Biography
Rej Forester, a Kentucky musician, established GRLwood as her creative vehicle, with tracks that stretch across ferocious scream-pop and riot grrrl into subtler indie rock occasionally accented by electronic details. She assembled the group as a guitar-and-drums pair during the second half of the 2010s, issuing two energetic albums that confronted queer identity, sexism, social commentary, and personal catharsis. Following a lineup shift, she treated the project largely as a solo effort, delivering the ambitious three-album series BLOOD, SWEAT, and TEARS across 2024.
A singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist based in Louisville, Kentucky, Forester initiated GRLwood alone in late 2016 before expanding it into a duo by adding drummer Karen Ledford. The resulting raw, aggressive guitar-and-drums outfit built its approach from queercore, riot grrrl, and noisy indie rock, unveiling the debut album Daddy through Louisville’s sonaBLAST! Records. One year after the 2019 release of the second album I Sold My Soul to the Devil When I Was 12, Ledford exited amid public controversy. Forester later added drummer Mia Morris yet continued to frame GRLwood as essentially her own endeavor. For several ensuing years she concentrated on singles while preparing the band’s most substantial undertaking. Issued as three separate full-length LPs, BLOOD, SWEAT, and TEARS arrived sequentially throughout 2024, each record revealing a distinct facet and mood.
A singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist based in Louisville, Kentucky, Forester initiated GRLwood alone in late 2016 before expanding it into a duo by adding drummer Karen Ledford. The resulting raw, aggressive guitar-and-drums outfit built its approach from queercore, riot grrrl, and noisy indie rock, unveiling the debut album Daddy through Louisville’s sonaBLAST! Records. One year after the 2019 release of the second album I Sold My Soul to the Devil When I Was 12, Ledford exited amid public controversy. Forester later added drummer Mia Morris yet continued to frame GRLwood as essentially her own endeavor. For several ensuing years she concentrated on singles while preparing the band’s most substantial undertaking. Issued as three separate full-length LPs, BLOOD, SWEAT, and TEARS arrived sequentially throughout 2024, each record revealing a distinct facet and mood.
Albums
Singles
