ZZ Ward
I first found out about ZZ Ward on Last Call with Carson Daly. She blew me away. This sultry voice was paired with such strong lyrics, both emotionally and contextually. Her songs have made it to a few commercials and even a promo for ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars. The strength in her voice really shows with her covers of Etta James, the singer which one YouTube commenter said she had no b-side (in reference to vinyl). Jessie Baylin, who was featured on the same episode, pairs nicely with Ms. Ward.
Fiona Apple
You either love Fiona Apple or you hate her. Some might compare her a little with Regina Spektor, but if you keep listening, that analysis falls apart. Apple has such a unique sound, no artist is really able to recreate what she has, nor should they. Songs like “Hot Knife” are just a little bit off, enough to make you cringe, but it won’t keep you from listening.
Yael Naim
Made famous by the Macbook Air ad in 2009, Yael Naim is far from a unique artist. However the handful of songs she does have are absolutely beautiful. As of today, Naim has only released two albums, even then there’s only a handful of songs I enjoy. But the melodies, the lyrics, just come together so nicely. You won’t find yourself bopping your head like you might with ZZ Ward or even Fiona Apple. You will find yourself in a relaxed state. I like to categorize her music as something you’d listen to if you were on a plane to start a new life.
Noosa
Both Hype Machine and, now defunct, We Are Hunted have featured Noosa in the past few months for being top on the blogosphere’s radar. She’s still early in her career (yet to tour or release a full album) but she’s really brought something to the table. Her vocals sit in a very wide range, deep for a haunting sound and high for a sounds like you’re riding a unicorn across a rainbow.
Lady Lamb the Beekeeper
For me, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper is very new. She’s an artist out of a small town in Maine with a harsh folksy voice comparable to Bob Dylan. She won’t be winning any awards for that voice, but lyrically, she’s very strong. Paired with a range of string instruments, she makes a brilliant sound which sounds as though it was made in her garage.
