Lefem

Lefem formed in Medellín, Colombia in 2016, with Juliana Velásquez, Elisa Restrepo, Karen Forero, and Manuela Mejía coming together around music and a shared interest in addressing social issues. Their name combines 'feminism' and 'anthem,' which gives a sense of what they're about without overstating it.

Their song 'Por Ser Mujer' came out in 2018 and connected with listeners in Latin America. The lyrics speak to discrimination and violence against women in plain terms, and the track became something people talked about and shared. It's the kind of song that gets passed around because it says something specific.

Lefem's music pulls from pop, rock, and Colombian folk sounds, but it's the directness in their writing that stands out. They've drawn criticism from some conservative circles for their feminist perspective, which isn't surprising given their subject matter. They kept making music from that position.