by Meredith Schneider | Dec 6, 2018 | snapshot, soundtrack
These days, it can be difficult to determine one songstress from another, let alone save a track and keep the name of its creator in your music library. This time of year, everyone is posting their “Best of” lists for 2018. We aren’t doing a super deep dive. We’ve just chosen 7 of our favorite female vocalists that have really ignited our hearts in the last year or so – one we found as recently as a couple of weeks ago! – and we’re all about sharing! Check out some of our favorite non-male performers below, and then maybe go make an entire WHO RUN THE WORLD? playlist featuring each and every one of these powerhouses!
by meredith schneider
Billie Eilish wasn’t someone we saw coming. Having jammed out to a couple of her songs, Bonnaroo 2018 brought her to the stage in front of us for the first time. A look of vulnerability in her eyes, she gave that crowd more than what she had that day, throwing her body into her stage presence and really working the stage so that everyone felt like they were a part of it. Each new release brings with it an extended feeling of empowerment, and we’re keen on what’s to come for this incredibly talented young musician. (See video at the end of this piece: she is one of Tan France’s favorites!)
by christie mcmenamin
Lucy Dacus‘ voice is tranquil, delicate, and perfectly matched to her bittersweet, relatable lyrics. We’ve fallen in love with her as gently as her music progression over the years. We’re super pleased with her new supergroup boygenius (see: Julien Baker below), if not only because it gives us an additional reason to see her live more often. All the heart eyes going into 2019 on this lady!
by jeo taymany
Ness Heads is a Chicago-based artist who sings a soulful mixture of R&B and hip hop, with a bit of a pop flare. Her single “Flip Em” threw us for a loop during the summer of 2018, and we’re keeping that energy going through the next month as we hustle through our last minute year-end “to do” lists.
by christie mcmenamin
The world’s lead producer of sad music, Julien Baker stole our hearts a few years ago, but her stage presence and the incredible way she interacts with her fans is something of note. We were lucky enough to have seen her both locally and at 2018’s last ever Sasquatch Music Festival, and were floored on a number of occasions by her prowess. Check her out with new supergroup boygenius!
by erin p.s. zimmerman
It was 2016 when we first had the unique pleasure of photographing Bishop Briggs, as she prepped for an evening performing at the Midland in Kansas City. Flash forward 2 years and we’ve seen her a number of additional times, photographed her once more (see above photo, SXSW 2017), and have continued to follow each and every impassioned song that she releases as she’s toured the country multiple times, played every festival known to mankind, and as her music has been placed in both television and film. Her energy is unlike any other when she steps on stage, and her compassion is limitless. (See: her recent haircut) Plus, she was just featured on JVN’s podcast, so she’s definitely “having a moment!”
by meredith schneider
Mess lead singer Allison Gliesman is a kind, hilarious, and obscenely generous human soul. We’re fortunate to know them as a friend, but their music stunned us even before we met them face to face. Flash forward to witnessing those powerhouse vocals one night at The Rino in KC and our world was changed forever. If you haven’t yet blasted a Mess song at full volume in your car, now is the time. Keep your eyes peeled for this one.
by dara munnis
I was at Sasquatch Music Festival photographing a female-led band at one stage, when the music from another stage flooded my ears. Like a siren call, I followed it, toting my boyfriend like a rag doll. This. Woman. Has. Chops. Tash Sultana. After three songs, I turned and said, “She can do it all. Seriously. What can’t she do?” As if she could hear me, she got out a pan flute within 30 seconds… and started to beat box with it.
If you aren’t in love just with that statement, then I don’t know who you are. Insane. That’s the only word to describe it.
BONUS – While our other listing pieces will include just 7 representatives, we may have gone overboard BECAUSE WE ARE SO FLOORED BY SO MANY RAD NON-MALE VOCALISTS. So check out our list add-on below, and revel in the glory of 8 incredible humans!
by zyanya lorenzo
If you ask Antoni from Queer Eye about his favorite artist (like I did!), he’s got a substantial amount to say about Maggie Rogers. And we don’t disagree. Her voice is absolutely captivating, the lyrics she weaves are catchy, touching, and the instrumentals always have “#1 single” written all over them. We are smitten.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 6, 2018 | soundtrack
Sam Era has come a long way since she participated in competitive jazz and scatting in high school. Equally as impressive, her talents have spread and her tastes reflect an amalgamation of her art, but at its most sad. She has curated a soundtrack called “Broken Hearts” just for us, so take time to turn it up and feel all the feels.
