Kathleen Hanna is an icon. Whether she’s fronting bands or speaking out against injustice, Hanna has long been a strong voice who's unafraid to tackle issues of gender, sexuality and equality. A native Oregonian who attended Evergreen State College in Olympia, she broke out with Bikini Kill, a punk group that became one of signature acts of the '90 riot grrrl feminist movement. Hanna toured the globe and confronted prevailing social norms throughout Bikini Kill’s existence, but the effort took its toll, eventually leading to the band’s dissolution. She made a rough-edged album under the name Julie Ruin, which laid the groundwork for Le Tigre, a more electronic outfit she formed after relocating to New York City in the late ’90s. Although her new band’s sound flirted with pop, veering sharply away from the raw punk aesthetic of Bikini Kill, Le Tigre was similarly confrontational in its lyrics and political outlook; the group’s success only expanded Hanna’s profile and influence.
