Funky for the ladies, the kiwi ladies...

I'm going to say it, I don't care about sounding like a dude on the prowl: where are all the ladies, man?

Hmm?

Right, will need to get specific before I have to explain my penchant for k.d is merely a coincidence and I don't play hockey/soccer/rugby. YOU know what I mean.

I'm talking about the presence of the ladies in the soul/funk world in New Zealand. Yes, yes, we all know Hollie and Ladi and Tyra but what else is there.

Gimme some mo'!

Everyone knows that the world of music predominantly is a sausage fest, this is no surprise, but it still would be nice to have a bit more of the feminine touch.

The three aforementioned ladies are of course doing their part really effing well, nobody is taking that away from them because that would be foolish. I'm not suggesting that we need to do a sit in or start a petition or anything. Yet. Let's just share some love. I'll go first:

Lisa Tomlins rocks me like a hurricane. You may recognise her as one of the chanteuse back-up singers from Fat Freddy's Drops Wandering Eye video, along with the equally amazing Deva Mahal, or possibly even from Twinset's cover of Just The Way You Are.

Maybe Rhombus is your flavour and you've heard her lovelyness on that. It's probably the fact that I've had the pleasure of going to se The Pleasures with, once again, Hamilton's own Tyna Keelan amongst the ever-changing, always awesome line-up of awesomeness and that's why I've fallen so hard. If you are in Wellington on Wednesday night and don't make it to Hope Bros. on Dixon St you are a foolish, foolish sucker.

Another lady I'm loving is Iva Lamkum. Also a Wellingtonian and also rad. My goodness, I am gagging for her LP to drop. Husky, bluesy, soulful fun with some clever lyricism is pretty much my kryptonite. Never stood a chance.

And to round it off Nat Rose and her awesome pipes have been brought to my attention. Boy howdy am I grateful.

I'm sure that there are more than this handful of delightful ladies bringing the funk and soul for Aotearoa. Care to share?
Now you go...