If you’re all about keeping your playlist fresh and femme-powered, you’re in the right place. These Southeast Asian bands aren’t just making waves, they’ve got impeccable taste, too. Let’s dive into what music inspires some of the best female-fronted acts right now.

1. FUAD 

Lisa Fuad, one-half of this sibling duo, is serving peak 2000s indie rock energy with vocals that feel straight out of the soundtrack of cult films. So it makes perfect sense that she’s got Fiona Apple’s Valentine and Liz Phair’s Supernova in heavy rotation. You can hear it in FUAD’s latest singles, Hot Kitchen and Wait and See, pure nostalgia with a fresh, razor-sharp edge.

2. HAWA 

Hawa is everywhere, and for good reason. Eff Hakim’s solo project is gearing up to shake the scene even harder this year, building off the much-loved “Aku Dah Mati” and “Mayat Hidup”. Her influences? A chaotic yet perfect blend of Hole, Mitski and Malaysia’s rock queen Ella. A little grunge, a little heartbreak, and a whole lot of attitude: Hawa is the moment.

3. Sobs 

Singapore’s indie-pop darlings Sobs have us crying into our pillows one minute and dancing through existential dread the next. Their inspiration board? Kero Kero Bonito for that hyperpop joy and Alvvays for the melancholy girlies. They’ve mastered the art of making us feel everything, all at once.

4. Yonlapa 

Thailand’s Yonlapa is all about warming up fragile hearts with dreamy, melancholic tunes. So it’s no shocker that their go-to artists include the ethereal Pale Saints and the effortlessly cool Mac DeMarco. Soft, wistful and perfect for those late-night overthinking sessions.

5. Grrrl Gang 

Indonesia’s Grrrl Gang is the feminist punk band we can’t get enough of. Frontwoman Angeeta Sentana kicks misogynists in the teeth while being brutally honest about self-doubt—”I’m neurotic, manic, borderline psychotic.” With inspirations ranging from Mannequin Pussy to the late, great SOPHIE, it’s no wonder they sound so unapologetically real.

BONUS: AIdaho Why stop at indie rock when you can throw in a DJ? AIdaho is taking over the local electronic scene, with influences stretching from Charli XCX’s Brat era to Boys Noize. If you love your beats glitchy, futuristic and absolutely unhinged, she’s your girl.

If you’re all about girl power — and let’s be real, why wouldn’t you be? — then you need to be at GRRRLS! To The Front, presented by TongTong Asia on February 8, 2025 (Saturday). Door tickets will be available for RM118.

Check out the show’s rundown below: