Get it Girls: My Favorite Female Artists Right Now
Has anyone else noticed the badassery of girls in music lately???
Not saying the ladies haven’t always been badass, but it seems like in previous years most of my favorite artists and songs of the moment were predominantly by male artists/groups. I’m not sure why, but that’s just how it was. And I’ve also noticed the overwhelming gap of female artists/female-led acts at music festivals versus male acts. For example, when I attended VOODOO fest in New Orleans this past October, there was only a few bands with females even IN them, and only 1 or 2 single, female acts (Ms Lauryn Hill, for example), out of a lineup of 60+.
But now, starting 2015 I find myself being reallyyyy into some great female artists! Women seem to be taking a leap into some cooler stuff. No longer is there just sugary pop stars like Katy Perry or Taylor Swift (ugh). And don’t get me wrong, I love female powerhouse vocalists like Adele. But I’m seeing ladies getting more sultry, deeper, darker, even more EDM and synth-y (if that description makes any sense at all). So right now, a lot of my favorite artists are female. HELL YEAH LADIES!
Not only that, but a handful of festival lineups have come out this week (Bonnaroo, Coachella, Hangout, for example) and many of them include more female acts! Coachella boasts Alabama Shakes, Azealia Banks, Kimbra, Kieza, Lykke Li, Haerts, Clean Bandit, Florence + the Machine, Marina and the Diamonds, and more. Bonnaroo (my favorite lineup of the pack), has some of the above and also Tove Lo and MØ (my girl)
Most of my current favorites have been around for quite some time, but are just now finally getting more recognition and the spotlight they deserve (and I’m pumped about it).
Here are a few of my favorite female, or female-led artists of the moment:
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1. HAIM
These girls rock. The sister trio released their debut full-length album, Days are Gone, in 2013 to rave reviews, even topping the UK charts! Their sound has been called very Fleetwood Mac-ish, with lots of influences from the ’80s. I had the opportunity to see Haim in a small venue in New Orleans last year, and let me tell ya…they killed it. They were energetic and lively and so cohesive. But, my favorite part of the show was just listening to the 3 sisters talking back and forth, just having witty banter on stage. You didn’t feel like an audience member, you actually felt like a member of the family. They’re here to say people, so get on board.
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2. MØ
Another current favorite that I had the pleasure of seeing live at a small venue. This Danish gal’s electro-pop is addicting and engaging. Her new debut album, No Mythologies to Follow, is full of tracks that show off her voice, catchy lyrics, and a foundation of beats and synths. And I can personally say that she puts on a great live show, with her persona that is different to any other act I’ve seen. Her album is definitely worth a listen!
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3. Jessie Ware
A British pop vocalist who experiments with electronic producers on her 2 albums. She experiments and finds a way to make her pop stand out among the rest. She plays with a lot of genres, and a huge plus is that she has a kick-ass voice. She’s one of my top favorite female artists right now! Check out her albums on Spotify.
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4. Marian Hill
I wish this duo had more than just a couple of EPs and singles because I’m loving them and want more and more. Their music is soooo sultry and badass. The duo incorporate saxophones a lot, which I mean, who DOESN’T love a good sax solo? The song “Got It” is my new go-to song when I’m getting ready to do anything social and am trying to feel sassy (and YES it does have a sax solo). And most of their songs are about lead-vocalist Samantha Gongol telling a guy how much cooler she is than him. Can’t. Stop. Listening.
There are so many other gals on my radar right now that would take me ages to talk about, but you can just have a taste of them/jam out to them on THIS Spotify playlist I made. Although there are plenty of female pop stars on the radio, I think these girls offer something different and new, and that’s why they’re my favorite female artists right now. I’m so glad they’re finally getting more recognition, and more festival slots!
