Groundbreaking Music of Menopausecore Rebellion

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Riot Women Season 1.

I was not expecting Riot Women to hit me the way it did. As a music journalist who has spent years covering artists trying (and often failing) to say something genuinely new, I’m rarely “stopped” by a soundtrack. But twice during the series’ first few episodes, I found myself unexpectedly emotional—not by a plot twist, but by the music.

It was in no way connected to a clever needle drop—and no, it’s not that time of the month. It was the fact that the songs in Riot Women say what popular music almost never allows: the raw, unpolished truth of women who are no longer framed as “aspirational” or marketable. This is why the show is quietly groundbreaking. And why it won’t stay quiet for long.

Created by Happy Valley’s Sally Wainwright, Riot Women follows five women in West Yorkshire who form a band in midlife. On paper, it could have been a novelty act. Instead, the music functions as a narrative engine.

The songs aren’t there to boost energy or “underline” a scene; they exist because the characters need them. This is the place where the exhaustion and frustration of the “midlife squeeze”—caring for both aging parents and adult children—finally finds a voice.

Riot Women Soundtrack: At A Glance

The Band: A fictional punk group from Hebden Bridge featuring Joanna Scanlan (Beth), Rosalie Craig (Kitty), Tamsin Greig (Holly), Lorraine Ashbourne (Jess), and Amelia Bullmore (Yvonne).
Original Songwriting: The tracks were written by Brighton punk duo ARXX in collaboration with creator Sally Wainwright.
Release Info: The 33-track official soundtrack is available via Silva Screen Records.
Core Themes: Menopause, female rage, invisibility, and “Menopausecore” rebellion.

Who Wrote The Music & Why Does It Feel So Real?

One of the first questions viewers ask is: Is the music real? The answer is a resounding yes.

The original tracks—including standout anthems like “Seeing Red,” “S**ting Pineapples,” and “Just Like Your Mother”—were created by the UK punk duo ARXX. Working closely with Wainwright, they ensured the music reflected character growth rather than studio perfection.

To achieve this level of authenticity:

Cast Training: The actors actually learned to play their instruments. Joanna Scanlan went “back to the drawing board” on keyboards, and Tamsin Greig took up the bass specifically for the role.
Wainwright’s Input: Sally Wainwright learned the drums herself during the writing process to understand the physical rhythm of the band.
Lyrical Origins: Many lyrics were born from real-life frustrations. “Just Like Your Mother” was inspired by an insult Wainwright’s ex-husband used to throw at her, which she reclaimed as a punk-rock compliment.

FAQ: Everything You Need To Know About The Riot Women Songs

Kitty and Beth talking in a pub in Riot Women

Are the songs in Riot Women really originals? Who wrote them?

Yes. The original music was composed by Brighton-based power-pop duo ARXX (Hanni Pidduck and Clara Townsend) and Sally Wainwright.

Are the actors actually playing the instruments?

Yes. While the final studio tracks involve professional mixing, the cast rehearsed as a real band and performed their own parts to ensure the on-screen energy felt lived-in and “rough around the edges.”

Is there a special meaning behind the song “Just Like Your Mother?”

Yes. The song reclaims a common patriarchal insult. Wainwright used the phrase to celebrate the strength and legacy of her own mother, who suffered from dementia, turning a negative barb into a rallying cry.

Are there other songs on the Riot Women soundtrack?

Yes. Beyond the original punk tracks, the show features iconic “angry” female voices including Hole (“Violet”), Garbage (“Only Happy When It Rains”), and Skunk Anansie (“Weak”).

Why This Lands So Powerfully in 2026

Rosalie Craig as Kitty Eckersle singing on stage in Riot Women

Popular culture overwhelmingly centers on youth, especially in the music space. Even when older women appear on-screen, they are often secondary “emotional anchors” for others.

Riot Women refuses that structure. Its songs do not attempt to reclaim youth or soften their anger. In a world where over half the population will experience menopause, mainstream music rarely reflects that reality. Riot Women does—and it does so without apology.

In a television landscape where music is often designed to be pleasant and forgettable, Riot Women stands apart by refusing to be either.