Suggest current female singer/songwriters?
September 10, 2015 7:13 AM   Subscribe

My iPod is packed with artists like Jason Isbell, Corb Lund, Elvis Costello and Gurf Morlix. I'd like to explore similar music that was written and performed by women. I'm pretty much up to speed on the classics (Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, etc) but welcome suggestions about female artists working now. Who should I be listening to?
posted by workerant to Media & Arts (49 answers total) 58 users marked this as a favorite
 


Florence Welch, of Florence and the Machine.
posted by Merinda at 7:26 AM on September 10, 2015


Kristin Hersh.
posted by sobarel at 7:39 AM on September 10, 2015 [3 favorites]


I haven't been able to stop playing Sia's 1000 Forms of Fear recently (you've probably heard Chandelier and Elastic Heart).
posted by Etrigan at 7:40 AM on September 10, 2015 [2 favorites]


ZZ Ward - sorry, no link, on phone.
posted by mibo at 7:42 AM on September 10, 2015




Try Susanne Sundfør if you fancy some synth-driven, melodic delights.

Robyn's music has matured an awful lot over the years and I find it interesting, not to mention fun.

Anais Mitchell is a stunning songwriter who compares well with Elvis Costello.
posted by greenish at 7:45 AM on September 10, 2015 [2 favorites]


Oh holy shit yes, Janelle Monae. Just watch all of her videos. All of them.
posted by greenish at 7:46 AM on September 10, 2015 [4 favorites]


You might check out Kate Tempest
posted by djinn dandy at 7:46 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]


Neko Case and, especially if you like the Americana bent Elvis Costello went on, Gillian Welch.
posted by nathan_teske at 7:49 AM on September 10, 2015 [10 favorites]


Cat Power, Jolie Holland, Courtney Barnett
posted by vunder at 7:50 AM on September 10, 2015 [2 favorites]


Jenny Lewis, who has a great duet with Elvis Costello.
posted by ldthomps at 7:51 AM on September 10, 2015


First Aid Kit (maybe more folksy).
posted by dismas at 7:57 AM on September 10, 2015


PJ HARVEY.
Amanda Palmer.
Isobel Campbell (from Belle & Sebastian fame)
posted by jillithd at 8:01 AM on September 10, 2015


Liz Phair

Ani DiFranco
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:07 AM on September 10, 2015


It's a little jazzier than your male examples but my favorite discovery of the last several years is Mr. Little Jeans.
posted by something something at 8:13 AM on September 10, 2015


Patty Griffin
Kathleen Edwards
Sarah Harmer
Lucinda Williams
Sharon Van Etten
Hannah Georgas
Fiona Apple
posted by backwards guitar at 8:15 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]


I'd put Kacey Musgraves on a bill with Corb Lund. And I'd pay top dollar to go.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 8:15 AM on September 10, 2015 [3 favorites]


Charlotte Gainsbourg and Huxlee.
posted by neushoorn at 8:22 AM on September 10, 2015


Diane Birch
posted by Pearl928 at 8:24 AM on September 10, 2015


Kathryn Joseph, Meg Baird and Agnes Obel.
posted by misteraitch at 8:33 AM on September 10, 2015


Lydia Loveless is right amidst the Isbell-Lund-Sturgill Simpson sort of alt-country spectrum; c.f. Nikki Lane, Caitlin Rose (who's moved away from this sound some on her last album), Tristen Gasparadek (ditto), yeah, Kacey Musgraves, Courtney Barnett, Laura Cantrell, Sera Cahoone (who was in Carissa's Wierd and hey remember Band of Horses?), DBT's Shonna Tucker, Amanda Shires (who's married to Isbell)...
posted by The Bridge on the River Kai Ryssdal at 8:41 AM on September 10, 2015


Basia Bulat, Sarah Slean, and Rose Cousins, and I'll second Sarah Harmer and Kathleen Edwards.
posted by kyla at 8:48 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]


Without a doubt, Aimee Mann, who's also co-written with Elvis Costello. I'd recommend her latest, Charmers, and The Forgotten Arm, but I love her whole back catalogue to death.

A different tack, but two others I enjoy are Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson, both of whom have much more varied music than their songs that get regular radio play.
posted by fiercecupcake at 8:51 AM on September 10, 2015 [2 favorites]


Brandi Carlile is so so good. I like all of her stuff, but The Story is an all-time great record (and song).
posted by AgentRocket at 9:16 AM on September 10, 2015


Jenny Hval is the best singer songwriter working today.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 9:26 AM on September 10, 2015


Kathryn Calder - she's in the New Pornographers but has several solo albums as well, including a recent one.

