There is a huge movement going on here in the United States. People all over are pushing for female rights. If you look at the big picture, it would seem there is no problem. Women can vote, join the military, become CEOs, everything their male counterpart can do. It is when you take a closer look that there seems to be a glass ceiling when it comes to certain things. Women often are paid less, there are fewer in the boardroom, and female artists are not played near as much on radio as their male colleagues. It really feels like nitpicking with what seems like small things. However, all these small things lead up to a really big problem. It’s like trying to pilot a ship with a bunch of small holes. At first it may seem better than a big hole, but at the end it’s still going to sink. That’s where I feel we are with women’s rights in America. We have fixed the big problems, but if we don’t fix the small ones, the end result is the same.

I was slightly shielded from all of this growing up. My life has always been filled with powerful women role models. My grandmother, mother, teachers, and FFA advisors all took a sledge hammer to any barrier that was in their way. Actually it was country music that introduced me to women’s rights, or the lack thereof. To be more specific it was”The Thunder Rolls” by Garth Brooks. I know it sounds strange, but there was something that had to do with that last verse. The one they ended up removing from radio because of all the controversy. The woman standing up for herself had to be the big problem. There had been many songs before where lyrics contained violence, but there was something about a woman shooting a man that people were not comfortable with. I am not supporting murder, but at that moment I knew that we are not as equal as we like to believe. Fast forward to today and our next artist here on Feed the Band is driving this message home with her latest single.

Alyssa Trahan is a women who is using TNT to knock down any barrier in her way. At first glance, Alyssa may not look like a force, but you will think differently shortly after you strike up a conversation with her. Being from the south, I assumed she was just another head  strong New Yorker. However, she wields her confidence with amazing grace. Her strong foundation invites you in like a well built house that brings warmth and belonging. Alyssa Trahan is using her power in her latest single “Because I Am a Girl”.

“Because I Am a Girl” shows Alyssa’s power vocally, in her ability to tell a story and most importantly she calls out the status quo for women. She openly calls out naysayers and demands action. It is an anthem for women, but also demands action from all of us. Alyssa Trahan puts everything out and goes as far as  to call out country radio. That’s a risk as a country artist. However, for her it is a risk worth taking.