Femme It Forward Expands MUSE Mentorship Program, Names Teyana Taylor As New Advisor

Heather Lowery‘s Femme It Forward has expanded its MUSE mentorship program to help guide and advise budding female artists and creatives.

Described as a “multi-pronged initiative that will bring together women across different disciplines within the music industry to inspire, empower, and mentor one another, uplift their communities, and generate new music,” MUSE serves the creative side of the business in conjunction with Femme It Forward’s Next Gem Femme mentorship program, which is dedicated to those seeking guidance within the entertainment industry.

Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu, and Teyana Taylor will serve as MUSE advisors across various disciplines alongside MUSE mentors Rapsody, Trina, and Amber Riley.

“I have made it my mission to pave the way for future generations of women to be equipped with the tools they need to sit at any table,” said Lowery in a statement. “MUSE has lived in my heart for the last 3 years, and I am honored to release it into reality as a high-powered program to combat the inequities, disparities and disturbing statistics around the historic underrepresentation of women in the music industry, especially women of color.”

Of the program and her participation as a mentor, Rapsody exclusively shared with VIBE, “I would like to believe that we become fruitful not for that fruit to be inaccessible and rot but to feed others. The opportunity to enrich each other is currency. It’s how we continue to improve and evolve from generation to generation. We should be building bridges and teaching, especially as women. So, I’m grateful I get an opportunity to continue to pass along the information through MUSE.”

Taylor credited God for allowing her to “share the lessons I have learned about being a hustler, staying hungry, and keeping myself humble. Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge.”

Badu is honored to “share my legacy to encourage and educate” while Keys reveals that one of her “most important missions” is to find “ways to bring women in this business together to hold each other up and let each other shine.”

Each mentor and advisor will participate in a moderated conversation and unique Q&A programming, led by Lowery over seven months, to help MUSE creatives gain advice for their desired career paths. Hands-on mentors include Nova Wav, Nija, Jozzy, and Ann Mincieli. The mentorship will culminate with the MUSE Labs, and the music created will be featured on Femme It Forward’s second Big Femme Energy compilation album slated for release in late 2024.

Stream Volume 1 from July 2021 below.