Happy hump day everyone! It really is a great Wednesday because I have 10 more amazing women for you to fill your ears with, some of whom I just got into recently and some who have narrated specific years of my life with such specificity that I wonder if they’ve read my diaries.
File Under: Gorgeous love songs swimming in a sea of delicate harmonies that hit you right where it counts.
From: Brooklyn
For fans of: Your heartstrings being pulled, Alison Krause, Rachael Yamagata’s older work, Heather Nova, M. Ward, Bonnie “Prince” Billy’s “Master and Everyone”
Bonus: Our very own Trish Bendix got to interview Van Etten at this year’s Pitchfork Music Festival and she is apparently very sweet in person – that’s always a bonus.
File Under: Hip-hop poptastic extravaganza
From: Korea
For fans of: Lindsay Lohan (I know I’m asking a lot of you right now to think of her simply as a musician and not a bisexual, troubled star who has been in and out of rehab more times than I’ve been in and out of a Subway sandwich shop), production by Timbaland, Britney Spears
Bonus: She is huge in Korea and Japan. I, on the other hand, am huge in nursing homes.
File Under: Amazing singer/songwriter with a voice like honey and lyrics that have walked a mile in my shoes.
From: The pages of my diary and the inner corners of my brain. Yours too, probably.
For fans of: Drinking too much and having some regrets the next morning, the glass being half-empty, gorgeous voices, analyzing the world around you, sad love songs, Brandi Carlile, Fiona Apple, Sia’s “Breathe Me.”
Bonus: Homegirl is really funny during her live shows. I’ve also heard a rumor that she isn’t opposed to loving the ladies. That being said, it is still a rumor. Rachael, call me.
File Under: Sexy Pop R&B with a nod to Bollywood
From: Born in India but raised in Toronto
For fans of: A R Rahman, hot ladies, R&B, Nelly Furtado, The Pussycat Dolls
Bonus: She’ll be appearing on the small screen soon.
File Under: Soul, pop, smoke-filled music parlors sprinkled with fairy dust (not the drug kind…or maybe the drug kind). Totally quirky, but totally rad.
From: New Zealand
For fans of: Amy Winehouse, St. Vincent, Outkast, Charlotte Gainsbourg. Yep she’s kind of all over the map.
Bonus: Not sure if you’ll consider this a bonus, but she wins DIY points in my book for this – she used a “vigorously shaken tampon packet” as percussion in her song “Settle Down.”
File Under: Hot R&B vocals with some dub, house and electro instrumentals. At times it reminds me of 90’s “heartthrob” music. Seriously, the jam.
From: South London
For fans of: Kelis, Lauren Hill, shaking your booty while singing, Jill Scott, Cathy Dennis
Bonus: She’s gonna blow up soon and you can say you were one of the first(ish) people to spread the love.
File Under: Rock ‘n Roll, roots, blues, legendary guitar
From: Philly
For fans of: Bonnie Raitt, heavy guitar, Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Hendrix, making that “I just ate something really sour” face while listening to music that sounds good
Bonus: She was part of the Paul Green School of Rock All-Stars.
File Under: Acoustic singer/songwriter with a heartbreaking voice that can overwhelm your senses.
From: Philly
For fans of: Patty Griffin, Alison Krauss, voices as primary instruments, feeling feelings
Bonus: She and Sarah Zimmerman grew up playing in the marching band together in high school. Aw, cute.
File Under: The parents are out of town, it’s time for a house party! Electro disco booty funk with a little industrial
From: Miami
For fans of: Jello shots, Chromeo, dancing, We Have Band, My Gold Mask
Bonus: Lead singer Cuci Amador is the hotness.
File Under: Lo-fi garage rock with Asian flare
From: Japan
For fans of: The Runaways, hipsters, the Go-Gos, trying something new
Bonus: Their name is Hard Nips and they aren’t referring to nipples.
That wraps it up for this week. I’m going to go put Sharon Van Etten on repeat now.
