International Women’s Day: Women In Music

The Off The Record team highlights some of their favourite women in music to celebrate International Women’s Day!

1. Dora Jar by Kayla Harper 

Dora Jar, born Dora Jarkowski, isn’t necessarily making headlines, but she surely is making an impact in the indie-pop, alternative music scene, gaining more recognition from opening for Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever World Tour (2022-2023), Gracie Abrams’ The Secret Of Us Tour (2025) and most recently Haim’s I Quit Tour (2025).  Though supporting these tours has certainly expanded Jar’s reach, she has already built a loyal fanbase through her social media presence, small shows and tours.  To date, Jar has released four EP’s, Three Songs (2021), Digital Meadow (2021), swirly ditties (2021) and Comfortably In Pain (2022), as well as her debut album, No Way To Relax When You Are Fire in 2024. Jar’s music paints a mystical landscape, balancing on delicate acoustic riffs and dreamy synths grounded in bedroom-pop basslines and heart-felt drums. Jar’s lyrics are poetic and vague, but somehow nail a specific emotional feeling every time.  An underrated gem, Jar’s music inspires women and girls everywhere to be their most natural self!

2. Stevie Nicks by Aiden Richards 

For more than five decades, American singer/songwriter Stevie Nicks has remained one of rock music’s most distinctive and enduring voices. Nicks rose to prominence in the mid 1970s after joining British-American rock band  Fleetwood Mac alongside Lindsey Buckingham. The band’s 1977 album Rumours became one of the best-selling albums in music history, driven in part by Nicks’ songwriting, including the haunting single “Dreams” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her success continued as a solo artist with the release of Bella Donna in 1981, Nicks proved she could command the spotlight on her own, delivering classics like “Edge of Seventeen” (Bella Donna,1981). Beyond the hits, Nicks helped redefine what a woman in rock could be. Her songwriting mixed with vulnerability, mysticism and strength, created a style that was entirely her own. Decades later, her influence still echoes through generations of artists who followed her path.

3. Kacey Musgraves by Lex Robbins 

Kacey Musgraves has reshaped what modern country music can look like. Albums like Golden Hour helped showcase country music in a more atmospheric light and showed that curiosity could still go hand-in-hand with tradition. For me personally, Kacey was one of the first female artists I truly connected with. She helped shape the way I think about music today and opened the door for me to fall in love with other female artists in country music and beyond.

4. Raye by Kyla Lemieux

In the past two years, Raye has gone from being a niche artist to someone that almost everyone knows. While Raye has been making music for many years, the release of her debut album, My 21st Century Blues (2023), signified her shift into the spotlight. The single “Escapism” blew up on TikTok alongside one of her most well-known songs, “Oscar Winning Tears,” becoming frequent on radio stations. Her 2025 Grammys performance of “Oscar Winning Tears” proved what a star she really is. Between her resonant, compelling voice and her personal-yet-relatable lyrics, Raye is a true powerhouse. But her impressive vocals are far from the only interesting thing about her. After years of struggling with substance abuse, body image, sexual assault, and even a battle with her record company, Raye has shown the world that it’s possible to overcome pain and suffering and come back even stronger. When she finally parted with her record label, she also proved that staying true to yourself is more important than doing what those around you think you should. For 7 years she was told that her music wasn’t “pop enough,” but her choice to release it anyways as an independent artist is an example of how music never has to be just one thing. Now, Raye is more popular than ever. Her upcoming album, This Music May Contain Hope, is set to be released on March 27, 2026, and her current world tour, This Tour May Contain New Music has been a hit in every city it’s travelled through so far. If you’ve never heard one of Raye’s songs, I suggest you start listening now, because it seems as though she’ll be sticking around in the music industry for quite a while.

5. Olivia Rodrigo by Aiden Richards

Very few artists in recent years have captured the emotional chaos of a growing sensation like Olivia Rodrigo.  Rodrigo broke through in January of 2021 with “drivers license” (SOUR , 2021) a heartbreak ballad that quickly shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the defining songs of the year. Her debut album, SOUR released May 21, 2021, turned that momentum into something bigger, blending pop, alternative rock and brutally honest songwriting about jealousy, insecurity and first heartbreak. Two years later, Rodrigo returned with GUTS”, released September. 8, 2023. GUTS felt louder and more confident, leaning into a punchy pop-rock vibe while still holding onto the vulnerability and emotion that made her debut resonate with listeners. What makes Rodrigo’s voice so important is her refusal to downplay emotion. She treats the messy, overwhelming feelings of youth as something worth documenting. In doing so, she’s become one of the biggest defining young artists in modern pop.

6. Miley Cyrus by Lex Robbins

Miley Cyrus is one of those rare artists who grew up in front of the entire world and still managed to redefine herself along the way. From her early days as Hannah Montana to the incredible artist she is now, Miley has never been afraid to evolve or push boundaries. She’s shown that an artist can outgrow expectations and still feel authentic. For me, Miley Cyrus was the very first artist I ever loved. Like a lot of people my age, I grew up during the Hannah Montana era, and those songs were some of the earliest ones that felt like they truly belonged to me. Looking back now, I can honestly say I wouldn’t be the music fan I am today without Miley. She was the starting point of my love for artists, albums, and all the stories behind them.

7. Beyoncé by Kyla Lemieux

When someone says the word “icon,” chances are Beyoncé is one of the first people you think of. Ever since the late 1990s, Queen Bey has been leaving her flawless impression on the world of music. Her first album with her renowned girl group Destiny’s Child in early 1998 was just the start of her now legendary career. Since then, she has made sure that just about everyone in the entire world knows her name, and more importantly, her art. Not only has her music inspired millions of people, but she’s changed the trajectory of the music industry entirely. For decades, new albums were traditionally released on Tuesdays, but after the surprise drop of Beyoncé’s self-titled album on December 13, 2013, the global release day for almost all music was moved to Fridays. This is just one of the countless ways Beyoncé has left her mark on the entertainment industry. Her 2023 Renaissance World Tour was an important milestone for the Queer community, with the tour being known publicly as a safe place for all. The release of her latest album, Cowboy Carter (2024), proved the fact that genre bending can be a true art, and the following tour became the highest grossing concert tour of 2025. In the midst of all this, Beyoncé still found time to release a haircare line, a whiskey brand, and collabs with brands including Tiffany & Co. and Levi’s. Now, fans are speculating the impending release of her next album. Though nothing has been announced yet, the past 30 years of music have proved that no matter what, Beyoncé will not disappoint. Whether you’re a fan or not, her impact on the music industry and on the world is undeniable.