Nthing Neko Case, Laura Cantrell, Gillian Welch, Kacey Musgraves, First Aid Kit (though they are a duo). And Janelle Monae!
posted by yarrow at 9:36 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]


A few others, in case you don't have enough...

Alela Diane
Angel Olsen
Dawn Landes
Hanne Hukkelberg
Josephine Foster
Laura Gibson
Mariee Sioux
Meg Baird
St. Vincent
posted by pipeski at 9:42 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]


Haley Bonar
posted by Gortuk at 9:43 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]


Like The Bridge on the River Kai Ryssdal, I was going to suggest Tristen (Gaspaderak, but she goes first-name only). And Lindy Ortega hasn't been mentioned yet.
posted by mudpuppie at 10:10 AM on September 10, 2015


Lucinda Williams
Susan Tedeschi

I guess you know Alabama Shakes?
posted by syncope at 10:18 AM on September 10, 2015




Thao Nguyen.
posted by vunder at 11:00 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]


A group of friends recently went to a music fest with a bunch of heavy hitters -- Kim Gordon, Cat Power, Kathleen Hanna -- and they said the surprise winner of best performance was Kate Nash.
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 11:14 AM on September 10, 2015


Esme Patterson
posted by holmesian at 1:17 PM on September 10, 2015


You have to include the incomparable Eleni Mandell in this listing.
posted by megatherium at 5:05 PM on September 10, 2015


Jonatha Brooke
The Pierces
posted by a fiendish thingy at 5:29 PM on September 10, 2015


These aren't all strictly singer/songwriter, but I think they fit your criteria:

Daughter
EMA
Wolf Alice
Sharon Van Etten
Courtney Barnett
Alabama Shakes
Lisa Hannigan
Feist
Regina Spektor
Laura Marling
posted by cnc at 5:43 PM on September 10, 2015 [2 favorites]


FKA twigs. She just released an EP/short film, M3LL155X, which is magnificent from start to finish. Or just watch the video for Two Weeks, from LP1, released last year.
posted by jokeefe at 7:00 PM on September 10, 2015


The Queen of the Minor Key- Eilen Jewell.
posted by EKStickland at 8:36 PM on September 10, 2015


I would like to propose Jesca Hoop since she hasn't been mentioned yet.
posted by snortasprocket at 10:03 AM on September 11, 2015


Lots of good ones here, but my recent favourite has been Frazey Ford, who used to be in the Be Good Tanyas, but has released a couple of almost Al Green like solo albums recently.
posted by sauril at 10:35 AM on September 11, 2015


Eleanor Friedberger
posted by hydrophonic at 11:05 AM on September 11, 2015


Mention of the Be Good Tanyas reminded me of the Wailin' Jennys, who are awesome. (I think the three of them also have solo albums.) And the Wailin' Jennys reminded me of Aoife O'Donovan, who's also the singer for Crooked Still.
posted by mudpuppie at 11:44 AM on September 11, 2015


I've loved everything I've heard off of Amy Bezunartea's forthcoming album.
posted by EvaDestruction at 12:00 PM on September 11, 2015


I recently found Raelyn Nelson. She's Willie's daughter and is pretty fantastic imo.
posted by a_green_man at 4:08 PM on September 11, 2015


I am always late to the party.

Current? Ok. I hope you're not looking for sombre strummers, serious wordsmiths or coffee shop dwellers. I have some however I have also chosen some of the poppiest artists. Don't let it put you off - explore more of their stuff on youtube.

Law Holt (British - think she's Scottish?)
Melanie Martinez (I love her creepy voice)
Halsey
Hayley Kiyoko (apparently a former Disney star)
Marina and the Diamonds (you probably know her already but I love this song and I will post it all over town)
US Girls (I love her voice more than sunshine)
Little Dragon
Grimes
Hadise (yeh she's Turkish so you might want to get a translation)
Ayse Hatun Önal Also Turkish and brilliant. IDGAF- learn Turkish.

Enjoy.
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 5:57 AM on September 12, 2015


Sharon Van Etten
Kathleen Edwards

not mentioned so far: Tift Merritt
posted by secretseasons at 10:44 AM on September 12, 2015


I forgot to add Banks and Lorde.

Also seconding Kate Tempest - she is the great wordsmith of our times. More Here. I've just given you words-only links but she has plenty of stuff with music.
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 4:04 AM on September 14, 2015


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