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10 Female Artists To Watch In 2019

While it might seem silly to put women in a musical subcategory, it is important to support up and coming female creators.

Rachel Billington

Dec 28, 2018

University of Southern California

2935

Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

While it might seem silly to put women in a musical subcategory, it is important to support up and coming female creators. Production, instrumentation, and engineering are still often seen as "off-limits" to women in the industry - despite audiences (and many within the industry) being open to the idea. To this day, no woman has won a Grammy for producer of the year - non-classical. The women on this list are only a handful of singers, rappers, songwriters, producers, and instrumentalists who are changing music. Nevertheless, I hope you leave this article with a few new favorite artists!

1. Dorian Electra

"You know I ain't straight, but Imma say it straight to you", Electra boldly declares at the beginning of their latest single, "Man to Man". Electra is one of the most creative voices in underground pop, with song topics ranging from toxic masculinity ("Man to Man"), capitalism ("Career Boy"), and gender expression ("Drag"). In addition to their iconic lyricism, 80s synths, glitzy bells, and futuristic vocals make their music feel like a sexy blast to a woke past.

2. Quay Dash

Quay Dash is a rapper from the Bronx who is not to be played. In 2017 she released Transphobic, an empowering 6 track EP about dealing with fake people (hint: she doesn't) and being a boss. On "Queen Of This Sh*t" Dash sounds cool and confident over SOPHIE's techno-trap production. Dark, raw, and unapologetic, Dash's music is a stride for LGBT representation in hip hop.

3. Liz

When I met Liz at the Billy Ball earlier this month, she was bubbly, edgy, and excited - similar to her music. Another track produced by SOPHIE, "When I Rule the World" is a sickly saccharine electro-pop banger - and I mean that in the best way. Influenced by the Y2K era, her sound is reminiscent of your favorite early 2000s pop songs - revamped with modern bubblegum dance beats.

4. Zolita

"My body, my choice, my rights and my voice", the 24 year old singer-songwriter proclaims on her track "Fight Like A Girl", which she dropped in 2017 as a response to the 2016 presidential election. Zolita is the lesbian darling of the underground pop scene, and is an advocate for LGBT representation in media. In 2018 she released her debut album, Sappho, which features synth driven pop anthems, smooth vocals, trap and EDM inspired production, and lyrics about love, girls, and the love of being a girl. Me too, Zolita. Me too.

5. Kara Marni

At age 19, London native Kara Marni is already turning heads amongst R&B fans and critics alike. Her vocals are reminiscent of the raspiness Amy Winehouse was famous for delivering, combined with the power of contemporaries like Alicia Keys and Joss Stone. Describing her music as "soul with a sprinkling of pop", tunes like "Curve" and "Gullible" off her 2018 debut album Love Just Ain't Enough are sure to get you moving.

6. SOPHIE

This year, avant garde pop pioneer SOPHIE became the first transgender person to be nominated for a Grammy - and it's no surprise why. Her futuristic production style is inspiring, not only for bringing life to a genre that often gets written off as "uninteresting", but also because she personally engineers every single one of her samples. Her debut album released this year, OIL OF EVERY PEARL'S UNINSIDES, is an absolute masterpiece, delivering everything from dizzyingly beautiful pop ballads like "It's Okay to Cry" to "Ponyboy", a dark BDSM anthem. She's worked with Charli XCX, Kim Petras, Madonna, as well as many of the artists on this list. I'm excited to see what she does in 2019 (and if she collaborates with Cupcakke or Bjork I'm absolutely going to lose my mind).

7. Julia Holter

Listening to Julia Holter feels like finding peace through a psychedelic maze full of lush instrumentals. The Los Angeles based composer and multi-instrumentalist is no stranger to pushing pop's boundaries - her latest album Aviary captures this over the span of 90 imposing minutes. Her use of strings ranges from playful on "I Shall Love 2", which sounds like the musical interpretation of a morning sunrise, to sublime on "Words I Heard". If you want to experience Holter's unique brand of baroque pop in person, her 2019 tour is sure to captivate you.

8. Rina Sawayama

Following her mixtape Rina, Japanese born and London raised Rina Sawayama has been making waves in the world of underground pop. Her song "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" is a smashing ode to e-girls, and her latest singles "Cherry" and "Flicker" are glittery, synth driven bops with equally observant lyrics about being pansexual and unashamed of one's racial background, respectively. Her second album is expected to drop sometime in 2019.

9. Tierra Whack

Although her 15 track audio/visual project Whack World isn't a second longer than 15 minutes, Tierra Whack effortlessly delivers one of the most poignant hip-hop projects of 2018, with witty lyrics, slick R&B melodies and a vivid imagination. Songs like "Pet Cemetery" will make you giggle (she's literally singing about her dead dog and it's a BOP), "Hungry Hippo" will make you move, and "Waze" will have you in your feels. She is currently nominated for a Grammy for her music video "Mumbo Jumbo".

10. Rico Nasty

If you follow the rap game at all, there's a good chance you've heard of Rico Nasty. Nominated as a XXL Freshman, the Maryland rapper has received much attention as of late for her gritty vocals, in-your-face lyrics and trap production by Kennybeats, or "KENNYYY!!" (as Nasty credits him at the beginning of her tracks). 2018 was a great year for Nasty, as she released her fourth album Nasty after signing to Atlantic Records. While she might not be the most recognizable face of SoundCloud Rap, her music is definitely at the forefront of it.

25 Beatles Lyrics: Your Go-To Guide for Every Situation

The Best Lines from the Fab Four

SUNY Binghamton

35253

Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

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best beatles lyrics

Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Smith College

98562

college students waiting in a long line in the hallway

StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

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Recommended for you

10 Female Artists To Watch In 2019

While it might seem silly to put women in a musical subcategory, it is important to support up and coming female creators.

1. Dorian Electra

2. Quay Dash

3. Liz

4. Zolita

5. Kara Marni

6. SOPHIE

7. Julia Holter

8. Rina Sawayama

9. Tierra Whack

10. Rico Nasty

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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