INTERNATIONAL FEMALE ARTISTS ON THE RISE 2023

 

Photo Credit: Ivan Shaffer

Bree Runway

Brenda Wireko Mensah vastly known as Bree Runway is on the verge of breaking into the outlandish mainstream, and she is more than ready. The British singer has been building up her career for almost nine years, and is now reaping the fruits of her hard work. After self-releasing her EP: RNWY 01 and Bouji she has not stopped. 

As she grew, Bree refused to focus on one genre. She is a full package, and has been able to flow between Hip-Hop, R&B and POP with amazing versatility and sultriness. She recently joined Lizzo’s 2023 Tour: The Special Tour during the European leg of the show. She was the main support act and delivered a set of her best hits Apeshit (a hit in my books), ATM a feature with Missy Eliott, and Hot Hot amongst many others. She is coming in HOT HOT indeed, so keep an eye open!

Photo Credit: Lauren Maccabee for NME

FLO

Following up with more British talent, we have the amazing and harmonious: Flo. This girl band composed by Jorja Douglas (far right), Renée Downer (middle) and Stella Quaresma (far left) is barging into the music industry, and is bringing back the early 2000s R&B. If Destiny’s Child were to have an actual child, it would be them. In 2022, they introduced themselves to the world with their EP: The Lead. A project filled with bitter sweet lyrics and powerful harmonies that immediately granted them the attention of the limelight. 

Their most recent accomplishment has been the release of their single Fly Girl, an uptempo track that interpolates the Hip-Hop classic Work it by Missy Eliott. To make it even better, they worked along with Eliott and featured the artist in the song and music video. Look out for them!

Photo Credit: Unkown

Doechii

Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon, also known as Doechii is a force to be reckoned with. I remember stumbling upon her 2022 BET award performance, and to say it was impressive would be an understatement. Her unapologetical presence compelled me to do some research. So, I am here to share with you why you should look out for her road to stardom. 

Doechii is a raw artist. Mostly, a rapper, at times a singer. In her latest project, an EP titled: She/Her/Black Bitch, Doechii displays her amazing lyricism and flow. Her songs reflect on her identity as a queer black woman and the lived experiences she has faced with a dash of satire and humor. Her latest single, What it is has been on repeat on my playlist. She is as pure as a diamond, ready to shine!

Photo Credit: Alice Rosati

Bad Gyal

Alba Farelo i Solé is a Spanish artist known as Bad Gyal. And she is the bad influence you need on your playlist. She lights up the Spanish music scene with a mix of Dancehall, Reggaeton and EDM infused with a dash of Pop and Afrobeat. Her lyrics are filled with confident rhymes that have you feeling like a million dollar baby. She debuted, back in 2016, with a Mixtape titled: Slow Wine Mixtape. She has been growing steadily and organically with a very loyal audience, and has collected a few major collaborations like her feature with Busy Signal titled Santa María. And with Rema on a track called 44. 

Most recently, she was featured in Karol G’s latest album Mañana será bonito. She joins the Colombian star in a song titled Kármika, which not only counts with Karol G as the main voice, but is also supported by the legend himself, Saun Paul. This was a dream collaboration for the Spanish artist, and clearly the beginning of big things. You should add her to your playlist for the summer. You won’t regret it!

Photo Credit: Lex Ash | Sheila Afari PR

Ayra Starr

Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, Ayra Starr for the world, is a Nigerian artist taking over the Afrobeat genre. She debuted in 2018 with a project titled: 19 & Dangerous. I must admit, I found out about her while I was mindlessly scrolling through Tiktok. Shortly after, I found myself mumbling her hit Rush and decided to check the artist behind it. 

Her unique sound and voice paired with her eclectic aesthetic are the reason why her songs have become immediate hits. The success of her debut allowed her to work with renowned artists such as Kelly Rowland and Tiwa Savage. Her recently released single: Sability is the cherry on top. It’s an uptempo beat that samples Coupé bibamba, a classic tune by the Congolese legend Awilo Longomba. When I heard this single for the first time, I was immediately transported back in time to every African party I have ever been to. Her capacity to merge sounds of the past with today's musical landscape is a clear indicator of her strong head start. It’s obvious she is a promising start in the making, so you want to keep an eye on her too. That’s for sure!

*Make sure to share this article with someone that needs a playlist revamp. XOXO!*