Having broken onto the scene with her slick rockabilly grooves, Imelda May has continued to captivate audiences with her latest soulful rock and roll project as well as a selection of striking poetry and spoken word.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In 2020, Imelda May released \u2018<\/span>Slip of the Tongue\u2019, <\/span><\/i>a collection of nine mesmerising spoken word compositions in which she addresses themes including feminism, love and the realities of life. In June of last year, May presented the powerfully honest \u2018<\/span>You Don\u2019t Get To Be Racist and Irish\u2019. <\/span><\/i>With these projects, May has cemented herself as one of Ireland\u2019s finest wordsmiths on top of being one of the country’s most treasured musical artists. <\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"video","video_platform":"youtube","video":"qYluS5kLit0","facebook_video":"","video_caption":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"copy","copy":" It is somehow an understatement to say that Billie Eilish has taken the world by storm. At just 19 years old, Billie Eilish stands as one of the most influential artists in the game right now. With an incredible D.I.Y attitude when it comes to writing and producing music, Eilish has fused a style of pop which incorporates darker and heavier styles and themes which helps to place her in a league of her own.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When it comes to fans of Billie Eilish, the age range is impressively varied and this is testament to the many musical ideas and themes that Eilish manages to tap into. \u2018<\/span>bad guy\u2019<\/span><\/i>, taken from Eilish\u2019s debut studio album \u2018<\/span>WHEN WE FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?\u2019<\/span><\/i> pokes fun at the personas that people adopt, including herself. With this, Eilish breaks down barriers and asserts the idea that perhaps we shouldn\u2019t quite take ourselves too seriously.<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"video","video_platform":"youtube","video":"DyDfgMOUjCI","facebook_video":"","video_caption":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"copy","copy":" Celeste released her debut studio album <\/span>Not Your Muse<\/span><\/i> in January 2021 and the modern soul record is packed full of empowering lyrical content. In the title track, Celeste exclaims, \u201c<\/span>I can be bold, Decorate me, adore me, baby, But I can’t be owned, It’s not part of my design, I’ll let you know, When I need you to liberate me, I’ll hold my pose, But I’m not your, I’m not your muse, I’m not your, I’m not your muse\u201d. Set to gloriously sweet soul, Celeste\u2019s image and sound is timeless, confident and breathtakingly exciting.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"video","video_platform":"youtube","video":"Tr7ye8Y9Jcs","facebook_video":"","video_caption":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"copy","copy":" Global sensation Lady Gaga has dominated the pop world since her debut studio album, <\/span>The Fame, <\/span><\/i>released in 2008. Gaga has been sure to use her music as an outlet for addressing issues that she believes in. The trance influenced <\/span>\u2018Born This Way\u2019 <\/span><\/i>is a LGBTQ+ empowerment anthem and \u2018<\/span>Till It Happens To You\u2019 <\/span><\/i>addresses the required awareness of sexual assault. Having performed at Joe Biden\u2019s inauguration in January 2021, Lady Gaga continues to proudly present her views and beliefs to a wider audience and in doing so stands as a symbol of hope and confidence for her fans and supporters.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"video","video_platform":"youtube","video":"wV1FrqwZyKw","facebook_video":"","video_caption":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"copy","copy":" In 2018, Halsey delivered a powerful, heart-wrenching poem about her experiences of sexual assault during the Women\u2019s March in New York City. Halsey addressed her struggles with manic depression throughout her studio album \u2018<\/span>Manic\u2019<\/span><\/i> as well as reflecting on past relationships in the emotionally charged ballad \u2018<\/span>Without Me<\/span><\/i>\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"video","video_platform":"youtube","video":"ZAfAud_M_mg","facebook_video":"","video_caption":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"copy","copy":" With the release of \u2018<\/span>Naked\u2019, <\/span><\/i>Irish singer songwriter Aim\u00e9e highlighted the importance for everybody to feel like they can celebrate their own body. By breaking down these boundaries and tackling the issue of people feeling insecure, Aim\u00e9e directly encourages confidence and acceptance. The track is uplifting, passionate and celebratory.<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"video","video_platform":"youtube","video":"ac12wXb46xQ","facebook_video":"","video_caption":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"copy","copy":" Back in 2017, Katy Perry gave an open and honest interview with Vogue magazine and addressed the issues of misogyny and sexism of which she dealt with growing up as a child. She expressed her disappointment to see these issues arising and manifesting throughout the world of politics and so detailed her interest in political activism. Through her music, Katy Perry has been sure to assert herself and she does so by encouraging confidence and highlights the importance of bo<\/span>uncing back after somebody knocks you down. \u2018Roar\u2019 is a bold example of this as Perry exclaims, \u201cI got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire, \u2018cause I am a champion, and you\u2019re gonna hear me roar!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"video","video_platform":"youtube","video":"CevxZvSJLk8","facebook_video":"","video_caption":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"copy","copy":" Indie-pop trio Haim have broken through a number of barriers in terms of what may have previously been expected from a \u2018girl band\u2019. Their latest record, \u2018<\/span>Women In Music Pt. III\u2019 <\/span><\/i>addresses the issues of misogyny within the music industry. In their track \u2018<\/span>Man From The Magazine\u2019<\/span><\/i>, HAIM highlight the casually sexist questions that they get asked by journalists. Their honesty, rawness and realness is a breath of fresh air.