GRLwood

GRLwood is an American punk rock duo from Louisville, Kentucky, formed by lead vocalist and guitarist Rej Forester and drummer Karen Ledford. Emerging from the DIY and riot-grrrl-influenced corners of the Kentucky punk scene, the pair built a following through raw, high-energy live shows and songs that pair abrasive, distorted guitar work with unapologetically blunt, confessional lyrics.

The band's sound draws directly on the riot grrrl tradition of the 1990s, channeling its confrontational spirit into feminist and queer themes explored with dark humor and startling candor. Song titles like «I Hate My Mom», «Bisexual» and «Vaccines Made Me Gay» reflect GRLwood's willingness to tackle identity, sexuality, family trauma and mental health head-on, often within short, explosive bursts of noise-punk energy.

As a two-piece, GRLwood relies on Forester's screamed and sung vocals alongside jagged guitar lines and Ledford's forceful drumming to generate a full, aggressive sound without a bassist. Their music has resonated particularly with queer and feminist punk audiences, positioning the duo as part of a wider wave of unfiltered, identity-driven punk acts to emerge from the American DIY circuit in the 2010s and 2020s.