When I reflect on the music that influenced me growing up, it’s amazing I’m not currently wrapped around the legs of a man begging him to love me. My Walkman was the equivalent of a dysfunctional friend or bad boyfriend; a would not let me go. Only a full volume singalong in my car could shift it). In truth, there are very few things that unconsciously lodge themselves in our minds with this power. Yet we rarely stop and question what influence that music and lyrics have over us. I have lost count of the times I have seen dance floors fill with women cheerily singing along to . (I urge you to Google the lyrics immediately if you’re still doing this.) Which is why this week’s cover star, Self Esteem (aka Rebecca Lucy Taylor), is a much-needed breath of fresh air. She is on a mission to speak authentically through her music and I feel so utterly grateful that, instead of growing up in a world where women in music become bitches and hos, girls get to listen to empowering lyrics that reflect how people really feel. As a team we are constantly thinking about how to make the world better for the girls and young women who follow in our footsteps, which is why this issue we are celebrating the brilliantly inspiring Self Esteem.
