Category: Femme Fatales

Music has always been enchanted by the beautiful vocals of strong female artists from Tina Turner to Madonna and Pat Benatar to Aretha Franklin. Presently, we have a beautifully diverse and expansive array of female vocalists to enjoy, but I chose five incredibly talented women to talk about today. Of course we have the stunning Beyonce, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga who are dominating the radio waves, but I wanted to focus this article on five spectacular female vocalists who deserve to be lauded as the musical goddesses that they are. This article is meant to celebrate their indie roots, bodies of work, and immense talent that these five gorgeous women of music all have in common. Below, I have written an article of the top five female vocalists in no specific ranking order because they are all too divine and talented to rank against one another.

Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey bewitches us with glimmering and stoic lyrics shrouded in endearing and mysterious melodies. The enigmatic singer-songwriter has graced our ears with three fantastic albums Paradise, Born to Die, and Ultraviolence. With plans for her fourth album Honeymoon (“Honeymoon” reviewed here. “High by the Beach” reviewed here) to drop this September, Lana Del Rey has experienced much success and an ever-growing fan base. On top of these successes, Lana has made beautiful and iconic songs for films such as The Great Gatsby, Maleficent, and Big Eyes. Lana enchants her audience with sexy, sultry, and alluring lyrics of jilted lovers, lost flames, and insalubrious relationships with a volatile mixture of addiction and tainted love.

Lana Del Rey easily transports her fans back to the glamourous and drug-infused age of the 60s, when the rebellion of love, peace, and freedom was in full effect. Drawing inspiration from Courtney Love, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain, Lana easily enthralls us with songs that are reminiscent of the days when musical legends like the aforementioned graced us with their music before they were taken from us too soon. Lana’s tracks like “Born to Die” and “Summertime Sadness” have experienced stupendous mainstream success, but I urge anyone who has not done so already to listen to more of Lana’s music, especially her unreleased tracks like “Angels Forever,” “JFK,” and “You, Mister.” Lana has such a beautiful and breath-taking body of work that deserves endless praise, and if you enjoy her singles, you will love the other tracks from her blissful albums.

FKA Twigs

When you first listen to FKA Twigs or watch one of her artistic music videos, you may be taken aback by her style. She has an avant-garde approach to artistry that some are not used to. I have grown to love the mysteriously puzzling songs from the strikingly gorgeous Miss Twigs. Her LP1 has been received with much praise, and I am as much of a fan of her EP2 as I am of her LP. Only a year after her debut album, Twigs has released her newest EP M3LL155X (reviewed here), and her music and videos are the mark of a visionary with unique flair unparalleled by her contemporaries. In her self-directed music video for her track “Glass and Patron,” which will appear on her latest album, FKA Twigs gives birth to a vogue-battle to match Madonna herself.

Starting as a backup dancer at 17, Twigs’ career has blossomed in the indie circuits, and she continues to impress us with mystifying and dark music paired with imaginative videos that tell a story in itself. In her video for “Two Weeks,” FKA Twigs harkens back to the late Aaliyah in Queen of The Damned. What I truly admire about Twigs is her grounded personality, and I love that she does not change to fit the mold of Hollywood. Her lustful voice and dancing mixed with artistic imagery and avant-garde styling blend together seamlessly. FKA Twigs is not only a fantastic artist, but she sticks to her visions and appeals to her fan base that understands and appreciates her for her idiosyncratic style, and she does not sell out to make a buck. I suggest you watch FKA Twigs perform on the The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to see how Twigs truly graces the stage with a marvelous voice and ethereal flair.

Marina & The Diamonds

The queen of bubblegum and electra-pop has intrigued her audience with her first two albums The Family Jewels and Electra Heart, and she has moved in to a new stage of her career with her latest album Froot. With pop hits like “How to Be a Heartbreaker” and “Primadonna Girl,” Marina solidified her seat among her female vocalist contemporaries. On top of feel-good songs, Marina has addressed serious subjects with captivating songs like “Teen Idle” and “Fear & Loathing.” Marina performed at The Governor’s Ball at Randall’s Island the first weekend of June, and she put on an amazing and lively performance, donning a Froot headband.

Fusing together indie vibes with mainstream pop, Marina has found great success and a platform to mature as an artist. I thoroughly enjoy her constant mixture of bright, airy songs and videos paired with serious, vulnerable tracks on her album. With beauty and a tremendous voice, Marina and The Diamonds easily makes the list as one of the top female vocalists of our time. A multidimensional artist, Marina and The Diamonds continues to mature as an artist, produce soothing yet infectious tracks, and appeal to everyone’s inner primadonna girl.

