Celebrating Women’s History Month With Four Powerful Female Artists
This Women’s History Month, we are inspired by artists Ariana Grande, Alessia Cara, City Girls, and Karol G. That’s why every Wednesday in March at Litesport we’re launching brand new Punch Track workouts from these four powerful artists.
With our Punch Tracks, you can punch to the beat of “no tears left to cry”, “Scars to Your Beautiful – Cages Remix”, “Kitty Talk”, and “BICHOTA”. All while Litesport keeps track of your score with accurate hits, streaks, and average force. Build your boxing confidence as you track your results, share your progress, and compete with your friends. Who will win the title of Queen of the Ring this Women’s History Month?
From the power of female friendship to breaking through male-dominated music genres and stereotypes, these women are not afraid to march straight through the glass ceiling of the music industry, stand up for themselves, and create award-winning music. Read on to learn more about these amazing artists and when their songs launch on the platform as we challenge you to channel their confidence into your next Litesport workout.
Ariana Grande
This pop superstar famous for her high pony and wide vocal range is a role model for women as she navigates her journey to self-confidence
Image source: https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/music/ariana-grande-perform-2020-grammy-awards-after-backing-out-last-n1114101
Ariana Grande is an American singer and actress best known for her start on Nickelodeon television, her pop and R&B sound, and her wide vocal range. Born in Boca Raton, Florida, Grande got her first taste of the stage as a young girl growing up acting in the Fort Lauderdale Children's Theater. At the age of 15, she was cast in a supporting role in the 2008 Broadway Musical 13.
Her career began as Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon series Victorious from 2010-2013 and the spinoff series Sam & Cat from 2013-2014. More interested in pursuing a music career, Grande stepped into the music scene first through vocals on the Victorious soundtrack and then through her own YouTube channel where she covered songs by artists such as Adele, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey.
It was Grande’s YouTube channel that caught the attention of Republic Records. After signing a recording contract with the record label, Grande debuted her first studio album Yours Truly in 2013. Her wide vocal range and whistle register, or higher pitch, caught the attention of the industry. Every album since has secured Grande as one of the most successful female artists.
Not only is Grande the first solo artist to hold the top three spots on the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously, but she’s also won two Grammy Awards (including one this year for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for the song "Rain On Me" with Lady Gaga), one Brit Award, two Billboard Music Awards, three American Music Awards, nine MTV Video Music Awards, and 22 Guinness World Records.
Grande has had her fair share of heartbreak and trauma, having been cast into the spotlight after the death of rapper and ex-boyfriend Mac Miller and the 2017 Manchester Arena Bombing. Working through her trauma has allowed Grande to be a role model for women to stand up for themselves and find confidence even in the most challenging situations.
Work out with Ariana Grande
Known for her powerful lyrics on love, relationships, female strength, independence, and empowerment, it is exciting to feature “no tears left to cry'', a track from Grande’s fourth studio album, Sweetener, on our Litesport Punch Tracks. Her first single after the 2017 Manchester Arena Bombing, “no tears left to cry” explores Grande picking herself back up after the traumatic experience that she and her fans went through. This dance-themed pop beat is impossible not to move to, and we know the tempo is just right to practice those punches. Plus this song is already live on the platform so there’s no reason to wait!
Alessia Cara
This pop star is a role model for self-love and acceptance through her powerful lyrics
Image source: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/alessia-cara-gcf2017-festival-here/
Alessia Caracciolo, known as Alessia Cara, is a Canadian pop, R&B, and soul singer and songwriter known for her powerful lyrics on building self-love and confidence. Alessia fell in love with music at a young age. She started learning guitar at age 10 and by 13 she had her own YouTube channel covering her favorite artists. Alessia was signed to EP Entertainment and Def Jam Recordings in 2014.
Her debut album Know-It-All launched in 2015 and singles including “Scars to Your Beautiful" and “Here" helped it peak at number 8 on the Canadian Albums Chart and number 9 on the Billboard 200. Cara has also collaborated with artists including Zedd, Logic, Juanes, KYLE, Lauv, and more. She also released the single "How Far I'll Go" for the Disney film Moana.
As an introverted pop star, Cara often talks about her journey towards self-confidence. Cara admits that she was too shy to perform on stage at the beginning of her career and often struggles with feelings of self-doubt. As writer or co-writer for most of her music, Cara often explores these feelings of doubt, belonging, confidence, and self-love through her music.
Cara stepped into her confidence after her 2018 Grammy Awards Best New Artist win. When critics felt that SZA should have won, Cara had to step up to the plate to defend herself. For Cara, that Grammy win helped her realize that she is more talented than she often gives herself credit for. For many listeners, Cara is an inspiration for her relatable lyrics and authentic take on self-confidence.
