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Photo credit: Martin Sarovski
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For decades, the music industry—especially rock, blues, and jazz—has been dominated by men, often making it challenging for women to gain recognition, authority, and opportunities. Yet countless female guitarists have defied the odds, proving that talent, resilience, and creativity are not gendered. The journey, however, is rarely easy, and the obstacles often extend beyond mere skill or experience.
One of the primary challenges women face in male-dominated music scenes is visibility. Male networks, festival lineups, and industry gatekeepers historically favored men, leaving women to navigate professional growth largely on their own. Additionally, stereotypes and biases—both subtle and overt—can undermine confidence or create pressure to constantly prove oneself. Women are often judged more harshly for the same mistakes or expected to conform to traditional norms rather than innovate freely.
Despite these hurdles, many women have found strategies to thrive. Mentorship, collaboration, and community play a crucial role. Connecting with others who have faced similar challenges provides guidance, support, and validation. Building a personal brand based on authenticity, skill, and results allows women to assert their expertise without compromising individuality. Persistence and resilience remain essential, as each barrier overcome becomes a lesson and each success a step toward greater equality.
Several women guitarists stand out as trailblazers in this regard:
Susan Tedeschi of the Tedeschi Trucks Band combines blues and soul, proving that women can lead major ensembles and be recognized for both their guitar skills and vocal talent.
Ana Popović, internationally acclaimed blues guitarist, has broken barriers on stages worldwide, sharing the spotlight with legends like B.B. King and Buddy Guy while developing her own powerful style.
Maleny Mikels, a crossover guitarist blending classical, jazz, and contemporary influences, demonstrates that versatility and technical mastery command respect across genres.
Orianthi, known for her work with Michael Jackson and Alice Cooper, has shown that women can thrive in high-profile rock and pop arenas traditionally dominated by male guitarists.
Joan Jett, a pioneer of punk rock and hard rock, carved out a path for female guitarists in bands and studio work, becoming a symbol of persistence and rebellion.
These artists demonstrate that excellence, creativity, and vision can command respect, even in historically male-dominated spaces. They inspire new generations to embrace opportunities that may have once seemed out of reach.
Ultimately, overcoming the challenges of male-dominated music industries is about more than individual achievement—it’s about creating pathways for others to follow. Every barrier broken, every expectation challenged, and every success celebrated helps shift the culture toward inclusion and equality. Women guitarists are not just surviving—they are reshaping the rules of the game and proving that innovation, leadership, and artistry thrive when talent is recognized over tradition.
Our Opinion: Women Guitarists Are Shaping the Future
At Guitar Thrills Magazine, we believe the most exciting developments in music today are happening in spaces where women are redefining the rules. For decades, rock, blues, and jazz have been dominated by men, but artists like Ana Popović, Maleny Mikels, Orianthi, Joan Jett, and Susan Tedeschi prove that talent, creativity, and leadership know no gender. Their work demonstrates that excellence on the guitar—technical mastery, emotional expression, and stage presence—is what earns respect, not conformity to outdated norms.
We see these trailblazers as more than musicians; they are cultural pioneers. By forging paths in male-dominated industries, they make it possible for the next generation of women to enter the stage with confidence, authenticity, and authority. They challenge the status quo, showing that innovation thrives when artists are free to blend genres, push boundaries, and explore new sonic landscapes.
In our opinion, supporting and highlighting women guitarists is not just about equality—it’s about celebrating the vitality and evolution of music itself. The guitar is at its most thrilling when it reflects diversity, courage, and vision, and the women breaking barriers today are ensuring that the instrument—and the music world as a whole—remains vibrant, dynamic, and endlessly inspiring. Breaking barriers, defying expectations, and redefining what it means to be a guitarist—our latest interview shines a spotlight on one of the most inspiring women shaping the modern music landscape. From technical mastery to fearless creativity, she shares her journey, insights, and advice for the next generation of musicians
About Ana Popović
Los Angeles based guitar powerhouse Ana Popovic set to release her new record ‘Dance To The Rhythm’ on September 26.2025. on Electric Heel Records / Amplified Distribution. Produced by Ana Popovic and Buthel. “We were jubilant - we were full of dance. And we were free of boundaries. No barrier for our creativity.”