Florence + The Machine

I still remember the day Florence Welch exploded on the scene with her hit “Dog Days Are Over,” and she has released two rhythmically marvelous albums Lungs and Ceremonials. Recently, Florence has released her latest superb album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful with emotionally charged tracks like “Ship to Wreck” and “Saint Jude.” As she graced the stage of The Governor’s Ball this past June, she enthusiastically greeted her audience with a bubbly demeanor and a healing foot (broken at Coachella), which did not impede her vivacious and infectious dancing around stage. As she finds catharsis through the music she creates, Florence bestows upon us album after album of beautifully crafted lyrics and vocals to leave you astounded.

In addition to powerful lyrics with vocals to match, Florence has appeared on tracks with Calvin Harris like “Sweet Nothing” back in 2012. Florence’s music has appeared in numerous blockbuster movies including The Great Gatsby, Snow White and The Huntsman, and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. “Over the Love” from The Great Gatsby is one of the most dark yet stunning tracks that I have ever heard. Her newer track “Ship to Wreck” was filmed in her very own home, and it depicts Florence battling herself on the physical and emotional level. I absolutely adore Florence for her tremendous talent, endearingly effervescent personality, and her ability to bare her soul in such a vulnerable way through her art for all to see.

Ella Eyre

The powerhouse voice behind Rudimental’s hit “Waiting All Night” is the stunningly gorgeous Ella Eyre. With a booming voice reminiscent of the late Amy Winehouse, Eyre puts her tremendous talent to good use with tracks like “Comeback,” “Deeper,” and “Together.” Eyre establishes a beguiling melody with stunning vocals in “Comeback,” and, in my opinion, she has immense star potential. In the video for this track, Ella combats the frustrations of an unfaithful boyfriend, and she does so in a style similar to Beyonce’s smash hit “Crazy in Love” released in 2003. If you are looking for an infectious song with a catchy and empowering chorus, then this track is perfect for you.

Her two EPs, Deeper and Ella Eyre, are constituted of alluring vocals, catchy melodies, and an overall stylish aptitude that I was immediately thrilled with. I expect to see a lot more of Miss Eyre because I think she has all the makings for an extremely successful female artist. She is capable of creating songs that range from infectious, up-beat tracks to those fused with a tang of R&B and old-school vibes that I was equally pleased with. Keep an eye out for all the gorgeous ladies from this post, especially the up-and-coming Ella Eyre!

 

It is no secret who this week’s Femme Fatale is, or should I say fatales? The Pierces lay claim like kings to the title this Friday. Enough with my song related puns? Okay, I’ll stop. You may recognize the sister duo as the voices behind “Secret,” the creepily intoxicating theme song from Pretty Little Liars.

If not, maybe you are familiar with some of their work from the past 15 years. Allison and and Catherine Pierce released their first album The Pierces in 2000. Since their debut album at the turn of the century, The Pierces have released four more albums in the years to follow, with their newest album Creation released in September 2014.

Personally, my favorite album has to be Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge, which was released in 2007. On this album, you will find the infectiously dark “Secret,” but, besides that, you will come across tracks blended with folk, pop, and downright funk, including “Kill! Kill! Kill!,” “Sticks and Stones,” and “Lights On.”

Having always had a life enriched immensely by music, The sisters received their first record deal when they were 18 and 20. With a career lasting over a decade, you are able to listen to the evolution and maturation of their vocals, style, and music.

The Pierces, in my opinion, have an authentic, genuine sound, and I love an artist who does not manipulate their music, style, or self-respect in order to find larger royalties. They are a duo with a mindset for amazing music, not the number of zeros on a check.

Their latest album seems to have been a cathartic project for them, and the sisters seemed to have found a new level within their music, careers, and lives that reflect the emotionally charged lyrics that comprise Creation. Finding solid ground to stand on, The Pierces have honed their abilities and have entered a stage in their career in which they are confident in what they want to produce, who they are, and what their music stands for.

What I like about their style is its fluidity. Each song can transport you to a different era, sound, or feeling. Throughout their entire body of work, you will be enchanted by melodies that harken back to the beguling era of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Their darkly alluring songs have enticed me ever since I have stumbled across them, and I am certainly glad that “Secret” has received attention through Pretty Little Liars. A macabre and stunningly gloomy song as that should gain the recognition it deserves.

You feel unworthy of the throne

You have forgotten who you are

We all have the blood of angels

And we fell from the same star

My favorite track from their latest album has to be “Kings,” which is linked below! Possessing striking beauty and tribal roots, The Pierces have crafted a song and video that trumps my love for their 2007 album Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge. With no doubt in my mind, The Pierces easily take this week’s nomination of Femme Fatales. After all, they taught me that we could do what kings do.

