Spotlighting Female Artists & Songs That Make Us Feel Seen: IWD 2026
Celebrating International Women’s Day. The Last Dinner Party, photographed by TOPNOTE contributor, Bethany Cordery
We’re celebrating International Women’s Day with the songs that make us feel seen and heard as women, and the female artists we love — as chosen by the TOPNOTE team.
Happy International Women’s Day! Did you know that over half of the people who now work in the music industry identify as female (53.8% of respondents in the 2024 UK Music Workforce Diversity Survey)?
And yet, women remain more likely to face age and gender discrimination as they progress in their careers.
TOPNOTE is proudly feminist (and founded by a woman!). Alongside championing great music and music lovers, we aim to make all aspects of music journalism more inclusive of women, and to normalise gender equity within the music industry.
Music is a powerful vessel for communication and community. For International Women’s Day (IWD), we asked those in the TOPNOTE team who identify as women to share a song that makes them feel seen or heard. We asked the contributors who identify as male to spotlight a female artist along with their favourite song/s.
Here’s what – and who – we picked.
Little Simz. Image credit: Karolina Wielocha
Little Simz – Woman
I would say a song that makes me feel seen or heard is ‘Woman’ by Little Simz. I had to pick a female artist for obvious reasons and I looove this song. It feels like an ode to women who carry culture, ambition, and responsibility with grace. As a woman of colour, it resonates deeply, celebrating strength without flattening us into one narrative – it feels expansive.
— Ellie
Holly Humberstone – Deep End
One of my favourite female musicians at the moment is Holly Humberstone. I first came across her in 2020, when I heard ‘Vanilla (Stairwell Version)’ and have enjoyed seeing her continued rise since. But it’s her song ‘Deep End’ that I’m choosing for IWD. Humberstone wrote the song about her desire to help her sister through her mental health challenges, but I think it’s also a celebration of the emotional connectedness that sisters can share. The song’s slow strumming is almost meditative, while Humberstone’s vocals ripple with concern and vulnerability, pleading without force or demand.
— Tom
Holly Humberstone. Image credit: Chuff Media
Shania Twain – Man! I Feel Like A Woman!
It’s so difficult to choose just one song. I have a bunch of playlists which solely consist of songs by female artists, which reflect the varying experiences and emotions of womanhood. There’s a playlist for very mood. One of my earliest memories of experiencing female empowerment from music was listening to my mum’s Shania Twain CD. Still to this day, listening to Shania Twain never fails to boost my mood - I’m almost certain the intro to ‘Man! I Feel Like A Woman!’ could wake me from a coma.
— Bethany
Tems – Me & U
I love Témìládè Openiyi (Tems)’ music. She has done some amazing, big collaborations, but her own stuff is the one. It’s very soulful and vibrant. She writes and composes most of her stuff too which is cool! My favourite song of hers is ‘Me & U’ at the moment, maybe because it’s super easy to dance to.
— Jake
crysometimes, photographed last year by TOPNOTE contributor, Paddy Whidborne.
Crysometimes – BELLA
I’ll go with crysometimes. I’ve really enjoyed their music since I photographed them opening for Fletchr Fletchr. Favourite songs are ‘Bella’ and ‘Tell Me’... as well as ‘Hot Boyfriend’ and ‘Harry’. I love it when Megan (lead singer) screams at the gigs. You can really tell how much of herself she puts into their music.
— Paddy
Sam Fender – Greasy Spoon
Might be slightly controversial to pick a male artist for IWD, but ‘Greasy Spoon’ by Sam Fender is the most passionate and powerful song I’ve ever heard written by a man on what it’s like being a woman. After condemning the universal experience of being catcalled, overburdened, and diminished, he embodies it with palpable rage and empathy: ‘I am your mother / I am your sister / I am your daughter’. I would love for more male artists to recognise their influence, especially over other men, and use their voice to support women more explicitly, as Fender did so brilliantly here.
— Ella
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Whether or not you identify as a woman, why not spend International Women’s Day exploring more female artists, and celebrating the women in your life!