Best Music of 2016

This was a rough year for women across America. Our bodies were obsessively critiqued and analyzed without our consent, we were consistently denied bodily autonomy and healthcare access, we were called names behind our backs and to our faces, we were harassed and even murdered in the streets, we continued to be paid less than men for the same work, we were told our worries don't matter or don't even exist, and much more, especially for women of color, LGBT+ women, and non-Christian women.
So, it's been a rough year for women and femme-identifying people. Yet, still, here we are today, looking 2017 in the face and hoping it'll be better than last year. Luckily, 2016 was an excellent year for women in music, giving many of us the soundtrack we needed to combat the sexism happening all around us. I've compiled many of my favorite songs by women released in 2016 to inspire us to keep pushing and fighting.

#TattooTuesday with Conscious Ink Temporary Tattoos

At the beginning of the summer, I got some awesome Conscious Ink temporary tattoos. I've been trying them out periodically since I got them. I've tried temporary tattoos before, so I wasn't expecting to be nearly as inspired as I was by these particular tattoos. That said, I was very inspired, and I think it shows in my Instagram captions.

A photo posted by Hannah Goldstein (@thehannahgold) on Jun 23, 2015 at 4:42pm PDT

"A friendly reminder to myself and anyone who happens to see me, created by consciousink"
Ink: You are beautiful

A photo posted by Hannah Goldstein (@thehannahgold) on Jun 30, 2015 at 5:02pm PDT

"As much as I'm loving my chill summer in Seattle, it can be difficult to find the will to stay productive doing more than just the necessary day-to-day items on my to do list. This week's #tattootuesday reminds me that I have a sense of purpose beyond just existing; I am meant to thrive and do great things."
Ink: Purpose

A photo posted by Hannah Goldstein (@thehannahgold) on Jul 7, 2015 at 7:29pm PDT

"A fresh pedi & a new consciousink tat make for a happy#tattootuesday!"
Ink: Listen Listen

A photo posted by Hannah Goldstein (@thehannahgold) on Jul 14, 2015 at 3:27pm PDT

"Hell yeah I'm stoked! I have the rest of the week off to do art & go exploring, my sister is on her way to see me, and the weather is a manageable 75 F in Seattle right now ☀️ consciousink knows just how to help me wear my mood on my sleeve!"
Ink: Stoked

A photo posted by Hannah Goldstein (@thehannahgold) on Jul 21, 2015 at 5:32pm PDT

"My consciousink tattoo told me to 'be bold' so I took its advice and went for purple eyeshadow & orange lipstick. I love out-there makeup but don't always feel confident enough to wear it."
Ink: Be Bold

A photo posted by Hannah Goldstein (@thehannahgold) on Jul 28, 2015 at 9:07pm PDT

A wonderful woman at the library today inspired this ‪#‎TattooTuesday‬. After we discussed ‪#‎GirlPower‬ and how far the feminist movement had come since she was my age (and how far it still had to go), she paid me a great compliment that really made my day. She told me that she admired my patience and kindness as a tutor and that she wished she'd had someone like me to help her learn when she was a kid. It can be really hard to feel like our daily routine is actually worth something to the world, but this interaction reminded me that I am inherently powerful simply by doing what I do.
Ink: I am powerful

Best Music of 2015

It was another great year for women in music! If you recall, last year my "best of" playlist was all about the Femme Fatale. This year, I've compiled 50 songs released in 2015 by some amazing women. Check out the playlist on Spotify or check out the list below.

• Water Under the Bridge – Adele
• Here – Alessia Cara
• Wild Things – Alessia Cara
• Golden Coast – Allison Weiss
• Impossible – Angel Haze
• Babe Ruthless – Angel Haze
• Focus – Ariana Grande
• Hyde – Astrid S
• Better – Banks
• Dirty Laundry – Carrie Underwood
• Paint It, Black – Ciara
• Oceans Brawl  (Ash Workman Version) – Cœur de Pirate
• Hide Away – Daya
• Confident – Demi Lovato
• Wildfire – Demi Lovato
• On My Mind – Ellie Goulding
• Holding On For Life – Ellie Goulding
• Make Her Say (Beat It Up)  – Estelle
• BO$$ – Fifth Harmony
• Reflection – Fifth Harmony
• Used to Love You – Gwen Stefani
• Love Myself – Hailee Steinfeld
• Hold Me Down – Halsey
• Control – Halsey
• BURN IT UP! – Janet Jackson and Missy Elliot
• Mascara – Jazmine Sullivan
• Save My Soul – JoJo
• I Think I'm In Love – Kat Dahlia
• God Knows I Tried – Lana Del Rey
• High By the Beach – Lana Del Rey
• Divine – Laura Marling
• Happier Etc. – Laura Stevenson
• OMG – Little Mix
• Unapologetic Bitch – Madonna
• Can't Pin Me Down – Marina and the Diamonds
• A Bolt From the Blue – Meg Myers
• Soap – Melanie Martinez
• Mad Hatter – Melanie Martinez
• Pablow the Blowfish – Miley Cyrus
• Space Boots – Miley Cyrus
• Code Red – Monica, Missy Elliot, and Laiyah
• Bird of Prey – Natalie Prass
• Touch – Pia Mia
• Better Place – Rachel Platten
• Never Ever Getting Rid of Me – Sara Bareilles
• Same Old Love – Selena Gomez
• Me & The Rhythm – Selena Gomez
• Alive – Sia
• Bird Set Free – Sia
• Surface Envy – Sleater-Kinney
• No Cities to Love – Sleater-Kinney
• 1965 – Zella Day
• East of Eden – Zella Day

Bad Blood

As a strong believer in the female friendship, I simply adore Taylor Swift and her girl gang. Like many women in my generation, I grew up hearing that boys make better friends because they "don't come with drama." This can be true (to an extent), but that largely discounts the benefits a female friendship has to offer. Friendship is not measured in presence of drama, after all. Female friendships are empathetic, supportive, and well worth having.

This is my attempt at transitioning into talking about Taylor Swift's latest music video for her song "Bad Blood." For lack of better words, I'm obsessed with this video. It's all about badass women in hardcore clothing rallying around Taylor Swift to have her back in an epic showdown. See it below:

After seeing this video (a couple dozen times), I was inspired to create a look that could fit into this kickass video. 

All photos by Emily Lane

I even let Luxe get in on the fun!