This is what created “Dance To The Rhythm”. Where “POWER” stopped, “Dance To The Rhythm” took over by taking things such as groove and pocket even further. We wanted to take music higher, where it really hits you with the right sensation, thick groove ( Sho Nuf, Worked Up, Dance To The Rhythm) and deep lyrics and bluesy feel (Dwell On The Feeling, California Chase, Soul’ution). With almost Steely Dan-ish type of arrangement in ‘Sisters and Brothers”, hip and contemporary smooth Soul’ution, funky ‘Hottest Ticket” and mainstream ‘Hurt So Good’, it all flows together as one. The ultimate jam is the revoke of ‘Paul Simon’s “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover”.
Ana says: “On stage, one of my biggest attributes is to be able to make people dance. Where music takes you to place a where you can let go and be filled with groove. You want music to grab you, to have a pocket that you can’t resist. Everything else revolves around that pocket. Guitar and blues guitar has never been included in the dance songs much in the past. This is in a way revolutionary. It plays a prominent place and a role in a dance song. We - the listeners- have boundaries that were created thru time, thru musical paths, different cultures and affinities. But sometimes we need to break those boundaries”. - And Ana does, effortlessly, exactly that with this new record.
For her, the basis for everything she ever did was blues guitar. But she, again, masterfully merges the blurry edges, and creates new sound, effortlessly going from blues, to dance, to jam band, funk, pop, with a touch of gospel. It’s all in her. The pioneering fashion icon in the blues world herself, armed with determination and attitude for good sound, she’s determent to move and shift, and make new paths for music that, in her case, was forever rooted in blues, but always felt eclectic and undeniably dressed in mainstream. Come check out the new set by Ana Popovic with her 6 piece and her 11-piece new funk/dance/soul/blues powerhouse big band FANTASTAFUNK on selected shows including “The Legendary Blues Cruise 2025”.
The award-winning guitar slinger blends smoking electric funk and slide guitar, jazzy instrumentals and a tight blues groove with soulful, feminine and raw blues vocals. Add to the mix her incredible stage presence, all of which makes her an irresistible force in the world of contemporary blues music. Her sound simply never stands still, she’s pushing limits, bending genres, and reinventing her music and herself with each new record.
Not surprisingly, she can claim any number of notable accolades and achievements from the highest quarters of the music industry. She's shown her commitment to celebrating her guitar-driven, eclectic music style through consistent touring, awards, and recognition for the past 25 years. In the process, she's emerged as one of the most thoughtful, dynamic, and committed performers in modern songwriting and guitar.
Called “one helluva a guitar-player”' by Bruce Springsteen and nominated for seven Blues Music Awards, Ana was added as the only female guitar-player to the 2014 -'18 all-star Experience Hendrix line-up: a nationwide tour celebrating the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix w/ Buddy Guy, Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and many more world renown artists.
She appeared on the cover of Vintage Guitar and Guitar Player magazine. Her latest album POWER (2023) made it to #1 on the Billboards Blues Charts - THE list of best-selling albums nationwide. Her albums 'Can You Stand The Heat' and ‘Unconditional' where Pick-Of-The-Week by USA Today and featured on NPR Music.
You’ll find Popovic in a select group of excellent modern rock-blues guitar players. Ana and her powerful band are tirelessly touring, playing major blues, jazz, and rock festivals. She is endorsed by Fender, D'Angelico, Jim Dunlop and DR strings. She has shared headlining stages with B.B. King, Joe Bonamassa, Gary Clark Jr., and many others. When not on tour, she resides in Los Angeles, CA.
INTERVIEW WITH ANA POPOVIC AND GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE
Guitar Thrills: You grew up immersed in music in Belgrade, with your father introducing you to blues legends. How did those early experiences shape your approach to guitar?
Ana: When there’s a jam session few times a month in your living room, and family parties where we listen to everything from BB King to James Brown, you pretty much think, as a kid, that’s what the world listens to outside of our house too. I grew up listening to great music, American blues, soul, funk, rock, and my whole youth I was surrounded with guitars and music magazines. Pretty cool way of grooving up, Next natural step for me was to pick up the guitar and start playing.
Guitar Thrills: Your style blends blues, rock, funk, soul, and jazz. How do you balance these genres while maintaining your unique voice?
Ana: It’s all in me. So it’s easy. There’s a voice, inside me, that’s like a guide, and the main focus, you can call it the ‘blue note’ and it connects all of the genres. It’s a strong feeling that doesn’t let me wander off too far from what my essence as an artist is. That keeps the ‘AP’ signature in hand. But I love the freedom of discovering new music inside me.
