Details: Lesley Chow's new book, "You're History: The Twelve Strangest Women In Music," follows Australian music writer and author Lesley Chow on an explorative journey into the music of twelve of her favorite women musicians and artists. Published by Repeater Press, March 2021.

Short Description: "

Raucous, sensual and sublime: how twelve pioneering female artists rewrote the rules of pop. From Kate Bush to Nicki Minaj, from Janet Jackson to TLC and Taylor Swift, pop’s greatest female pioneers are simply strange: smashing notions of taste and decorum, and replacing them with new ideals of pleasure."

Grade: M (new stock)

Full Description: "Raucous, sensual and sublime: how twelve pioneering female artists rewrote the rules of pop. From Kate Bush to Nicki Minaj, from Janet Jackson to TLC and Taylor Swift, pop’s greatest female pioneers are simply strange: smashing notions of taste and decorum, and replacing them with new ideals of pleasure.

Instead of rehashing biographies, Lesley Chow dives deep into the music of these groundbreaking performers, identifying the ecstatic moments in their songs and finding out what makes them unique.

You’re History is a love letter to pop’s most singular achievements, celebrating the innovations of women who are still critically underrated. It’s a ride that includes tributes to Chaka Khan, Rihanna, Neneh Cherry, Sade, Shakespears Sister, Azealia Banks, and many more…"

Author: 

Lesley Chow is an Australian writer on music and film. She is associate editor of Bright Lights, and was president of the FIPRESCI Jury at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. Her first book, You're History: The 12 Strangest Women in Pop Music, was published by Repeater in 2021.

Press: “Lesley Chow is the best and rarest kind of critic—one who loves to be surprised, and can always surprise you in turn… The emphasis is firmly on aesthetic pleasure, and the book itself is a unique pleasure to read: joyful, witty, knowledgeable, intensely observant, and indifferent to received ideas.” - Jake Wilson, arts critic for The Age and author of Mad Dog Morgan

“By embracing pop’s sonic artifice, its vocal textures and its wordless moments of rapture – too often ignored by other critics – Lesley Chow constructs a new version of pop history. Her assemblage of pop’s ‘hybrid girls’ and wayward women is a sly, original analysis.” - Anwen Crawford, music writer for The Monthly and author of Hole: Live Through This

“Lesley Chow’s sparklingly written book is full of whip-smart wit and electric prose. You’re History isn’t just a work of great criticism: it will make you rethink your understanding of pop music and the strange, sublime sounds of its creators.” - Luke Buckmaster, The Guardian

“Lesley Chow explores the alchemy of pop that comes from breath, sound and lyrics. Her deep dive into these extraordinary women made me feel their music all over again.” - Julia Zemiro, actor and presenter of RocKwiz