Lady Pills at the Loud and Livid: Women’s History Month Concert

Kayden Meza

Anchor Staff Writer

In honor of Women’s History month, Rhode Island College’s 90.7 WXIN hosted a concert to showcase local women-led bands. One band, Lady Pills, is a Providence-based Indie Rock band consisting of lead singer and creator of the band Ella Boissonnault, bassist Nick Holcomb, and drummer Nikko Fyfe. The set list they played at the Loud and Livid concert included “Mundane,” “Right Track,” “Didn't You,” “BN2B,” “Ugly,” “Call It (anything but What it Is),” “What I Want,” “She Said,” “Out into the Open” and “Sink the Ship.” I interviewed singer Boissonnault about her new album “Renowned in the Roaring Twenties.” 

“Renowned in the Roaring Twenties” is a concept album that details the treatment of artists in a post-covid world. Boissonnault hopes this album can open the public's eyes to this mistreatment faced by artists in the industry, specifically by Spotify and Live Nation. Boissonnault explained the hoops artists must jump through to have their voices heard: “It's not enough to be a musician or a songwriter or a creative anymore. You have to run an entire small business without any funding to even be considered at the table.” 

Through Lady Pills’s songs, she portrays musicians’ struggles by using “you” to refer to these mass corporations. Instead of these songs being perceived to be about relationships that went sour, the true break up is with the system. To better support artists, keep yourself educated and support musician unions. 

Image via @ricradio on Instagram

Boissonnault’s favorite song on the album is “Call It (anything but what it is).” She explained that the writing process is described as chaotic and full of reworking. Starting with a riff or lyric is the first step, then the biggest struggle is continuing to work and explore this idea.

On Spotify, Lady Pills is on a playlist titled “Riot Grrrl” with other bands such as Bikini Kill, Le Tigre and Destroy Boys. For those that are not familiar with the Riot Grrrl genre, it began as a punk movement in the 1990s to uplift women’s voices and in turn, oppose sexism and rape culture. Boissonnault does not consider herself or her band Riot Grrrl but it has affected her and her music. 

The influence of the Riot Grrrl genre is especially evident in the Lady Pills song “Eat Them” on the 2018 album “Despite” where she discusses misogyny. The political climate surrounding reproductive rights and bodily autonomy has impacted her work in Lady Pills and her personal life. Boissonnault believes it is impossible to not be affected by these issues, especially as a woman in music. It is important to remember that today’s political climate and women’s rights are connected and a person can not stand for one without acknowledging the other. “The systems that mess with one of us mess with all of us. I find it hard to just talk about one thing without talking about everything,” Boissonnault says. 

Lady Pills is a band that blends Indie Rock with a feminist message. The band’s stage presence was off the charts, which left the audience's eyes glued to the stage. I could not help but be enthralled and sing along. Their catchy lyrics and exhilarating music will not be easily forgotten. In particular, Boissonnault's message against misogyny and exploitative companies. Fans such as myself are eager to see what Lady Pills has next in store. Check Lady Pills on Instagram and TikTok. As well as on Spotify and Apple Music.