<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"video","video_platform":"youtube","video":"NqIiYJX1Xw8","facebook_video":"","video_caption":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"copy","copy":" Aside from being one of the most successful singer songwriters in recent years, Taylor Swift has been incredibly influential in terms of encouraging people to get involved with political issues. More than 160,000 people registered to vote within 48 hours in the 2018 midterm election after she backed Democratic candidates. And just last year, Swift endorsed the Biden-Harris campaign, telling V magazine, \u201cUnder their leadership, I believe America has a chance to start the healing process it so desperately needs\u201d. Swift\u2019s music has long been a powerful source of honesty and reflection and she continues to write music which people can easily take comfort from and find hope in. <\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"video","video_platform":"youtube","video":"K-a8s8OLBSE","facebook_video":"","video_caption":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"copy","copy":" Sinead O\u2019Connor has never shied away from speaking the truth and has often called people and establishments out when others were too afraid to do so. Undoubtedly most famously, O\u2019Connor ripped up a picture of the pope while performing on SNL in October 1992. Frustrated and angry with the Catholic church, its culture and its sexual abuse towards children, O\u2019Connor made a powerful statement which is still widely spoken of today. Since then, O\u2019Connor has remained outspoken about mental health and religion, encouraging much needed discussion on such topics.<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"video","video_platform":"youtube","video":"X0VpfiMcPPA","facebook_video":"","video_caption":""}],"block_type":"image-content","thumbnail_size":"height-2","image_thumbnail":{"ID":1136,"id":1136,"title":"Imelda May - International womens day feature - Universal Music Ireland","filename":"Imelda-May-International-womens-day-feature-Universal-Music-Ireland.jpg","filesize":82047,"url":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Imelda-May-International-womens-day-feature-Universal-Music-Ireland.jpg","link":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/music-features\/international-womens-day\/imelda-may-international-womens-day-feature-universal-music-ireland\/","alt":"","author":"1","description":"","caption":"","name":"imelda-may-international-womens-day-feature-universal-music-ireland","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":1133,"date":"2021-03-08 14:43:57","modified":"2021-03-08 14:43:57","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1000,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Imelda-May-International-womens-day-feature-Universal-Music-Ireland-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Imelda-May-International-womens-day-feature-Universal-Music-Ireland-300x180.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Imelda-May-International-womens-day-feature-Universal-Music-Ireland-768x461.jpg","medium_large-width":525,"medium_large-height":315,"large":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Imelda-May-International-womens-day-feature-Universal-Music-Ireland.jpg","large-width":525,"large-height":315,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Imelda-May-International-womens-day-feature-Universal-Music-Ireland.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Imelda-May-International-womens-day-feature-Universal-Music-Ireland.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":600,"twentyseventeen-featured-image":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Imelda-May-International-womens-day-feature-Universal-Music-Ireland.jpg","twentyseventeen-featured-image-width":1000,"twentyseventeen-featured-image-height":600,"twentyseventeen-thumbnail-avatar":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Imelda-May-International-womens-day-feature-Universal-Music-Ireland-100x100.jpg","twentyseventeen-thumbnail-avatar-width":100,"twentyseventeen-thumbnail-avatar-height":100}},"display_tag":false,"related":false,"tag_color":"","meta_description":"To celebrate International Women\u2019s Day, we take a look at some of the many powerful, influential and creative women in the music business. \r\n","social_share_image":{"ID":1135,"id":1135,"title":"Billie Eilish - International womens day feature - Umusic","filename":"Billie-Eilish-International-womens-day-feature-Umusic.jpg","filesize":51100,"url":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Billie-Eilish-International-womens-day-feature-Umusic.jpg","link":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/music-features\/international-womens-day\/billie-eilish-international-womens-day-feature-umusic\/","alt":"","author":"1","description":"","caption":"","name":"billie-eilish-international-womens-day-feature-umusic","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":1133,"date":"2021-03-08 14:43:12","modified":"2021-03-08 14:43:12","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1200,"height":800,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Billie-Eilish-International-womens-day-feature-Umusic-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Billie-Eilish-International-womens-day-feature-Umusic-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Billie-Eilish-International-womens-day-feature-Umusic-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":525,"medium_large-height":350,"large":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Billie-Eilish-International-womens-day-feature-Umusic-1024x683.jpg","large-width":525,"large-height":350,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Billie-Eilish-International-womens-day-feature-Umusic.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":800,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Billie-Eilish-International-womens-day-feature-Umusic.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":800,"twentyseventeen-featured-image":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Billie-Eilish-International-womens-day-feature-Umusic.jpg","twentyseventeen-featured-image-width":1200,"twentyseventeen-featured-image-height":800,"twentyseventeen-thumbnail-avatar":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Billie-Eilish-International-womens-day-feature-Umusic-100x100.jpg","twentyseventeen-thumbnail-avatar-width":100,"twentyseventeen-thumbnail-avatar-height":100}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/music-features\/1133"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/music-features"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/music-features"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1133"},{"taxonomy":"category_post","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umusic.ie\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category_post?post=1133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Billie Eilish<\/b><\/h2>\n
Celeste<\/b><\/h2>\n
Lady Gaga<\/b><\/h2>\n
Halsey<\/b><\/h2>\n
Aim\u00e9e<\/b><\/h2>\n
Katy Perry<\/b><\/h2>\n
HAIM<\/b><\/h2>\n
Taylor Swift\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
Sinead O\u2019Connor<\/b><\/h2>\n