Samantha Schwartz

As a second-rate singer, I can only imagine how euphoric it would be to hear my own song on the radio.   I suspect it not only comes with intense exposure, but the feeling of validation and credibility in the music world.  Many artists crave this attention in order to fuel their artistic fire, which might cause their talent to falter and result in the creation of songs written specifically for radio popularity.  I praise the women artists who don't give into this attention or pressure.  They make music in order to speak their minds and share their gifts without being influenced by the current wishes and whims of pop culture listeners.  Read on for three inspiring female musicians who gained exposure by creating music on their own terms.

9.16.Culture.TW

Emile Sande

 

Emile Sande

You may recognize this British singer for her soulful 2012 hit, ‘Next to me,’ which made it into the top 25 of the Billboard Hot 100 list.  In 2013 she collaborated with Rudimental, an electronic music group, to create ‘Free,’ a musical masterpiece.  Sande refuses to mold her rich sound and relatable lyrics just to boost her career.  Along with being a great song, the music video sends a great message.

 

 

Sara Bareilles

Sara Bareilles began her career with artistic integrity.  As a writer, she had failed to churn out any hits for her record company.  The label gave her an ultimatum telling her that if she didn't write a relatable ‘love song’ she would be fired.  Her first hit, ‘Love Song,’ was written as a two-week notice to her record company replying in the chorus of her song, 'I’m not going to write you a love song, ‘cause you asked for it, ‘cause you need one, you see?’  The song was so well written the label forgave her and produced the single.  This act of defiance launched her music career into stardom.

 

 

AlunaGeorge

This British electronic music duo consists of two members, Aluna Francis and George Reid.  Unless you’ve been following the band in the UK, you’ve probably only heard their unique sound in ‘You Know You Like It,’ remixed by French DJ/rapper DJ Snake.  In 2013 AlunaGeorge released their first album called Body Music.  Aluna Francis has an incredibly unique and innocent sound as heard in ‘Outlines,’ it's a shame more of their songs haven’t been popularized in the U.S.  The band just signed with Interscope Records and hopefully won’t let the big record company squash their unique voice.

 

 

These three artists are a few examples of how women in the music industry don’t have to conform to society’s idea of pop music in order to become icons.  They never let fame overtake their musical ability and most importantly, create the music they want to hear on their own terms. 

 

Samantha Schwartz is a sophomore at the University of Michigan studying Chemical Engineering.  There isn’t a lot of room for pleasure writing, so bSmart gives her the opportunity to write about the things she cares about that aren’t chemical structures and electrical currents. 

 

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