In an industry where new artists are constantly being uncovered, it’s sometimes difficult to stick out from the crowd. However, there are several female artists on the rise that have made their mark in the music industry and deserve recognition for their raw talents.
Tierra Whack
After delivering one of the most poignant hip-hop projects of 2018, Tierra Whack landed herself on the map after releasing 15 track part visual album/part conceptual art project, titled Whack World in May 2018. Whack World is filled with smooth R&B melodies. The 23 year-old native Philadelphian was labeled as a lightning-in-a-bottle kind of artist, earning a Best Music Video nomination for the 2019 Grammy Awards for her 2017 single, Mumbo Jumbo. Referred to as the “Missy Elliot” of this generation, the artist received widespread critical acclaim on the creativity and eccentricity of her album and music videos. She’s been working with Meek Mill, Donald Glover and is in contact with Solange. Keep an eye out for this upcoming hip-hop/R&B superstar.
Billie Eilish
Being the first artist born in the 21st century to top the Billboard 200, this Los Angeles based global pop-phenom has racked up over a billion streams on her music and is dominating the music industry. After uploading Ocean Eyes on SoundCloud when she was 14, her rise to fame began quite literally overnight. Now 17 years old, she has already created and released one of the most critically and commercially successful albums of this year, titled When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?. She delivers a contradictory mix of music, ranging from brooding to satirical and blends contrasting genres such as trap, jazz, industrial and EDM. Her music is cohesively held together by her infamous quiet vocals. Now on tour, Eilish is performing across the globe and is reportedly working on different collabs with other artists such as John Mayer and Rosalía.
Lizzo
Following her explosion into the pop/R&B scene with her hit songs “Juice” and “Truth Hurts”, the 31-year-old singer is on the rise. She preaches unapologetic self-love mantras that is mainly aimed to empower plus-sized women of color. She is seen by the public as a “more profane Amy Winehouse and an equally woke Beyoncé.” She grew up listening to nothing but gospel music, which is where her gospel and R&B vibe comes from in her music. She is on the road to redefining hip-hop and is praised for bringing attention and showing love to a rarely noticed demographic. Lizzo is currently on tour and just recently performed at the MTV Movie and TV Awards.
SOPHIE
Being the first transgender person to be nominated for a Grammy, SOPHIE is making waves in the music industry. Her futuristic production style stands out and her “hyperkinetic” take on pop music is refreshing. She personally engineers every single one of her songs. Her debut album, OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UNINSIDES, has been labeled as a masterpiece, delivering melodic pop ballads and a dark BDSM anthem. She earned a nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album for the Grammy Awards. Having worked with Charli XCX, Kim Petras, and Madonna, the avant garde pop singer is being watched for her awaited next artistic move.
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Kara Marni
Turning heads in the R&B world, this 20 year old’s soul soaked voice has earned her a spot on Rita Ora’s tour in 2018. Creating soul music with ‘sprinkles of pop’, the London native released her debut album in 2018 titled, Love Just Ain’t Enough, and is a collection of songs inspired by her love of soul idols such as Minnie Riperton and Donna Summer. Her vocals are reminiscent of Amy Winehouse’s raspiness and have a familiarity to Alicia Keys and Joss Stone. According to her SoundCloud, Marni has been busy in the studio working with the likes of The Invisible Men (Zayn, Rita Ora, Ellie Goulding, Iggy Azalea), Sebastian Kole (Alessia Cara, Jennifer Lopez), Shea Taylor (Beyoncé, Frank Ocean, Rihanna) to name a few, and “is crafting a sound that will undoubtedly garner many new fans in 2019.”
Rosalía
Being the winner of two Latin Grammy Awards, it’s safe to say that Rosalía is on the rise to stardom. After studying flamenco for eight years under José Miguel “El Chiqui” Vizcaya, as well as at the Catalonia School of Music, the Barcelona-born singer infuses pop-flamenco into her music and her debut album, Los Ángeles.. She portrays the fusion between current spanish urban music and the new flamenco wave. Her flamenco-hip-hop hybrid song “Malamente” won two Latin Grammys — Best Alternative Song and Best Urban Fusion/Performance, knocking out “Mi Gente,” the global #1 hit by Colombian reggaetonero J Balvin. Her style and symbolism earned her hundreds of millions of views on YouTube and a No. 1 spot on the Billboard Latin Pop chart.
Zhavia Ward
18-year-old Carisa Zhavia Ward, known professionally as Zhavia Ward, is an American singer and songwriter from Monrovia, California. The fast-rising contemporary R&B singer began her rise to fame after placing as one of the four finalists on popular singing reality show called The Four: Battle for Stardom, which premiered on Fox in 2018. In May 2018, Ward signed a deal with Columbia Records. She was featured in Disney movie Aladdin’s “A Whole New World” with Zayn Malik and just recently dropped her first album titled “17”. Her hip-hop/R&B inspired album circles around her challenging upbringing, trek to fame and love.