Not Just a Feature: Female Musicians Reclaim German Mics
In the first part of our series, we dove into the pulse of Germany’s male rap scene: fast, competitive and algorithm-driven. Now, we shift the focus to the women, the ones redefining what it means to be heard in an industry that still tends to turn up the volume for men. Germany’s female artists are carving out their space with bold vision and undeniable talent.
Shirin David made history as the first solo female rapper in over a decade to top the album charts, Nina Chuba’s “Wildberry Lillet” went triple gold and hit #1 across the country, Paula Hartmann got praised for her poetic realism, has earned critical acclaim, festival stages and major award nominations - proving that authenticity, genre-blending and emotional depth is powerful. They’re playing the game with layered vocals, self-directed vision and in spite of an industry that wasn’t built for them. Visibility is still a fight. The system remains to amplify male narratives louder. So what does it really mean to be a woman in Germany’s music industry today?
Let’s talk about it.
Double Standards, who would have thought…
Let’s be real: for every ten male artists dominating Spotify playlists, festival stages, or viral TikToks, there’s one woman getting the same space. And its not a talent gap, it’s a systemic imbalance. In interviews, female artists often describe having to prove their credibility, justify their ambition, or navigate condescension in the studio. Shirin David, one of Germany’s most visible pop-rap stars, has spoken about being dismissed early in her career for being “too pretty and feminine” to be taken seriously as a lyricist. Women get often dissected more for their appearances than their work and message.
From Vulnerability to Power
Artists like Paula Hartmann and Nina Chuba bring a totally different shade to the scene: introspective, raw, poetic. Paula’s melancholic vocals blend urban storytelling with indie-pop. Nina Chuba moves effortlessly from party hits to deeper cuts about self-doubt, ambition, and identity. What Paula and Nina have in common? A refusal to flatten their voices to fit one particular picture. Female artists are often expected to be either “tough enough for rap” or “soft enough for pop.” The truth is: most of them exist in the in-between and that’s where the power is. Alaya blends soul and Afrobeat. Iki Mel plays with genre and provocative lyrics. Zsa Zsa mixes attitude with Berliner Schnauze. These women are not only one thing. They are many and not to put in a sweet box. They’re forcing the industry to expand its vocabulary and view. They are moving through emotional terrain male artists rarely dare to touch.
But Behind the Scenes: Still a Boys’ Club?
The German music industry, like many others, remains male-dominated behind and in front of the camera. Whether it’s producers, label execs, or management teams - women are underrepresented. This imbalance affects everything from creative control to tour safety to how press photos get styled. Many female artists have quietly recounted how often they’re surrounded by all-male teams, and how that changes the dynamic and work. The pressure for a woman is not just to be talented - it’s to be flawless, likable, brandable. “You learn quickly that your image can be used against you,” one artist shared anonymously in a podcast. “Too sexy? You’re fake. Not sexy enough? You’re invisible.”
Still, They Rise
And yet, female artists in Germany are creating space for each other in a way we’ve rarely seen before. From surprise features to all-women writing camps, we’re witnessing the early stages of a support network that’s emotional and professional. Germany’s music landscape is changing, and female artists are not waiting for an invitation. They’re building their own rooms, their own labels, their own definitions of success. Female artists are no longer asking for seats at the table; they’re designing new ones. And while the work is far from over, their presence is not just a trend, it’s a transformation. What we’re witnessing isn’t just more women in music.
It’s a rewiring of what German music sounds, feels, and looks like when women take the lead.
by Lareen Roth-Behrendt
