Women have always had their special place in music. If they weren’t the ones performing the songs, they were the muses behind some of the biggest hits of all time. It was the Spice Girls back in the 1990s that seemed to have coined the term “girl power.” Since then, women have only gotten more popular in today’s industry. Every other song on the radio is either by Rihanna or Katy Perry, and Adele completely dominated this year’s Grammy Awards. In honor of last week’s International Women’s Day, I’m going to fill everyone in on some of the most underrated women in music today.
Imelda May
Rockabilly is a bit of an underground genre in the United States, but Imelda May is one of Ireland’s biggest musicians. Born in Dublin, she began her music career in 2003, releasing “No Turning Back” on British indie record label Foot Tapping Records.
In the past nine years, she’s made appearances at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Conan. Her latest record, “Mayhem,” was released in September 2010 on Ambassador Records. Currently she’s taking a break from the music biz for a while, because she’s pregnant with her first child. In addition to having a strong and unique voice, she also plays the bodhran, guitar and tambourine.
Tracks to check out: “Inside Out,” “It’s Your Voodoo Workin’,” “Johnny Gotta Boom Boom ”
Maja Ivarsson
Maja Ivarsson is the third best thing to come from Sweden to the United States, after IKEA and the “Millennium Series.” Singer of new wave band, The Sounds, you might have seen her in the music video for the Cobra Starship’s first single “Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)” that was featured in the credits of the Samuel L. Jackson classic “Snakes on a Plane. The Sounds have also opened for No Doubt. She’s been making music in Sweden since 1994, but only in the past few years has she gotten recognition in the U.S. Their latest album, “Crossing the Rubicon,” is the first on The Sounds’ own label, Arnioki Records.
Tracks to check out: “Hope You’re Happy Now,” “Don’t Want to Hurt You,” “Like a Lady”
Victoria Asher
Speaking of Cobra Starship, they’ve slowly made it out of the Fueled By Ramen pop punk scene and made it into the full-blown pop scene. Singer Gabe Saporta, while very attractive, is a bit of a spotlight hog. Few people actually know that the girl in the background of their music videos is actually a member of the band. Victoria Asher (better known as Vicky-T) is Cobra Starship’s keytarist and backup vocalist. She has an adorable sense of style, an adorable Pomeranian puppy that she always has with her and a fantastic keytar. I have a soft spot for keytarists, since I own one and people make fun of me for it. Asher has also done some solo work that can be heard on YouTube and some side work with her band Notintown, but as of now they haven’t been released on albums.
Tracks to check out: “My Moves are White (White Hot, That Is),” “Disaster Boy,” “Send My Love to the Dancefloor.
