Women in music deserve more love! The different stories blooming from the catchiest to the most sentimental songs sung by women of color give us clearer pictures of the different experiences women face. You might even realize that us women share some similar memories but can express these same ideas and feelings in new, palpable and relatable ways. If you’re looking for some songs by WOC to jam out to and vibe with, you’re in for a short and sweet list of hidden gems! But don’t stop at these songs, you should listen to ALL of these gals’ music! All these featured female artists deserve your recognition and love!
Powerhouse Vocals from A Black Female Singer
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Cheers to the Fall by Andra Day
- Andra Day’s strong vocals make for an intense lip-syncing session with this heartfelt song. Through this song, Andra describes how she freely and contently lives unconventionally and breaks any molds. Although she may encounter great risks while striving for the highest goals, she’s not intimated by the potential falls, since that is the process of life. Likewise, we women should take courage, go out of our comfort zones and set high expectations for ourselves because we are capable of achieving great success!
The Millennial Experience of a Latina Singer
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- If you relate to the more modern highs and lows of young love, Colombiana baddie Kali Uchis is for you! What better describes millennials than romanticizing past decades and taking on modern twists to old-school sounds and aesthetics? Uchis’ style is certainly timeless and endearing. With her sugary vocals and melancholic lyrics, Uchis describes a woman’s yearning to patch up a relationship and stick with her man despite the lows. If you love the gamble of happiness and broken-hearts inherent in love, you’ll quite enjoy Uchis’ lottery metaphor for relationships in this song!
New Age R&B by a Female Malaysian Artist
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- Choosing a song to feature by Yuna was the most difficult decision ever! I truthfully enjoy every single one of her songs; I can’t recommend her intensely enough! Out of all these women, she is personally the most hidden gem. Her voice is smooth and utterly pleasing. Not only does she make classy love songs, but songs with lyrics that describe some struggles that women have such as dealing with beauty standards and discovering one’s identity. In “Escape,” Yuna breaks free from a hindering position in her life to chase her dreams. We could all use some change, so wherever your heart leads you to, make sure you keep growing and learning in that place.
Big Voice in this Korean Singer’s Little Body
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- Don’t let the Korean in K-Pop shy you away from giving the music genre a chance! The rise of the internet era has paved the way for the universal success of Kpop boy and girl groups. However, this solo singer has made a household name for herself with her deep and soulful vocals alone. When I first heard her debut song, “1,2,3,4,” I instantly feel in love with her attitude, old-school sound and powerful vocals. Can you believe that Lee Hi released the masterpiece that is Rose, when she was only 16 years old!? Talk about girl power!
The Empowering Story of a Mixed Race Singer
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- Lee Michelle, who is half-Black and half-Korean, represents a small population in Korea, but her voice is nonetheless important. Mixed-race Koreans often face discrimination from either side of their races, which can take a toll on their confidence and search for identity. Although Lee may face hatred or prejudice, she stands strong, values her beauty and recognizes her worth in this moving song. As women, we must not let others’ words hold more power over our own. Even if we want to be dependent in relationships, we must also know how to stand on our own and appreciate who we are individually.
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Well there you have it! Five WOC to fill your life with joy, tears, dancing or thinking. These women of color have different experiences and philosophies in life, but it’s always a pleasure to peek into the different perspectives of women so we can all understand each other on deeper levels. The power of music can unite all of us and progress our world into a more accepting and less judgmental place. We should all nurture and empower each other, no matter what gender! Have you heard any of these WOC before? Who’s your favorite female artist whose works you feel deserve a shout-out too? Please recommend any more songs by women of color that have created treasured memories for you in the comments!