Which Female Pop Artists Does a Metalhead Cherish?
My early tastes getting into music were mostly alternative rock and metal. But somewhere in there, I took a liking to an artist that did not fit the rest of my collection at all — Tori Amos. The first album I got into was Little Earthquakes. There was something about this piano-heavy, stripped-down, emotion-laden record that I connected with. But then, many questions whirled around my head. Is this a guilty pleasure? Should I admit I listen to this? Does this make me less manly? After a while, I just didn’t care anymore and realized no one else really cared. No one would know unless I told them anyway. I continued collecting more Tori Amos albums (other favorites include From the Choirgirl Hotel and Scarlet’s Walk). Then, I created a very simple personal rule for myself — I will listen to whatever I like. Nothing else should matter. Not the lyrical content, the language, or if it’s wacky or stupid. If it doesn’t fit the rest of my collection, who cares? If the artist has said or done anything controversial, it’s not going to stop me either. I don’t have to agree with everything they say or do if I enjoy the music.
Now, I listen to many more female artists than this. There are plenty within the “electronica” genre. There are also countless metal bands that feature incredible female vocalists. For this list, I’m going to focus on more female “pop” artists or female-fronted bands and more “joyful” music. These are basically the biggest deviations from the rest of my collection. What I consider to be “pop” here is also very broad so let’s prepare to disagree.
Best Coast
How the heck does a beach rock/surf pop band with short, simple songs about young relationships, California sunshine, and getting high find its way into my collection? I’ve been trying to figure that out since I first discovered Best Coast. They almost go against everything I usually seek out in music. Their catchy tunes bring out a playful innocence that shatters genre boundaries. I think I appreciate Bethany Cosentino’s attitude towards life as much as I enjoy their music. I swear, listening to them reminds me to enjoy the little things and always puts me in a good mood. Plus, who doesn’t love a music video directed by cats? Their earlier music was very lo-fi, and the production has since been polished up on their newer work, but I love both styles.
Favorite albums: Crazy for You, Fade Away, California Nights
Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey may be considered closer to dream or indie pop, heavily concentrated on her hauntingly beautiful vocals. Her music is dangerously addicting and easy to sing along to despite having a somewhat dark tone and cinematic feel. Her Americana-focused art style and lyrical content evoke a simpler time. Her music also touches on a variety of other genres such as psychedelic rock and hip hop.
Favorite Albums: Born to Die, Paradise, Honeymoon
Phantogram
Phantogram is a duo from upstate New York often described as dream pop, trip-hop, or electronica. Both members contribute vocals but Sarah Barthel’s angelic voice steals the show. Josh Carter creates those funky, dance-worthy beats that make the band unmistakable. Their songs can be unbelievably catchy, and before you know it, you’ll be singing along.
Favorite albums: Eyelid Movies, Voices, Ceremony
The Jezabels
This Australian quartet is more of an indie rock band, with some pop elements. The three EPs that came before Prisoner are very raw and unrefined, resulting in a very genuine sound. I really treasure them though, they’re some of my favorite material from the band. They transitioned into a more “dream-pop” style with their subsequent full-length albums. Hayley Mary’s intense vocals bleed with emotion, and the musicianship is top-notch.
Favorite albums: She’s so Hard, Dark Storm, Prisoner
Dum Dum Girls
This short-lived “chick” band falls somewhere between indie rock, dream pop, and garage pop. They’ve created some seriously upbeat and catchy stuff. They also started out with a very lo-fi and raw sound, but I actually like their later, more refined work better. They even have a nicely done cover of a classic.
Favorite albums: Only in Dreams, Too True
Björk
I’ll admit I don’t listen to much Björk these days and I still need to check out her last couple of albums. She’s had many stylistic changes over the years, leaning heavily on the electronica/experimental side of pop music. I tend to gravitate toward her earlier work as she was one of the first female pop artists I discovered. She’s been known to use some interesting instruments (such as harp, celesta, strings, and music boxes) and always seems to have something new up her sleeve. Her raw vocal style mixed with frigid melodies and minimalist rhythms makes for one of the most recognizable voices in pop music.
Favorite albums: Homogenic, Vespertine, Debut
Grimes
Tilting heavily toward the experimental side of this list, neatly fitting Grimes into a specific sub-genre is very challenging. Songs from the same album can sound wildly different. Her unpredictable arrangements paired with ethereal vocals make for an entertaining listen. The production quality improves with each album and she’s rapidly getting better with age.
Favorite albums: Miss Anthropocene, Art Angels, Visions
Bat For Lashes
Bat For Lashes is another musician with an ultra-emotional, mostly subdued, stripped-down style. Many songs have a dark, mystical beauty to them, with a few upbeat and layered ones sprinkled in. Her voice can be moving enough to send chills down your spine. It’s beautiful, but this isn’t exactly the kind of pop that you’ll be dancing to at a party.
Favorite albums: Two Suns, The Bride, Lost Girls
Pineforest Crunch
Often mistaken for breakfast cereal, Pineforest Crunch is a pretty “obscure pop” band outside of Sweden. Wait, is that even possible? Their drummer, Mattias Olsson played in some Swedish progressive rock bands that I fancy (Änglagård and White Willow). They incorporate some unconventional (for pop) instruments into their music such as synths, flutes, and mellotron. Åsa Eklund has a delightful, carefree voice which perfectly complements the layered sound.
Favorite albums: Make Believe, Panamarenko
Charli XCX
This may possibly be the furthest divergence in my entire collection. I only have her debut album, True Romance, but I have listened to it quite a bit. There’s something about the “hyperpop” sound that draws me in here. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get into her newer albums much, but I need to check them out more.
The Essex Green
The Essex Green combines elements from 60s and 70s psychedelic rock and folk and wrap it up into a cutesy little indie pop/rock package. I may be cheating a bit here because there’s almost an equal amount of male vocals. The bright, cheery melodies here are enough to make most metalheads cringe.
Favorite albums: Cannibal Sea, The Long Goodbye
Florence + The Machine
Driven by Florence Welch’s intense, ranged vocals and dramatic, sweeping production, this band also seems very out of place in my collection. Something about the whimsical instrumentation and flashiness just clicks for some odd reason. This is perhaps one of the most popular artists I listen to.
Favorite albums: Lungs, Ceremonials
