Celebrating Women’s History Month: 5 Female Artists You Need to Have on Your Playlist Right Now
With so many artists to listen to, it can be dizzying when it comes to picking your favorites. Over the past decade or so many female artists, fortunately, have been able to produce, perform, and grow in numbers. We’ve all heard of pioneering artists like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and of course, Madonna – but let’s check out some lesser known artists who are coming into their own.
5 Female Artists You Need to Hear
We tried to pull from different genres, different styles, and a variety of artistry. Featuring folk, rap, and pop, these capable female artists have made memorable songs and they deserve be on your playlist rotation.
Bishop Briggs
Born Sarah Grace McLaughlin, she changed her name to honor her Scottish parents. They hailed from Bishopbriggs, Scotland, so it became a perfect moniker for this vocalist.
Briggs got her start in Tokyo, believe it or not, singing at a karaoke bar. Because her parents traveled much for work, she then landed in Hong Kong and ultimately at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles. After playing all around Los Angeles – and most any venue that she could, her single “Wild Horses” caught fire. How did that happen? It was played during an Acura commercial!
Briggs has put out three studio albums to date. Her latest offering, “Tell My Therapist I’m Fine” was released in late 2024. She is best known for her singles “River,” “Wild Horses,” and “The Way I Do.” With a voice like hers, she continues to write and perform all over the world.
Kali Uchis
Karly Marina Loaiza, from Alexandria, VA, has had an interesting life. This female artist sings both in Spanish and English, as her parents are both Colombian and American.
Uchis spent summers with her dad’s side of the family in Pereira, Colombia, then stayed most of the year in Virginia for school. However, being an adventurous teen, she broke curfew and skipped school. Her parents kicked her out and while living in her car, she started writing.
Those songs later appeared on her debut mixtape, “Drunken Babble,” which soon caught the eye (or ear) of Snoop Dog. She has collaborated with Omar Apollo, Raye, SZA, and appeared on the Gorillaz “Humanz” album. Uchis has released five studio albums to date. As a recipient of multiple awards, we can’t wait to see what she does in the future.
Little Simz
Little Simz is way easier to remember than Simbiatu “Simbi” Abisola Abiola Ajikawo, Simz’s birth name. Born in London to Nigerian parents, Ajikawo grew up on a council estate. She later attended Westminster Kingsway College and the University of West London.
Highly influenced by Busta Rhymes, Biggie Smalls, and Lauryn Hill, she decided to pursue rap music. Ajikawo stated that “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” was singularly the album that motivated her to be a musician. She toured in 2016 alongside her idol Hill and Kehlani. Her album “Introvert” was Album of the Year in 2021.
Also an actress, this female artist has appeared in British series like “Top Boy” and “Spirit Warriors.” Sharp-eyed viewers may have caught her in “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” as herself. With five studio albums, mixtapes, EPs, and multiple single releases, it will be interesting to see what Little Simz does next.
Zella Day
Day was born in Pinetop-Lakeside, a small resort town in Arizona. Her parents had a cafe and artistic space where she could play and study both art and music. By age 10, Day had already written a number songs on the guitar.
In 2012 Day released a creative cover of “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes which garnered widespread attention. In fact, it reached over 50 million plays on Spotify. Soon, her sophomore album “Kicker” was released, with her chart topping song “Hypnotic.”
Day has toured in support of Lana Del Rey and Fitz and the Tantrums. Since 2023 she had been singing in band Chaparelle with Beau Bedford and her real life beau, Jesse Woods. Their debut album, “Western Pleasure,” was released in 2025. Whether she’s with her band or solo, Day continues to be one of the more intriguing female artists with her unique sound.
ZZ Ward
Not to be confused with ZZ Top, ZZ Ward, or Zsuzsanna Eva Ward is from the Pacific Northwest, specifically Portland. She and her dad formed a band – her first – when she was 12. She continued to pursue music, eventually landing in Los Angeles, working with producer (and future husband) E. Kidd Bogart.
2012 marked her debut EP, “Criminal,” and then her full length album, “Til the Casket Drops.” Ward’s critically acclaimed song, “Put the Gun Down” earned her the attention of Fuse TV, VH1, and the New York Times. The Times stated:
“[Ward’s] energy evokes Tina Turner’s, her chops Aretha Franklin’s and her soul Etta James’s.”
To date, Ward has released four studio albums, five EPs, and multiple singles. In 2017 she married Bogart. They have two children. Her album, “Liberation” was released after her second child was born. If you want to check out this blue-eyed soul songstress (and her fedora hats), start with “Dirty Shine.”
Fortify Your Spotify with These Female Artists
Alright, we have to admit that picking just five artists was pretty hard. These female artists give us a wide variety of genres. Going from folk to pop to blues to rap, and then to Latin-influenced music might feel a bit tiring – but we guarantee that it’s not. Between these aforementioned female artists – and talented new ones emerging each week – you definitely won’t be disappointed.
