by Riley Zawilenski
Independent rock has been experimenting with other genres in the music industry ever since it grew out of 1970s England’s post-punk and “do-it-yourself” movements. From there, countless artists have established different soundscapes that define these separate eras of the genre. Specifically, within the past decade, many artists have taken inspiration from the 90s indie movement, which is when the genre experienced its biggest growth in popularity. It’s also when women started to become more prominent in the genre, thanks to the creative freedom and DIY mindset of the Riot Grrrl movement. This is still heavily reflected in a lot of indie rock today as many female solo artists and female-fronted bands take inspiration from this era. As a young woman who primarily listens to anything under the indie/alternative umbrella, many of my favorite artists now are those women who have helped give newer indie rock its distinct sound it has now.
One of those artists is Sophie Allison, who performs under the stage name Soccer Mommy. I’ve been an avid fan of hers for a few years, and in that time, I’ve always admired her 90s-inspired sound paired with her melancholic songwriting. I admire her even more now after seeing that she got to accompany essential 1990s indie acts Liz Phair and Sleater-Kinney on their “The Flannel and The Fury” tour that recently concluded. Considering the major impact they had on the 90s indie rock scene, having the opportunity to support them on tour was definitely an honor for Allison, and I can only see her garnering even more respect within the indie scene after doing so.
Prior to this, Allison kicked off her music career by releasing lo-fi home recordings before ever landing a record deal. Since then, multiple projects of hers have charted and gave her the status she has now as a modern architect of current indie rock. Her full-length debut, Clean, landed a top 10 spot on multiple year-end lists, and two years later, her sophomore LP, color theory, reached top 10 on Billboard’s Alternative chart.
Additionally supporting “The Flannel and The Fury” as an opening act was Snail Mail, the solo project of singer-songwriter Lindsey Jordan. I haven’t been listening to her as long as I’ve been listening to Soccer Mommy, but after listening to her March 2026 release Ricochet, it’s safe to say I’m now a fan. Like Allison, Jordan didn’t sign with a record label right away, but shortly after the release of her debut EP, Habit, it quickly landed her a deal with Matador Records.
Both Allison and Jordan have been in the industry for roughly the same amount of time, and within that time, they have formed a close friendship and will now be headlining their own “S&M” tour together. Considering how I love both of their solo discographies, seeing them come together for this tour is very exciting for me, and I absolutely look forward to seeing what comes out of it.
Alongside the S&M duo, there are so many other female artists I’ve grown to admire for their contributions to indie rock. Another artist I’m obsessed with right now is Blondshell, who just put out her phenomenal brand new album, Violins. I also love The Last Dinner Party, boygenius, and solo artist Bully, who’s even done collaborations with Soccer Mommy and Blondshell.
It’s easy to see that indie and alternative genres make up a large amount of my music taste, and being a young woman, seeing other women find their own place within the male-dominated scene is truly inspiring. They work their way up from a small beginning, and it’s very encouraging to see them come together and support each other in the process. Before indie rock became what it is now, prominent female acts of the 90s helped pave a path for up and coming indie artists to do the same, and it warms my heart to see newer artists continue to do so and uplift one another many years later.
