The 2014 Women of Rock

Nov. 1, 2014

While the field of women in rock typically turns over more slowly than that of the men (many female artists hold onto their crowns from year to year with few surfacing to challenge them), this year’s list is a pretty solid mix of stalwarts and newcomers.

Also of note with this edition is that, while you’re certain to have heard several of these names before, they haven’t been picked solely because of their chart numbers; these are artists who are striving to challenge themselves artistically, too.

JENNY LEWIS: The Rock Voyager 

Lewis’ latest record, The Voyager, hit outlets this past summer (as did her tour with Ray LaMontagne, which made a stop at Interlochen), but while her prior two solo efforts were more country (2006) and rock (2008), this set breaks new ground for the singer, who collaborated with Ryan Adams as producer. It’s the album that seems most suited to her unusual voice so far, focused narrowly on ‘70s folk-rock tracks like “Just One of the Guys” and the title track. It’s snagged her critical acclaim and set her on an extensive tour through the end of the year. A new collaborative track with Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij (“Completely Not Me”) sets Lewis up for even more success in 2015.

LAUREN MAYBERRY: The Understated Indie 

The voice of the buzz indie synthpop band Chvrches, Mayberry may have started her adult life with degrees in law and journalism, but she abandoned them both for a music career. Her band has hit the stage at SXSW, Coachella, Bonnaroo, and this year’s Lollapalooza; their music, while based in electronica, crosses many genres due in part to Mayberry’s accessible, classic vocals. Several of their tracks have also crossed over to yet another level of cool by appearing on the soundtracks for videogames like FIFA and Gran Turismo. Mayberry is also helping set more self-aware standards for pop musicians, appearing on stage in modest, yet cool, outfits and speaking out intelligently against sexist online comments about women.

LORDE: The Art Popster 

Almost a year ago, she dropped her album Pure Heroine and, by the end of 2013, it had already sold 1.5 million copies. She’s been busy pretty much constantly ever since, first promoting singles like “Royals,” “Tennis Court” and “Team,” and then with a series of high-profile live appearances, including Sydney’s Laneway Festival, California’s Coachella and all four 2014 editions of Lollapalooza in South America/Chicago. Performing Nirvana’s “All Apologies” with the surviving members of the band at the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame was another 2014 highlight. Fellow musicians and fans seek her out because of her distinctive vocals and quirkily self-assured—but not arrogant—stage presence.

Not sure where she found the time to curate the soundtrack for November’s premiere of the latest film in the Hunger Games trilogy, but she did—and she wrote a single for it, too.

EMELI SANDE: The Scottish Soulstress 

Infusing her unique soul sound with hip-hop and jazz, Sande (whose first name is actually Adele, but uses her middle name to avoid confusion with you know who) got her start on the serious side of music penning tracks for other artists, including Cheryl Cole, Susan Boyle and Leona Lewis, but it wasn’t long before her own voice started getting well-deserved attention. In 2012, she sang at the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics; last year, she performed at the White House and snagged two BRIT Awards. Her music, influenced by the likes of Joni Mitchell, Lauryn Hill and Alicia Keys, is catchy without being obvious and will likely reach an even bigger audience when her much-anticipated next album hits outlets early next year. How about a sneak peek at the title? Tracklisting? Nope. Sande, ever media-shy, isn’t talking; she prefers to let her music speak for her.

TAYLOR SWIFT: The Genre Shifter 

We know what you’re thinking: Why is mega-selling chart-topper Swifty on this “artistic” list? Because of her remarkable ability to reinvent herself, that’s why. Last year, she tested the pop waters with one audio toe called “I Knew You Were Trouble” from her 2012 set, Red. Once she found that her pop instincts ran true (with Max Martin, Dan Wilson and Ed Sheeran along to help), she decided to go for it 100 percent with her 2014 album, 1989, on which nary a country twang is found. Swift’s now legendary twists of phrase and unavoidably catchy melodies have her latest already poised to be a huge hit among tweens and jaded hipsters alike, from the early listens of “Shake It Off ” to the fact that her massive social media following pounced on the album as soon as it hit iTunes on Oct. 27 at midnight.

GWEN STEFANI: The Timeless Diva 

Has Stefani really been in the music biz for 22 years? You’d never know it listening to—or looking at—her. First as the front woman (still) for chart-topping Cali ska-rock band No Doubt, and then as solo artist, Stefani has carved new ground with her vocal style, punk-confident stage moves and fashion sense, right down to designing her own complete clothing and accessories line (L.A.M.B.) that’s proved a hit with fashionistas, the Hollywood elite and the “regular” kids. Currently, she’s a coach on the top singing competition show The Voice, where’s she’s rumored to be prepping a performance of a single from her upcoming album later in the show’s season. Speaking of that album, she’s collaborating on it with uber-cool fellow Voice coach Pharrell Williams, as if Stefani’s own cool factor could be any higher. The album’s first preview single “Baby Don’t Lie” and its ‘80scolored, pop art polka dots video is amping up the already buzzy interest in what Stefani’s new album will sound like. From ska to electronica (including her collabs with Moby) to rock to retro, Stefani never stops evolving and that’s perhaps why her sound and look both stay so fresh.