Women have long been striving for the credit, equality and opportunity that they deserve so this March 8th we take a look back at some of the most notable women we featured in our magazine and we take the opportunity to celebrating their incredible achievements.

1. FKA twigs – CAPRISONGS 

Ten years since the release of LP1, twigs is showing she is still as versatile and mysterious as ever all with an impressive growing network of collaborators.

CAPRISONGS from the opening line announces it isn’t an album “Hey, I made you a mixtape”. Free from traditional album norms this tape is untamed and explosive. There are blends of, or sharp turns to; RnB, old-school House, Dancehall and nu-pop all with an acid-electric twist throughout, even the interludes don’t allow much room for a breather. 

Words: Thomas-Bradey Riseley

2. Joy Crookes – 19th Floor

In case you’ve missed her, Joy Crookes is a British singer-songwriter from South London, with Irish-Bangladesh origin. While a teenager, Crookes taught herself how to play guitar, piano and bass, before writing her own music. She started has been releasing covers of songs on YouTube when she was 13, until she was discovered by her current manager.

Her debut studio album, ‘Skin’ was released in October 2021 via Insanity Records and immediately landed at Number 5 in the UK Official Charts, cementing her place as one of the most exciting breakthrough talents the UK has to offer.

Check the full review here.

Words: Gery Hristova

3. Jorja Smith – Addicted (FAMM)

Jorja Smith’s first work of the year draws less inspiration from RnB and soul than her debut album, ‘Lost & Found’ and in turn provides further evidence into a potential change in direction from the London-based sensation yet doesn’t reveal the full picture by any means.

With past collaborations with Burna Boy and Popcaan, LDN half expected further exploration into dancehall and reggae. However, with exquisite jazz singles like last year’s Ezra Collective collaboration, ‘Rose Rouge’ and atmospheric hiphop endeavors like ‘By Any Means’, it’s clear that Jorja is simply refusing to be boxed up into any particular genre or direction and thus has the liberty to make whatever she feels like. 

Check the full review here.

Words: Doug Phillips

4. The Slits – Cut (1979)

Three mud-rubbed, fierce, staring tribal women posing strikingly among English roses and shrubbery wearing nothing but rags around their waists – breasts for all to see. An album cover as unmistakable as the sounds it promises. A girl gang of sonic raggamuffins. The Slits. Purveyors of feminist punky reggae that would bless the ears and souls of both Simone De Beauvoir and Marcus Garvey. 

Before the seminal album ‘Cut’ – before Island Records founder Chris Blackwell hooked them up with musician-producer Dennis Bovell – the Slits were a ramshackle, erratic and juvenile four-piece band touring with The Clash. The chaos was so uncontaminated that to control it would be a mean feat, but the results sublime. The transition The Slits made pre-‘Cut’ and post-‘Cut’ is surgically outlined by the difference between their 1979 ‘Peel Session’ and their 1981 session – from dilapidated bedlam to a not-so-dilapidated madness. Was this the girls growing into their sound or being given stabilisers to strengthen their musical gait?

Check the full review here.

5. Taylor Swift – Focklore

Taylor Swift once known as America’s sweetheart in her younger country days easily transitioned to pop music with her fifth album ‘1989’ but that she could pull off the evolution to indie-folk as effortlessly no one would’ve ever thought. ‘folklore’ is everything Swift has to offer and so much more.

It’s the grown-up, more horrifying tales of her third album ‘Speak Now’ with the heartbreaking romanticism of ‘Red’ and the adult themes seen on ‘Reputation’. ‘folklore’ contains all the best Taylor Swift has used throughout her catalogue with a twist that establishes her reign as the best lyricist this century has seen.

Check the full review here.

Words: Lauren Dehollogne

6. Florence + The Machine – King

Florence + The Machine return with their first single since creating the lead track, ‘Call Me Cruella’, for 2021’s Disney film. Since forming in London in 2007 they’ve topped global charts, starred in TV-shows like Gossip Girl and been nominated for over 60 awards. Their latest song ‘King’ really captures the girl power/feminist aspect of the band, with vocalist Florence Welch revealing the inspiration as her gender, identity and “her desires” for the future. The video – directed by ‘Emma”s Autumn de Wilde – has a horror feel to it and LDN thinks the song is well worth checking out. 

Check all the reviews here.

Words: Andrea Naess

8. Beabadoobee – Last Day On Earth (Dirty Hit)

We all know many artists take inspiration to write music from what’s going on in the world, which is why it’s no surprise we will end up with lots of songs written about the pandemic. However, everyone has their own view on the current situation. With ‘Last Day On Earth’ Bea or better known as Beabadoobee contemplates what she would have done if she knew the entire world was going into lockdown or as she describes it the ‘Last Day On Earth’. 

It’s no secret the artists signed to independent label Dirty Hit like to collaborate. Last week No Rome released the single ‘Spinning’ with Charli XCX and The 1975. On ‘Last Day On Earth’ Bea worked together with both Matty Healy and George Daniel, from The 1975. This is probably why it sounds very much like their 2020 release ‘Me & You Together Song’.

Check the full review here.

Words: Megan Hofman

9. Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams

One of the most exciting new artists to grace the music scene is Arlo Parks who has released her eagerly anticipated debut album ‘Collapsed In Sunbeams’. With Billie Eilish and Phoebe Bridgers among the fans of Arlo, the 20-year-old west-Londoner’s angelic vocal and poetic lyrics tackles the struggles of unrequited love and depression. She has already been hailed as a voice of a generation. This soulful retro record is laced with hints of hip hop and R&B and gives a nostalgic feel as if each of these songs are polaroid’s that are reminiscent of navigating through your teenage years. 

Arlo’s sensitive approach to storytelling is ethereal and cathartic with songs such as ‘Caroline’ where she describes an argument that she witnessed between a couple who are complete strangers to her. The picture she paints is so vivid, you almost feel as though you are in the moment and feel the pain of the heartbreak with zero context on the couple. Her emotional directness on songs such as ‘Black Dog’ paints a bleak picture of what it’s like to watch somebody you love battle depression. The mellow guitar that floats with a smooth drum beat makes this song so raw and vulnerable and definitely the standout track on the album. It’s hard not to get choked up listening to the lyrics as she describes watching someone dear to her trying to get better but losing the battle.

Check the full review here.

Words: Hollie Sackett

10. King Princess – Pain

Brooklyn born and raised Mikaela Straus, better known as King Princess, is putting out hit after hit. After her debut single ‘1950’ became a massive hit with over 300 million streams, her covid-cancelled plans included a set at Glastonbury, Coachella and supporting Harry Styles on tour, which has been postponed to 2021. So, while everyone’s 2020 got put onhold Mikaela jumped back in the studio and put her hours in. She waited, however, to release music until last month. As it didn’t feel right to her to put out music in between the middle of a pandemic and a massive racial movement. 

Check the full review here.

Words: Megan Hofman