via No Depression

Canadian students Kate Macdonald and Janelle Blanchardrecorded a version of Neko Case’s brooding “Star Witness” on a school staircase and the result moved Case to tears. “Wow. That just made me bawl my eyes out,” she tweeted. “What beautiful singers. I’m not worthy… Holy god. They broke the shit out of my heart!!” Mine, too. They accomplish this with a ukelele, angelic voices, a talent for harmony - and a mission to save their school.

The Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School houses an arts-intensive program that draws creative students from the Toronto area. But, in September, the local school board voted to close the school. It is the only school in downtown Peterborough and is described by locals as vital to the life of the community. Kate and Janelle took to the stairwell to record Case’s song to draw attention to the impending closure. That tweet from Case has the video (by Jared Raab) flying around the internet. You don’t want to miss it. This is a tough time for school arts programs and these enormously talented students give the need to support arts in schools faces and achingly clear voices.

Learn more here.‬

Ever have a day where you’re just like “I really need to surround myself with media made by amazing women?” Us too, so here’s “Extraordinary Machine” by Fiona Apple. 

Send us your favorite songs, books, TV shows, films, etc. helmed by women and let’s have a party!

Tinderbox Music Festival is an annual event showcasing a powerful and diverse lineup of established and emerging female artists producing innovative original music. Rooted in the vibrant New York City music scene, Tinderbox fosters community by providing opportunities to perform, collaborate, and connect. Tinderbox also donates 100% of its net proceeds to organizations involved in empowering the next generation of female artists including GIRLS WRITE NOW (http://girlswritenow.org/gwn/), an organization providing guidance and opportunities for NYC’s underserved high school girls to develop their independent voices and explore careers in professional writing, and the WILLIE MAE ROCK CAMP FOR GIRLS (http://williemaerockcamp.org/), a non- profit music and mentoring program empowering girls and women through music education and activities.

Kate Nash’s After School Rock N Roll Club for Girls launched in March in order to address the serious gender imbalance in the British music scene. Check out this awesome series of interviews with British women musicians as they talk about what it’s like to be a woman in the music scene, how to get started, and how to shut out the haters.

Brigitte Aphrodite says it thusly: “If what you’re making sounds weird or freaky or even stupid, it’s probably really good. Get it! Get it out there! And if even one person laughs at you—loads of people have laughed at me—then just ignore them, brush yourself off.”

MTV turns 30 today, y’all! Check out this video recap, which includes Jennifer Pozner of Women in Media & News talking about how MTV shifted focus off of music and onto image and appearance, completely changing the way we think about pop stars. How has growing up in the “MTV Generation” changed the way you think about celebrity, media, and women? 

Super interesting article which won’t let me copy/paste for some reason but I promise it’s worth the click-through! What do you think - is Rihanna being unfairly targeted for talking too much about sex?