It’s almost impossible to make a list of unstoppable women in music today without feeling like it’s a never-ending task. There’s an impressive array of out songwriters, singers, guitarists, rappers and multi-talented multi-instrumentalists making great music today, and while every single one of them deserves a spot, we decided to go with the women who are killing it in their respective genres. From country to hip hop to punk, LGBT women are more visible than ever, and they just happen to come along with a bad ass soundtrack.
The bisexual Aussie vocalist and songwriter has lent her voice to tracks on the 50 Shades of Grey and Annie soundtracks as well as a song on the new Giorgio Moroder album. As a songwriter, she’s penned single-worthy tunes for Carly Rae Jepsen and Kate Piersen-and that’s just in the last year.
The out singer has donated her time to several different initiatives this year, working with the National Park Service and also becoming an advocate against stigmatizing mental health. She’ll just headlined the Pride Music Festival in San Diego and is currently the cover girl for DIVA magazine.
One of country music’s hottest songwriters has become a star in her own right, nominated for several awards this year including the Grammy’s Best New Artist. So far in 2015, she’s written a song for Reba McEntire and four new tracks on Kacey Musgraves’ highly-anticipated new album, Pageant Material.
One of the world’s most innovative guitar playing songwriters, St. Vincent’s last album received so many awards and accolades, it might be hard to top. But if anyone can do it, it’s the Grammy-winning ASCAP Vanguard Award recipient.
After publicly coming out and changing her style, the Filipino tomboy is back to working with famed songwriter David Foster, and we are so psyched to hear what they are cooking up for her magical voice.
The former Disney star’s coming out as having had relationships with women correlated with the new Backyard Sessions from her newly-launched Happy Hippie Foundation. Those sessions have her singing with Joan Jett, Arianna Grande and Laura Jane Grace, among others, and they are damn good.
The Oscar-nominated sister duo are hard at work on their eighth studio album in 16 years, taking a quick break to perform at the opening ceremony of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in June.
The rapper says they’ll be doing a lot more singing on their forthcoming album, and we can’t wait to hear it. Angel also appeared on the MTV series Catfish and Truce this spring, introducing them to more new fans who eagerly await what they’re working on.
The Australian singer/songwriter’s debut album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit is loved by critics, fans and Ellen DeGeneres, who invited Courtney to perform on her talk show to perform in March. She’s kicking off a massive summer tour as we speak.
Speaking of touring, Carrie’s band Sleater-Kinney reunited for a new album, No Cities to Love, and played sold-out dates all over the U.S. Outside of the band, Carrie’s become a well-respected actress for her work in Portlandia and Transparent. We can’t wait to read her forthcoming memoir.
Lyndsey Gunnulfsen
The out front woman of the pop-punk band PVRIS will be playing in front of Warped Tour crowds all summer long before heading to the UK and Australia. The trio’s album White Noise is must-listen material, with Lydnsey’s voice leading the charge.
The out rapper returned to Oxygen for a second season of Sisterhood of Hip Hop in June, and we can’t wait to see what cameras caught her doing while she’s been working hard on new tracks while living in L.A. She just released a new song called “Adios,” her first single off her forthcoming album, What Never Happened.
The out musician’s self-titled third album has sexy, romantic songs like the single “All I Want is to Be Your Girl.” Outside of her solo stuff, she’s also part of the supergroup The Singles alongside Scarlett Johansson and Este Haim.
