WOMAN TO WOMAN ON AMAZON MUSIC

Amazon Music has invited 23 female artists from across the genre spectrum to guest-curate playlists of meaningful songs in celebration of International Women’s Day. Participants including Jorja Smith, Courtney Barnett, Sharon Van Etten, Mabel, Freya Ridings, Jade Bird and Emeli Sandé reveal their sensibilities on these playlists, which can most effortlessly be accessed by uttering the magic words, “Alexa, play music for International Women's Day.”

“My playlist features the powerful female artists who have inspired me,” says Grace Carter, echoing the general sentiment of the guest curators. “I was drawn to strong female voices growing up, and when it came to making my own music, a lot of these artists gave me the confidence to be open and honest in my songwriting.”

We were pleased to find a number of classic artists from our just-published Black Music History, Part One special issue chosen by the guest curators. Aretha Franklin is heavily represented, as are Nina Simone (we were pleased to find that Barnett went with “Mississippi Goddam”) and H.E.R., who’s on one of the new issue’s two covers.

The selected artists range from Joni Mitchell and Carole King to Amy Winehouse and Portishead to Beyoncé and Kacey Musgraves. Great idea—and inspired results.