Our weekly dispatch of 10 female musicians you should give a spin.
It is still rainy and dreary outside so, in its honor, this week’s Women to Listen to is brought to you (mostly) by music you should listen to when it’s raining and you’re choosing to be a) sexy b) introspective c) sad. It is also filled with oldies but goodies, and some musicians I’m shocked to find people don’t know about. Can you handle it?
File Under: Intense voice packed with passion, longing and sometimes sadness.
From: Bermuda
For fans of: Dramatic love stories (like Titanic), Tori Amos, Brandi Carlile
Bonus: She makes great songs to put on mix tapes to girls you are pining after.
File Under: Bluesy folk sung by a gender-neutral voice
From: New York
For fans of: Indigo Girls, Sheryl Crow, bringing a book to the beach with a picnic
Bonus: She’s been at this music thing for more than 20 years and her music has held up beautifully.
File Under: Breezy breathy vocals by front-woman Kylee Swenson, sweet lo-fi pop
From: San Francisco
For fans of: Having crushes on people, looking back at old yearbooks, sexual tension
Bonus: Kylee is a total fox and also used to be the editor at Remix magazine. Knowledge is sexy.
File Under: Electronic pop from a different era (and possibly planet).
From: UK
For fans of: Clinic, Camera Obscura, Stereolab, vintage clothing stores
Bonus: No real bonus, but the sounds are sweet!
File Under: Soft electronic that can blend into a background and still make an impact, electro-art
From: Munich, Germany
For fans of: Stereolab, ambient electro (see: Moby’s ambient album, Sascha Funke), electro-emo.
Bonus: Their last effort, Faking The Books is a bit more up-tempo and guitar-driven than their previous and latest albums – so if that’s what you’re into, I highly recommend trying it out.
File Under: Voice like molasses, gorgeous piano and balladry
From: California
For fans of: Regina Spektor, writing down your feelings, Rachael Yamagata, cabaret
Bonus: I’m actually shocked not everyone knows about Fiona, so the bonus for me is getting to introduce her to some of you.
File Under: Another voice filled with love, longing, sadness and sometimes, more recently, redemption
From: Miami
For fans of: Blues, folk, laying in bed with the lights off with music playing, Rilo Kiley
Bonus: At one point, Chan suffered from terrible stage fright and would have to play with her back towards the audience. Now, she’s one of the best live performers I’ve ever seen. Also, she is absolutely stunning.
File Under: Country, pop, music I know almost nothing about
From: Houston, Texas
For fans of: Faith Hill, Shania Twain, cowboy boots, branching out to country music slowly
Bonus: She’s really not bad! I don’t know if I’d listen to her on a rainy day (as this week’s theme suggests) but I’m trying to give you some new musical genres to consider.
File Under: Experimental, ambient music spoken-sung by the Argentinean artist.
From: Argentina
For fans of: Lali Puna, Bebe, abstract art
Bonus: At some angles, she looks like the Argentinean Alanis Morisette.
File Under: Aching, longing, tears on my pillow pain in my heart over you, eerie stripped down Portishead.
From: UK
For fans of: Portishead, Hope Sandoval, PJ Harvey, haunted houses
Bonus: Beth Gibbons was raised on a farm and enjoyed the work so much, she skipped college and instead continued to toil away on the family farm.
Hopefully next week will be more upbeat and the weather will put me in a better mood. I’ll be at Lollapalooza this weekend so perhaps there will even be a few more acts I find that are worthy enough of bringing to your attention. Until next week, xoxo.