Work out with Alessia Cara
Prepare to be inspired by the lyrics of “Scars to Your Beautiful – Cages Remix” as Cara sings about loving yourself and your body in this powerful pop-hit from the artist’s first album Know-It-All. Get your daily dose of self-love as you get your workout in with this Punch Track live on March 10 on the Litesport platform.
City Girls
Rap’s unapologetic duo is here to prove that there is (finally) room in the industry for more than one female rapper
Image source: https://www.vibe.com/features/editorial/city-girls-interview-599834/
The Miami-based rap duo City Girls consists of two best friends, Yung Miami, born Caresha Romeka Brownlee, and JT, born Jatavia Shakara Johnson. The duo has already made a name for themselves with their raw talent and explosive confidence. JT and Yung Miami are as real as it gets. With their hold-nothing-back lyrics and #girlboss attitude, the duo is not here to please anyone or to fit inside a box.
JT and Yung Miami didn’t set out to start a career as a rap duo. They fell into the scene after the release of their 2017 single that started getting attention in the Miami club scene. After Quality Control Music got a hold of their songs, they signed the rap duo immediately. Since then City Girls has released one mixtape, Period in 2018, and two studio albums, Girl Code and City on Lock in 2018 and 2020 respectively.
Singles "Twerk" and "Act Up" along with collaborations with artists such as Yo Gotti, Cardi B, Doja Cat, Lil Durk, and Lil Baby have helped shoot this duo into the spotlight. City Girls also made an appearance on Drake’s 2018 single "In My Feelings” which helped attract a lot of interest in the duo. Their music has garnered them three nominations for BET awards, three nominations for BET Hip Hop Awards, and a 2019 win at the BET Social Awards.
The ride to success for City Girls wasn’t always easy. The duo has had its ups and downs, including jail time for JT for credit card fraud, with Yung Miami having to hold her own while JT served her jail time. The inspiration behind the name City Girls also comes from both rapper’s tough upbringing in two neighborhoods of Miami, Opa-locka and Liberty City. Having to fend for themselves with parents either out of the picture or in jail shaped the mentality that these women bring to their music.
As lifelong best friends, you can tell that JT and Yung Miami have an incredible amount of respect for one another and their music. It’s this friendship that defines the duo’s success and is what makes them so appealing. As part of the movement in the rap industry that is (finally) giving female rappers their time to shine, JT and Yung Money are not afraid to make the most of it.
Work out with City Girls
Feel the power and the confidence of City Girls with our Litesport Punch Track to “Kitty Talk”, launching on the app on March 17. The single is from the duo’s 2020 album City on Lock and it doesn’t hold anything back, and neither will you as you workout to this Punch Track.
Karol G
Reggaeton superstar redefining a male-dominated genre with her contagious music and confident personality
Image source: https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/live-roster/karol-g/
Born Carolina Giraldo Navarro, Karol G is a fearless Columbian reggaeton and Latin trap singer and songwriter. Told by Universal Records at the start of her career that a woman could never break into the male-dominated reggaeton, Karol has done more than prove them wrong. She’s topped the charts with hits including “BICHOTA”, “Tusa”, “Ay, DiOs Mío!”, “LOCATION”, and “China”.
Her collaborations with artists such as Nicki Minaj, Bad Bunny, and Anuel AA, to name a few, have helped boost her to stardom. Yet it’s her fearless determination and confidence that led to her rise to the top. After receiving the rejection from Universal, she promoted her music with her father, touring for years across Columbia singing at clubs, colleges, festivals, and in the Columbian spinoff of The X Factor in 2010.
Universal eventually signed Karol in 2016, and her song with singer/rapper Bad Bunny "Ahora Me Llama" was the breakthrough hit that shot her into the spotlight. The song, released in 2017, reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.
With four nominations at the Latin Grammys in 2020, a 2018 Best New Artist win, and several wins and nominations for Billboard Latin Music Awards and Premios Lo Nuestro awards, Karol G is undeniably a superstar. With her face tattooed on her body– next to none other than Rihanna and Selena– it’s obvious that Karol G is the definition of confidence. Throughout her career the singer has always stayed true to herself, never gave up on her dreams, and refused to take no for an answer.
Work out with Karol G
Channel the confidence of Karol G by punching to the beat in our Litesport Punch Track to the artist’s famous song, “BICHOTA”. Launching on the Litesport app on March 24, this song about empowerment, strength, and flirtation will get you sweating as you jab and punch to the beat.