“I don’t want to fight no more!” screeched lead singer and guitarist of the Alabama Shakes, Brittany Howard, at the 2016 Grammy Awards on Feb. 15. With an unmistakable bravado and electric stage presence that fans of the band adore, the Alabama Shakes gave one of the most talented and entertaining performances of the evening.

For anyone unfamiliar with the unique style of the Alabama Shakes, the band is a mix of funk, blues, alternative rock and shoegaze; this provides innovative aesthetics for fans of all music genres to enjoy while creating a genre of their own that transcends what may be considered “new” music. Citing influences such as David Bowie, Janis Joplin and Aretha Franklin, the band made it clear in its debut album, Boys & Girls (2012), that it was not willing to be defined by the conventions of modern music. The deeper one delves into the band itself, the more it seems to crush stereotypes of the modern music industry.

The indie and alternative music scene is difficult for a woman-fronted band to break into, let alone gain traction. Add the fact that most alternative bands are overwhelmingly white, and diversity is hard to come by. The fact that Brittany Howard is a plus-size, mixed-race woman leading an extremely successful rock band is a testament to the world we live in today. We have been blessed to come of age during a time of immense diversity in the music industry that was not possible before. Queer musicians like Sam Smith and Courtney Barnett are being nominated for major music awards and—more often than not—winning. Black artists like Frank Ocean and Kendrick Lamar are creating groundbreaking music that the black community transforms into anthems for the struggles they face daily. The music community is embracing these boundary-pushing artists like never before, cultivating an environment for music to keep evolving and expanding in the future. Winning Best Alternative Album at the Grammys for Sound & Color (2015), Alabama Shakes continues to conquer stereotypes surrounding the music industry and push themselves as artists to create music that is not only innovative but also revolutionary.