Here’s a list of five women who broke through to wider audiences in 2010 or are going to in 2011. They have done so purely on the strength of their talent without needing to resort to any gimmicks or put on personas. Some of them are already quite well known while others you might be hearing of for the first time.
- Adele
Adele is a 22 year old British singer songwriter who has the most powerful vocal chops that I’ve seen on a woman in a long time. She already has a couple of Grammys to her name (2009). Her new album 21 just came out in Jan this year and Rolling in the Deep is the first single from it.
Keep a ear or two out for that voice 
- Lissie
The gorgeous Lissie (born Elisabeth Maurus) is an American folk rock singer and her debut album Catching the Tiger was released to favorable reviews acclaim in 2010. Lissie’s voice has a certain raw bluesy tonality that makes it quite unique distinct. Listen to Record Collector and experience it for yourself.
- Jessie J
Jessie J is the ‘newest’ or freshest artist on this list having just released a couple of singles to date. This British artist however is an established songwriter having written songs for the likes of Justin Timberlake and Alicia Keys amongst others.
Jessie is also the winner of the British Critics Choice award for 2011 and her debut album Who Your Are is out in March’11. Price Tag attached below is the second single from her debut effort.
Buy Mp3 from Amazon
- Ellie Goulding
Another British singer songwriter and another winner of the British Critics Choice award (2010), Elena Jane Goulding better known as Ellie Goulding is already an established name in the UK thanks to her debut album Lights in 2010.
She plans to extend her magic to the US with the release of her debut album there. Here’s the latest single from her debut album.
- Sara Barielles
Probably the most familiar name on this list (I hope!!) Sara Bareilles has been making music for a while now but it’s her second album Kaleidoscopic Heart in 2009 that hit No.1 on the Billboard album charts that brought her into the limelight.
Sara makes piano based pop/ rock songs with witty, insightful lyrics and her song King of Anything is a fine example of that.
What do you think of this list? Any female singers on your radar that look promising and that i have missed out on? Let me know in the comments section.
September 20, 2011 at 00:03
Here’s a real tester for you. The other day I heard an interview with a female singer/songwriter but I couldn’t catch her name. Her first name sounded something like Iana, Irwana, Ioanna?? Her second name was double barrelled with the first part starting with W???? – ????
Apparently she’s just brought out a new album. Can anyone identify her, pse?
September 20, 2011 at 10:26
can’t really think of anyone with that ‘name’ off hand Frank, any more details that you can share?
December 21, 2011 at 22:45
Hi
Did you ever find out who this is? Because my boyfriend has said exactly the same thing to me, and left me trawling the world wide web in the hope of finding her name!
Thanks
December 22, 2011 at 12:25
unfortunately i haven’t been able to figure out the artist in question. now if i had more to go on?
December 30, 2011 at 04:54
Lana Del Ray. She’s incredible,
December 30, 2011 at 11:11
she’s going to be on the 2012 list
September 20, 2011 at 21:04
Thanks ghansh, but no, unfortunately. I just heard the interview but couldn’t catch the name. She sang a track from an album she’s recently released (and plays guitar on it). I’m absolutely no music buff but this track was just fantastic and I was hoping to buy the album.
I’ve looked through the BBC web archives but can’t find any mention of the interview – and I can’t even remember which show it was on. Doh!! Ah well, I’ll just have to keep my ears open.
December 19, 2011 at 21:12
I heard her too and could not catch the name. She was really good had white blond hair was 27 her lyrics were deep and her voice was haunting. I have been trying to find her but can’t so far I thought it was from the sunday morning tv show but nothing shows up when I search for her. If you find her let me know.
December 28, 2011 at 23:38
Is it Laura Marling?
December 29, 2011 at 06:11
To: Yes wings.
Her name is Florance + the machine I want her and Kellie Luvella the song “Down”
Have a nice day!!!
January 6, 2012 at 10:03
i cant remember this artist’s name but it starts with the letter B and one of her songs has the word people in it. please help me hehe
January 20, 2012 at 00:41
Don’t forget Jackie Evancho she is 11 years old and now has almost 3 million cds sold.
February 5, 2012 at 03:40
I don’t know this singers’ name or even a song by her, i just remember what she looked like: Brunette, early twenties. She has a new album (don’t know the name of it either) But she was wearing a mask with (i think) peacock feathers on the cover. she sounds like a combination of Lady Gaga and Ke$ha or something like it. it was either a new or debut album. i have the video running in my head without music, driving me nuts. I think her name started with and n or k honestly no other clue….please help me out on this?
April 28, 2012 at 03:16
Florence and the machine, Lana Del Ray and Regina Spector…..amazing voices which are all so unique and great songs!!!!
May 18, 2012 at 12:24
To John, the beautiful voice you discovered belongs to Birdy, who does an amazing cover of Skinny Love by Bon Iver and also has her own song entitled “People Help the People.
March 21, 2013 at 23:54
I’m gone to say to my little brother, that he should also go to see this weblog on regular basis to take updated from newest information.