Keep up with Sam Era here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 5, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
From the opening chords of Brooklyn-based alt electronica musician Tesha‘s “Funeral”, you can tell she’s not playing around. The percussion is almost tribal as Tesha’s ominous tones as she sings a song with a title befitting of said tones. It’s absolutely gorgeous, but be prepared to feel all the feels.
Keep up with Tesha here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 5, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
London-based rock collective Amber Run – comprised of Tomas Sperring, Joshua Keogh, and Henry Wyeth – just released their latest track “Carousel”, and we have to admit that we’re quite smitten. Opening with slow, careful vocals. In comes the instrumentals, notable percussion, and then that insane bass. The song has absolute staying potential, and Top 10 single” written all over it. (Just a note: I’ve literally never claimed that about a song.)
No words.
Keep up with Amber Run here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 4, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Recently, Samuel Proffitt and Yoke Lore partnered on a track release, and we’re all about it. Seriously, take indie electronic musician Samuel Proffitt and pair him with the talents of indie alternative favorite Yoke Lore, and you’ve got the gorgeous, echoing sounds of “Stringnoise”. A meandering, delicate track, there is a hard-hitting quality to it, glittered with the magic of the season in each note.
We probably don’t have to convince you at this point, but it’s definitely worth a listen.
Lyrics:
You can wait through the hours and days for the dark nights to find you
Silicon weights on your neck every day don’t trigger the good man inside you
Make it hot sweat, feel it in your chest
Put it in a body maybe that will save us
Before you get a heart, you gotta get taken apart
Keep up with Yoke Lore here and Samuel Proffitt here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 4, 2018 | soundtrack, videos
November was quite the month for new music, if you ask us. Left and right we were premiering new gems, and a hefty amount of brand new music and lyric videos for your wandering eyes. This time, we bring you a lineup of some of our favorites of November 18th. If nothing else, it’s so your eyes don’t have to wander for a while. Featuring music videos by Alice in Chains, James Arthur, Mimoza, John Mellencamp, Swimming Tapes, Deanna Petcoff, and more!
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 3, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
The first few lines bring quite a bit of nostalgia with them, as Brooklyn’s Mount Hudson (David Yim) leads us into his new single “Write a Book”. The layers of feel good instrumentals really help us ring in the holidays the right way, as we’re inspired by his lyrics and ability to create his own piece of magic for us to carry with us wherever we go.
Keep up with Mount Hudson here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 3, 2018 | premieres, videos
The holiday season is officially upon us, and we’re celebrating with not just one premiere, but a DOUBLE PREMIERE with our friends Phil and the Osophers. With the wintertime release of Another Merry Christmas with Phil and the Osophers, here are the quirky and beautifully illustrated new lyric videos for both “The Smell Of A Christmas Tree” and “Playing Santa”. In both, each member of the act is depicted playing their respective instruments. The former is a meandering treasure, while “Playing Santa” recalls the magical feeling of wrapping gifts and the wonderful reality of impending happiness under the glow of the tree.
Take some time to enjoy them both below! And perhaps add them to your upcoming holiday playlist to listen to while you roast chestnuts or wind down after a few hours in the snow.
Another Merry Christmas with Phil and the Osophers is available now. Keep up with Phil and the Osophers here.
by Meredith Schneider | Nov 30, 2018 | premieres, videos
Self-proclaimed “hobo folk musician” and Kazoo salesman D.B. Rouse has a quirkily entertaining new music video for his single “About The Bite Missing From Your Sandwich” to share with us, and we’re lucky enough to be giggling now as we premiere it. If the title is no indication, the song is definitely comedic, reminiscent of some of our favorite Weird Al favorites. To find out what happens to the aforementioned sandwich, get silly with the new video below!
Expands D.B. Rouse:
This was filmed on a cold fall day in Buffalo, New York. It stars Brendan Shea of Brendan and The Strangest Ways. His acting is a visual and visceral image of the internal reactions many of us have when we realize that life will always be taking bites of our metaphorical sandwiches. Of course life is also the only reason we have sandwiches. There has been a debate raging among folk punk communities on the internet as to whether sandwiches or soups are better. While I’m not weighing in with an opinion here, this song had to be about a sandwich. It is near impossible to tell when a bite has been stolen from a soup. Which is why soups are the easiest foods to steal bites from. Protect your soups.
12/15/2018: Iron Mountain, MI @ Sol Blu
12/21/2018: Milwaukee, WI @ Landmark Lanes (The “Have a Good Winter, You’re On Your Own, Milwaukee” Show,” feat. Coventry Jones, ShandiniMagic)
12/31/2018: Terlingua, TX @ Starlight Theatre
Keep up with D.B. Rouse here.
