5 Female Artists You Need to Hear in 2017

It might be too early to say with the year just starting up, but with what we’ve heard for the past 12 months, 2017 is gearing up to be a great musical chapter ahead. With plenty of promising up and comers slowly making their way to the forefront of the music scene, there is a long list of emerging artists who have released singles and EPs in 2016 that are now raising the bar for impressive debuts.

As we look ahead to the new voices that will form 2017’s musical landscape from every genre, there’s no denying plenty of them belong to strong, talented women. With the current music scene heavily saturated with men in the industry from indie to country, we wanted to showcase some of the most-talked about female artists to look out for in the new year. Not only do each of them have beautiful voices accompanied by mad songwriting skills, but are definitely part of a sound that 2017 needs.

Carly Pearce

Hailing from Taylor Mill, Ky., expect a huge breakthrough this year from artist, Carly Pearce. Making her Opry debut last May, One Country reports her current single, “Every Little Thing” is driving everyone in Nashville crazy. Illustrating the highs and lows of a relationship, including that unparalleled hurt left from a breakup, Pearce’s track is a solid one that just speaks greatly to every fiber in your being. Already jumping to the Top 40 on iTunes, the track has found love from artists such as Kelsea Ballerini and Cam, who wrote on her Instagram last month, “Excuse me while I go listen to this on repeat.” With super smooth vocals and tender lyrics that play so beautifully to that authentic country vibe, you heard it here first — 26-year-old Pearce is going to pick up plenty of acclaim and awards in 2017.

Vagabon

Featuring ambient choruses, mixed synths and fuzzy guitar riffs, Vagabon led by Cameroon-born New York-based singer and songwriter, Laetitia Tamko, is an artist to watch in 2017 for her unique and charming underground indie-rock sound. Tamko’s soft vocals and lyrical skill is astonishing to hear. She’s very fresh in her sound, and that makes her one to pay attention to this year. There’s a sweet and novel beauty to her voice where she carries immense confidence. but illusrates fears and anxiety from a place of extreme shelter. Creating her own sound most magnanimously while pushing the limits of the indie scene, Tamko showcases great power as an artist, and describes the truth of life and relationships through a wide range of heart and soul. Her track, “Fear and Force” is a beautiful ode to a lost love with lyrics full of emotion that add to the weight of a relationship.

Cloves

Performing under the moniker, Cloves, Australian export, Kaity Dunstan may sound like a blend of Adele and Lana Del Rey with her voice and mad songwriting skills, but she definitely holds her own with a mega voice that just feels so right on every listen. Releasing her debut EP entitled XIII in 2015, the 19-year-old currently based in London has been generating buzz for quite some time thanks to her deep, emotional vocals. Last June, Cloves released a single for the film Me Before You, entitled “Don’t Forget About Me;” followed by a track for the cult favorite, The Edge of Seventeen, called “Don’t You Wait.” Setting herself apart from others with an emotive sound and haunting melodies, Cloves spirals around her nuanced melodies with just the glimmer of an acoustic guitar, subtle drums and light piano for a debut that truly sets the bar.

Nadia Rose

Nadia Rose has been shutting down shows and festivals in 2016, and is definitely one to reckon with in the new year. There might be echoes of Missy Elliott in her sound, but Rose is her own, fully formed artist with a distinct voice — and the next big rapper to listen to. Her track, “Skwod” is also one that definitely showcases Rose in her flow, with punchlines that are slick and a sound that is contagiously fun. Last year, the 22-year-old signed a deal with Sony, headlined her first festival and was invited to perform at an Alicia Keys showcase. The London artist’s debut album, Highly Flammable is expected to release later this January.

Maggie Rogers

With a sound similar to Feist, Maggie Rogers is a name to remember for 2017. Not only did she make former judge of The Voice and Grammy-award winning Pharell Williams cry last June with her music — because it is just that good — the NYU graduate wrote her debut hit “Alaska” in just 15 minutes, a track paying homage to the life-changing trek she took in her home state. Impressive, right? Streamed more than 21 million times, the strength of that sole single garnered her a deal with Capitol Records, pushing the artist to release her hot anticipated debut this February.

What new artists are you looking forward to hearing more from in 2017? Share with us in the comments below.