Guitar Thrills: As a woman in a historically male-dominated industry, what obstacles have you faced, and how have you overcome them?
Ana: I always had to deal not onlywith being a woman in a male dominated world but also being eastern European in a western music world. If I get a gig – why didn’t my male colleagues get that gig, why a Serbian woman gets to play this festival. It was very competitive in the beginning. And I heard it all – like from a male colleague, renowned European musician who said “ If I wore a skirt, I could get that gig” .. You just had to deal with that back in the day. Things have changed now, and people are very ready for a female musicians to front the band. But it wasn’t that easy in the beginning. Did I care about those statements – not at all. I always believed in my music, in my vision, and knew I could bring something new to the table.
Guitar Thrills: Your debut album Hush! and subsequent releases established your international career. Looking back, what moments were most pivotal in your growth as an artist?
Ana: so many, but what started it all off was the WC Handy ( now American Blues Awards) nomination back in 2000, followed by touring with Solomon Burke ,BB King, Buddy Guy, Experience Hendrix.
Guitar Thrills: Your guitar work is often described as fiery and soulful. How do you approach combining technical precision with emotional expression?
Ana: Guitar is extension of my feelings and thoughts, the way lyrics shape the song, guitar follows. I’m always painting the picture of the story with the intensity and the feel of the guitar lick/solo/part.
Guitar Thrills: You’ve shared the stage with legends like B.B. King and Buddy Guy. What lessons or insights from those experiences have influenced your music?
Ana: Times that they have been touring back in the day, are so different from the times that I’m touring. It’s just incredible to be able to witness the change. They had to tour through so many years where they needed to deal with social injustice. It’s amazing to me how time shapes the artistry. I am very fortunate to live in the times when women are accepted and free to be the band leaders, front women. Their stories are what I treasure the most, from these tours, and them being so humble. And Fun!
Guitar Thrills: Touring worldwide exposes you to different cultures and musical traditions. How have these experiences shaped your songwriting or performance style?
Ana: I take in every place I play. I try to connect. I love exploring and you’ll find me roaming the streets of a small French village or a tropical island, whenever I get some free time in between the soundcheck and the show, My favorites are walks to the beach at 4 am, cause I’m jetlagged, or visiting a local art museum on a day off. I get inspiration for my song writing from all my experiences.
Guitar Thrills: Many fans admire not only your guitar skills but your stage presence. How do you prepare to connect with audiences at that level?
Ana: My stage time is my time to connect with my audience and my band. It’s very personal. I get to experience them, the crowd, in these 90 minutes, and we share something magical. I get to be free in my music expression, and I take them on a musical journey. I love when they are willingly coming along and are ready for whatever I serve them. We give them all we got, and we receive back, their love and dedication for our music. After the show, I love doing meet&greets, I’ve been doing it forever, and gives me an opportunity to chat with them and get their feedback on the show.
Guitar Thrills: Your recent projects continue to push boundaries. What new directions or experiments are you most excited about exploring next?
Ana: Well I can’t share the next directions, but on this album ‘Dance To The Rhythm’ I implemented a few new musical; styles, like a good dance song, ( title track, and Sho’ Nuf) and some cool soulful tracks, with the touch of world music, - Santana like, ‘WAR’ like, ( “Sister And Brothers”, and “Soulution” ) some blues meets soul and gospel track, like “Dwell On The Feeling,” all the songs are very refreching and inspiring to play live, specially with my big band formation, FANTASTAFUNK 11 piece big band.
Guitar Thrills: For young guitarists, especially women, looking to break into the industry, what advice would you give about pursuing their passion and carving out their own space?
Ana: be who you are. That voice in your head and that feeling in your gut, that leads you to a certain sound – that’s the one you should follow. Don’t doubt yourself, and don’t listen to opinions telling you what you should do and what music you should play.
Conclusion:
Ana Popović’s journey is a testament to talent, perseverance, and the courage to forge her own path. From her early days in Belgrade to performing on international stages alongside blues legends, she has consistently broken barriers and redefined what it means to be a guitarist in a male-dominated industry. Her artistry—equal parts technical mastery, emotional depth, and fearless creativity—inspires both musicians and fans alike. As she continues to explore new musical horizons, Ana Popović reminds us that true artistry knows no boundaries, and that the guitar is not just an instrument, but a powerful vehicle for expression, connection, and change.