 

Every Friday we will be honoring the stunning Female musicians who have caught our eyes, ears, and hearts (we know that sounded corny, but roll with it). This week we’re featuring Halsey!

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I first discovered Halsey at WTSR, the radio station I’m the manager of (open your mind and bang your f**king head!). The second I read indie pop, Brooklyn, and feminist, I was sold. I spun what the reviewer said was the best song on the record, and I was hooked.

Who is she

Ashley Frangipane was born in New Jersey, though she identifies more with New York. Her stage name is an anagram of her first name and a street that she frequented as a teenager in Brooklyn. Halsey is biracial, which doesn’t effect her music, but it lends to her gorgeous racially ambiguous features. She was raised around music, playing the violin, viola, cello, and eventually, the acoustic guitar. She went to school for songwriting and creative writing. At 18, she turned to music to pay her rent.

What has she done/What is she going to do

She started off posting covers on her personal YouTube channel, which has been deleted (although, thanks to the power of the internet some of those were saved). This eventually led to her recording her original songs and posting “Ghost” on SoundCloud, which got her the attention of Astralwerks who released her debut EP Room 93. It included a remastered version of “Ghost” and features the lead single of her up coming album “Hurricane.”

Why you should listen to her

It seems that dark indie pop has become such a staple in today’s music that we’ve come to the point that the style is being mimicked by lesser pop artists. Halsey just takes the genre and pushes it further. She forgets the upbeat pop beats that seems to be drawing people and goes straight for the moody beats

Where should you start

Since we’ve only seen 5 songs, it’s not difficult to say that Halsey is pretty consistent in quality when it comes to her music. However, I think the clear place to start in her repertoire is the chilling and heartbreaking “Ghost,” which comes off as a moody indie pop entry, but cuts in heartbreaking with lyrics like:

I like the sad eyes, bad guys
Mouth full of white lies
Kiss me in the corridor,
But quick to tell me goodbye.

and has a catchy hook and chorus that will stick with you like an earworm of a more traditional pop song. If you’re looking for a song that highlights Halsey’s power as a vocalist, then “Trouble (stripped)” will outline her raspy vocals. She holds the power in her words rather than the strength in her voice. “Trouble” outlines the emotion of the song – “Let’s cause a little trouble/Oh, you make me feel so weak/I bet you kiss your knuckles/Right before they touch my cheek” – with a faint, but significant voice that will quickly seep into your skin and stay with you. That’s why she deserves to be this week’s Femme Fatale.

The stunningly gorgeous Lulu James graced the stage at Gov Ball with Gorgon City earlier in June. Apart from being an absolutely incredible and lively performer, James has a truly beautiful voice that permeated every inch of the venue. Her ability to dance and jump around stage in 6 inch heels and her impressive high kicks were almost as spectacular as her amazing vocals. With her vivacious dancing and ability to get the crowd excited, I can say that, hands down, Gorgon City and Lulu James were in my top three favorite performances from the three day festival.

With her effervescent single “Sweetest Thing,” Lulu James proves that she is an immensely talented artist to watch for. Infectious pop tracks like “Closer” and “Step By Step” paired with her artistic style and music videos solidify Lulu James as a fierce femme fatale on the rise. “Step By Step” is one of my favorite tracks of hers, and it resonated with me long after the song ended. Plus, she looks pretty amazing with red hair. Check it out below! (Although, lets not jump to Illuminati conclusions by the presence of triangles and the hue of red.)

On top of her own music, Lulu james has been featured on the track “Loving You” with Lane 8; this track is on Lane 8’s new album Rise. The track has an incredibly fun, lively melody layered with Lulu James’ phenomenal vocals. She has also been featured on tracks like “We Disappear” with Jon Hopkins in 2014 and “Why Didn’t You Call?” with Gang Colours in 2013.

In addition to being an endearing performer, Lulu James seems to be an artist that sticks to her own music, ideas, and visions. I have great respect for an artist who does not buckle under the pressure of the music industry or influence of others.  The Tanzanian vocalist describes her style as “21st century soul” and remarks that her music has no set genre. Personally, I think her voice is magnificent whether I hear it leisurely singing a slow song or belting out a dance hit alongside with Gorgon City. I find her voice to be befitting for a variety of songs. You can feel the soul that resonates throughout her booming vocals, but, on the other hand, you can move your body to the infectious pop rhythms that her immense voice is capable of producing.

If you ever have the chance to see Lulu James perform with Gorgon City, take it. James puts on an energetic, stunning, amusing performance, and her voice is simply astounding. With a charmingly genuine personality and powerhouse voice, Lulu James has earned my vote for this weeks’ Femme Fatale!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWOYjyFrM_I