Nowadays, it’s important to place our attention where sonic innovation is present.
Forget about streaming numbers or monthly listening stats, and embrace the musical artistry of these 4 female musicians. Whether it’s the unapologetic flow of Lexa Gates, the dreamy soundscapes of Chenayder, or the raw vulnerability of Orion Sun, these artists are sure to impress your ears, and deck out your playlists. Take a look into an extensive list of remarkable projects that add the much needed woman’s touch to your music library.
1. Lexa Gates
With the cadence of a female Earl Sweatshirt and her “I’m over it” aura, Lexa Gates is a must listen. The 23 year old Queens local is an incredibly talented rapper, producer, and songwriter. Lexa has been creating beautifully honest pieces of work since 2020, and now carries 8 projects under her belt.
Lexa’s discography is not a difficult listen. Her older, basement-borne albums possess an artistic authenticity that outrun its rugged, low-quality production. Projects Universe Wrapped In Flesh, and Elite Vessel, trace the immense jump in production quality, and Lexa’s focus on her sonic style. These are both great places to start when dabbling with Lexa’s artistry for the first time.
Now, she’s making major strides in her career, and recently released her first studio-produced project. Elite Vessel is Lexa’s proudest project yet, prodding at the realities of being a woman in the arts. A listen to this album feels like sharing of an angsty conversation over a cigarette. Gates touches on what it feels like to be pissed off, at everything really. Lexa’s sobering lens within her music embraces the ugly, prosaic, and solitary. It’s refreshing to hear such an unfiltered, honest perspective.
“Writing from the writers block, b*tch”
– Lexa Gates
With a mixture of R&B and old school sample selections, Lexa discusses the annoyances and truths of her womanhood/career. Gates raps “I’m working out and eating good and these pants still don’t fit” in her playfully honest track “Stacy’s Chips”. She raps that her “figure still so stiff” amongst her attempts to do good for herself. As stiff as her figure is, Lexa’s pen flows freely.
Arguably the most catchy Elite Vessel track, “Dirt” alludes to Lexa’s troubled past and her modern coping. This track acknowledges the roots from which Lexa grew outwards, and how they’ve altered her present perception. An autotuned Lexa vocal screams “I’m just addicted to nothing” for the track’s chorus, adding an intoxicating flow. Lexa speaks with a pensive tongue that packs the sharpness of a true pessimist. There’s a little something for every listener here.
2. Chenayder
Chenayder’s lofi-pop artistry is sure to grab the ears of any romanticist, or dreamer for that matter. She sings in the hue of violet, amongst bubbly beats that gently hug her emotional lyricism. At only 17 years old, the Orlando-born artist has released a mesmeric EP, Blue Oblivion, and her 2024 album, Maybe In Another Life. Alongside her singles, these two projects stand as Chenayder’s testament to her unwavering ability to musically personify the love experience. A Chenayder listening experience feels like a glass house in the clouds, overlooking a pink-stained sunset.
Chenayder’s music is refreshingly airy, inviting all whom seek a whimsical listen to seep into its porous foundations. Track “Sweatshirt” off of Blue Oblivion is entirely enveloping. Chenayder’s silky vocals that cascade over a jazzy dreamscape beat make for a peaceful musical sedative. Everything about her is so reflective, moody, and feminine.
“Good things don’t last forever”
– Chenayder
The Pink Pantheress influenced “Strawberry Perfume” is visually paired with a playfully nostalgic Chenayder serenading us in an indoor children’s playground. Chenayder brings a certain reminiscent artistry that reminds listeners to hold on to their adolescent memories and sensations (in all of its wistful glory).
Her most recent album, Maybe In Another Life, is brilliant and shows immense promise for the teen bedroom pop princess. “Teen Heartbreak”, a personal favorite, is deliciously catchy and addictive. Appealing to the hopeless romantic, this track beautifully lulls a lover’s ears to a dreamlike state of sentimentality. Chenayder and MAVI take on the perky track “Colors”; A perfect duo with MAVI’s incredible flow and Chenayder’s feathery, girlish vocals. This album covers many different musical flows, from the melancholic vibrations of “Goodbye”, to the upbeat bouncy track “Levels”. Chenayder is undoubtedly one to look out for in 2025, as her already fruitful taste in musical artistry is only bound to skyrocket.
