Hey Violet are celebrating the end of International Women’s Month by channeling an unapologetic appreciation and love for female-identifying artists. Fresh off the release of their latest single, “Uncomplicated,” via Hopeless Records earlier this year, Hey Violet’s leading duo, sisters Nia and Rena Lovelis are poised to close out the month by spotlighting six influential female artists who have left a lasting mark on their journey as women and musicians.
Drawing inspiration from a diverse spectrum of musical talent, the band pays homage to the raw emotion of alt-rock icon Alanis Morissette while honoring the poetic rebellion of Patti Smith. Venturing into the contemporary realm, modern empowerment is embodied by trailblazing artists such as Paramore’s leading lady, Hayley Williams, and pop sensation Halsey—both of whom have pierced the sonic veil with their unfiltered honesty.
As Hey Violet reflects on the powerful impact of these female artists and more, they celebrate the rich dynamic of women’s contributions to music. Check out the six female artists who inspired them below.
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette has been the ultimate woman in alt-rock influence for Nia and me since we were little babies. We grew up with Alanis as one of our staple soundtracks behind every single day we went to school, on the weekends with music blasting around the house, mini pool parties, and, of course, as a top influence in our musicianship and my vocals and stage presence. She, in particular, is one of the main powerhouses that inspires us to dig deeper into our lyrical content and draw out our most vulnerable reflections through songwriting and poetry. She’s the queen of angst, and we are grateful disciples.
Patti Smith
I mean, come on, need we say more? This woman has shaped so many of us, and so many artists and bands have seriously no idea how much. Her poetry, her life, her songs, and her mind are all seemingly endless chasms of messages and painfully honest symbolism. Patti Smith makes you question what you once thought you knew and her very being is an act of rebellion, and if that isn’t ultimate female influence, I’m not sure what is.
Halsey
Ultimate chef’s kiss. Their message, their passion for women’s rights, advocacy for young people, POC, artistic youth, creative expression, and the LGBTQ+ community—they’ve had a massive impact, and they capture a nakedness in their lyrics that you don’t get to see as often in pop that is unbelievably raw and refreshing. It’s something we’ve always strived to do since our very first EP, so seeing Halsey make such huge waves in the pop world is incredibly inspiring and motivating.
I also deeply appreciate how much they’ve vocalized messages of destigmatization of bisexuality and mental illness, two areas that have needed that kind of championing and that hit as close to home as you can get for us. Nia and I are also OBSESSED with using our faces as canvases for quirky makeup, so seeing another woman in the scene create a super fun, unapologetic, alternative makeup brand for us to play with is just so cool.
Beyoncé
Beyoncé is the woman that I’ve always thought of when calling upon my self-confidence and my inner goddess. Her self-titled album was what shattered the glass for me in terms of how much of a feminist I was and broke the ceiling for being able to see how much we still need those messages, that action to call out sexism and enact real soul-deep change within others, and for us to believe in our own voices as women in this industry. She is a true rockstar that inspires me vocally and all of us intrinsically and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t know almost every one of her lyrics.
Ethel Cain
Ethel Cain’s “American Teenager” has been a huge inspiration to this current era of Hey Violet. From her story-telling capabilities to her incredible sonics, her album Preacher’s Daughter was so insanely well-rounded and truly felt like a movie was unfolding in front of my eyes. Her style has been so inspiring to me (Nia). I love the way she carries herself and also, she literally has the voice of an angel. What’s not to love?
Paramore & Hayley Williams
Paramore has been a constant beacon for Hey Violet throughout all of our eras. I (nia!) actually have a music folder on Instagram where I save videos of different musical performances that have inspired me and I’ll be the first to admit Hayley is at the forefront of 90% of them. Rena and I grew up learning a ton of songs from Riot! and Brand New Eyes, and honestly, we never really kicked the obsession. Her stage presence, her vocals, her lyricism—it’s all the more proof that she is a force to be reckoned with and a true inspiration to girls and women everywhere.
