When thinking about powerful female guitarists, names like Carrie Brownstein, Joan Jett, and St. Vincent may come to mind, but for a multitude of reasons, Gorillaz’s lead guitarist Noodle is rarely in that conversation: The cartoon character has been voiced by various vocalists over the years, so it’s hard to keep track of who the artist behind the cartoon is.
That’s too bad, because Noodle has been one of the most-heard woman musicians of the past couple decades, and her songs are unforgettable. She also recognizes the value of those electric females who came before her, and those who are her contemporaries, so much so that she felt the need to honor them with a 30-minute playlist that includes some of her favorite woman creators of music, writing on Instagram (via Thump):
“In search of new sounds and new inspiration, I found these kick-ass women who in their own individual ways are true pioneers in the writing, production and creation of MUSIC. They have inspired me, and I hope they inspire you too.”
The mix, posted as a single audio file on Soundcloud, features tracks from acts like Empress Of, Laurie Anderson, and Grimes. It’s an eclectic selection, as is to be expected of anything endorsed by Gorillaz. Stream the mix below (or here), and if you’re looking for more of something similar, we created a playlist not too different in spirit from this one a few months ago, so feel free to revisit that here.
Featured image: watashiwanoodle/Instagram