3. Jessica Pratt
Jessica Pratt has a voice of mulled apple cider, and a cozy musical flow that captures the passage of time beautifully. The Indie/Folk artist has been creating timeless projects since 2012, her most recent, Here in the Pitch (2024). Pratt’s music is inherently soft and comforting, providing a sonic space to relax while also poetically contemplating the complexities of life. Each track is carefully curated to feel like a much needed embrace from a maternal figure.
When taking a listen through Pratt’s extensive discography, “Quiet Signs” is a deeply emotional, yet soft-spoken work of art. The guitar work in this album is priceless. Track “Fare Thee Well” feels like the shedding of a tear and a simultaneous smile with the soft strum work and gentle flute. “Aeroplane” is another gorgeous track, showcasing Pratt’s allegiance to the melancholy with poetic lyricism that stings.
Poignant Listening
Her newest work, Here in the Pitch, is a stunning listen, bleeding with a quiet lament and ruminative glow. Track “Life Is” stands as a wonderful testament to the fleeting qualities of life. “World on a String” and “Last Year” are the epitome of bittersweet. Pratt’s sappy vocals and tempered guitar touches you in just the right place where it hurts. Pratt makes it possible to fall into the arms of nostalgia, while also preserving a feeling of warmth and assurance. Although this album strikes deep, it feels like the musical antibody to a shattering experience.
In a recent Apple Music interview with Zane Lowe, Pratt discussed her feature with A$AP Rocky, “HIGHJACK”, from 2024. Pratt remarked “It’s very validating and very interesting to see artists from very different walks of life responding to it and then wanting to use pieces of it. It’s very surreal…” Attesting to Pratt’s words, it’s truly amazing to see her folk-focused work melt so beautifully into A$AP’s artistry. Pratt’s thoughtful, reflective, music is so vintage in it’s nature, yet able to provide other genres a loving hollow to fall into and grow from within. Jessica Pratt is a necessary remedy for your ears, and mind.
4. Orion Sun
From A Collection of Fleeting Moments and Daydreams, to her newest project Orion, Orion Sun’s admittance to vulnerability is the audible cure to a broken heart. Orion’s beautiful curation process within her albums speaks volumes on her musical excellence, and her attention to detail. Her latest 2024 release, Orion, stands as a poetic proclamation of Orion’s identity. This project confidently explores self-reflection, heartbreak, and memory within a tender soundscape. Orion is a gorgeous marker of Sun granting her listeners access to her mind and heart.
Orion’s artistry is luminous in her project A Collection of Fleeting Moments and Daydreams. Starting at the intro “Orion”, listeners can grapple with the raw, sensitive world that Sun invites us into with each track. Orion applies a soft guitar and a crackly record here, mesmerizing her listeners with her voice of satin. The short but sweet track “Mirage” flees from the alternative-driven album, and seeks out a dreamy jazz/R&B vibration that feeds the illusory context the title suggests. A gem off of the project, “Space Jam- An Odyssey”, is a beautiful track that is the epitome of Orion Sun’s creativity. Sun skates over a sweet piano and a scratchy beat with her echoed, yearning vocals. This song normalizes and beautifies the process of pining for the inevitably fleeting (if you’re into that sort of thing).
The Rising (Orion) Sun
Orion capitalizes on Sun’s previous projects, and further her transcendence into her authentic self. This self-titled album is quiet, personal, and embraces her identity. “When I Was in Love” and “If I Never See You Again” flirt with the nostalgia of a past love encounter, yet with such a quiet confidence. “Take My Eyes” seizes its listeners with a watery guitar and lyrics that take the shape of a tear. Orion Sun opens her heart to her listeners, and shows us where it hurts. This project highly emotional, and feels like the letter you never sent.
In a recent “That Good Sh*t” interview with music curator/ DJ Anabelle Kline and Orion Sun, the two discuss the artistry, themes, and inspirations of Orion, and what the album release meant for her. Orion Sun mentions “I’m confident because I have nothing to hide. This is who I am, and I try to capture that in my music.” This mantra is so eloquently executed in Orion, as she works diligently to show us the raw, uncut version of herself. It’s power and grace land in perfect harmony for its listeners.
Orion Sun writes so passionately, and welcomes a certain severance of the ego that makes her music exude comfort and acceptance. She’s a wonderful artist, and a must-add to your listening.