You Must Listen To: Women With SOUL

There’s something about listening to a woman tear her heart open onstage…husky voice dripping in longing, captivating eyes staring out at the audience, that is truly beautiful.

Women with soul speak for all of us who have gone through heartbreak, fallen in love, cried on the bathroom floor when our hearts fell into the pit of our stomachs after seeing our ex with his new girl… We’ve all been there, and the women who sing about it have been there too, putting everything we’ve cried and screamed about into words.

Though there are always the classics; Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald among countless others, there are women breaking new ground with the same grit, the same heart-wrenching confessions at the mic, and the same beautiful voices gliding over bossa nova grooves, brass, and funky drum beats.

These women have it all. So light some candles, pour yourself a glass of wine and feel empowered, cry, remember, whatever…they’ll take you somewhere and I promise they’ll hold your heart in the palm of their hands the entire time.

*Duffy: when I say she’s going to give Amy Winehouse a run for her money, I mean it.

Download: Rockferry and Mercy

*Lizz Wright: onto her sophomore album, Lizz has that neo-soul vibe down to a T. She makes you want to dreadlock your hair and dance all groovy around candlelight, and actually has some amazing songs to GET DOWN to.

Download: I Idolize You and Speak Your Heart

*Adele: Another white girl with a mix between soul and quirkey songstress (see: Kate Nash)

Download: Hometown Glory

*Hope: the first time I heard her music, I bawled.

Download: Bring Me Flowers and The Rain Don’t Last

*Alisan Porter: remember Curly Sue the movie? Yeah, well–that’s her. SHE’S RIDICULOUS. Vocals that are OUT OF THIS WORLD, when she performs she’ll leave you on the floor (she is also on Broadway in A Chorus Line)…contact her via Myspace to purchase tunes.

Download: End Song and Into the Fire

*Emily King: Still has yet to meet the eyes of the public and the radio stream BUT, she has the chops and the album to succeed once she’s in the radar.

Download: You and I and her remake of Ain’t No Sunshine

*Melody Gardot: More on the jazz vibe, this young singer blends folk infused with some acoustic sounds. Great to listen to on a long ride home or in a bubble bath with….well, wine. duh.

Download: Worrisome Heart and Love Me Like The River Does

*Toby Lightman: Though her first album didn’t have it’s expected success with her remake of Mary J. Blige’s “Real Love”, she is undoubtedly an incredible artist and the second album proves it.

Download: My Sweet Song and One Sure Thing

*Raya Yarbrough: Soul infused with a little funk…Raya makes me want to wear a satin robe and talk like a ’40’s movie star…and what not.

Download: You’re So Bad For Me and Lord Knows I Would

*Joy Denalane: born and raised in Germany, Joy proves that Europe is going to continue to…be better/more artistic/more talented than all of the American soul wanna-be’s.

Download: Let Go and Be Real

Also Check out:

-Liv Warfield : DL – I’m Feeling Lonely

-Conya Doss: DL – Tell Me Why

- Goapele: DL – First Love

- Amel Larrieux: DL – Make Me Whole

-Robyn: (YES the one that sang “Show Me Love” when we were all in middle school) DL – Acoustic version of With Every Heartbeat

What women with soul clench your soul when you listen to them???