During the 2018 Grammy Awards show, few female artists were nominated and few won awards. But, there were countless incredible and award-worthy singers of all identities on the airwaves last year and this year already.
However, when Recording Academy president Neil Portnow said women “need to step up” in order to win awards at the 2018 Grammys, I made it my mission to add more female voices to my playlists.
Hailey Stewart | Argonaut
Maybe they didn’t need to “step up.” Maybe we need to give them more room to flourish and win.
I won’t lie, many of my longtime favorite artists happen to be male. And, I often caught myself skipping to their songs during my morning routines and car rides. However, it was never difficult to find magnificent female artists.
Yes, there were more female artists nominated and female winners at the 2019 Grammys. Still, my playlists have never been better since adding a bit more female into my musical tastes.
So, here are just a few of the great lady vocalists out there right now.
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish slowly crept her way onto the music scene and then, in the last year, all at once. Turn on any pop radio station and you should be very surprised if the 17-year-old’s smooth vocals don’t caress your ears at least three times.
Tracks such as “When the Party’s Over” and “Bury a Friend” show a darker pop side of Eilish many fans are used to hearing from the singer-songwriter. Similar to Lorde’s first steps into the spotlight, Eilish brings murky and breathy vocals to her strongest songs.
On the lighter side, Eilish’s “Lovely” featuring Khalid and “Come Out and Play” share softer vocals and gorgeous instrumentals.
Her first album, “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” — an homage to the lyrics in “Bury a Friend” — is set to release in late March.
Lizzo
Let’s just say if I had known about Lizzo’s strong lyrics and vocals back in 2016, the last two years would have been so much better. The Texas-born rapper and singer officially began making waves in two years ago, but her most recent release of “Juice” sealed the stardom deal.
It’s not just the poppy and strong vocals that put Lizzo on the top of the list, it’s the quippy, relatable and empowering lyrics. “Yeah, I got boy problems, that’s the human in me. Bling bling, then I solve ‘em, that’s the goddess in me,” Lizzo sings in her 2017 hit “Truth Hurts.”
Lizzo’s music videos — complete with dancing and outrageous montages — are perhaps the most entertaining on this list. I dare you to not smile while watching or listening to anything and everything by Lizzo.
Her new album, “Cuz I Love You” is set to release April 2019.
Maren Morris
Singer, songwriter, producer and Grammy winner, Maren Morris — like many other female country singers — is definitely having a moment.
After releasing four records, there is no stopping the 28-year-old singer topping the country charts.
With a combination of country and pop, Morris’ greatest hits include “GIRL,” “Seeing Blind” with Niall Horan and “Common” featuring Brandi Carlile. Similar to Carlisle’s tone, Morris combines pop, traditional country and bluesy vocals.
H.E.R.
A first-time nominee at the 2019 Grammys, Gabriella Wilson — better known by the stage name H.E.R. — can now add two-time winner to her list of musical accomplishments.
The 21-year-old R&B singer won in best R&B Album and R&B Performance.
H.E.R., which stands for “having everything revealed,” has been singing and producing music since she was young. Her strong vocals and ballads bring out the funk and velvety tones of traditional 90s R&B music.
Julia Michaels
Without Julia Michaels, some of the best tracks from Selena Gomez, Shawn Mendes, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber and Gwen Stefani wouldn’t exist. Michaels began as a pop songwriter for some of the best before she turned into a full-fledged musical powerhouse.
With multiple awards nominations and tracks on the tops of pop billboards everywhere, Michaels is still finding time to work with the artists she once worked for.
Her relatable and catchy track “Anxiety,” featuring Gomez, carries a strong message against the backdrop of a poppy tune. Michael’s shows the breadth of her voice in “Uh Huh” and “I Miss You.”
From 2017 to now, Michaels hasn’t stopped producing head-bobbing tracks.
Hailey Stewart can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @HaileyAStew