women’s History month! Take this time to be extra thankful for the fabulous women in your life who make the world a better, more musical place everyday. #TheCrush Report is a monthly recap of what's happening in the biz by __________, Chloe Cardio. You can follow Chloe Cardio at @chlo_vah on IG and Twitter.
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