Women On Vox is our series highlighting talented ladies in music by tipping over 100 brilliant bands where women take centre stage.

In Part 1 we started by showcasing the female flair of some of our absolute favourites, starting with red-hot London trio Dream Wife and altogether profiling 25 artists across guitar-drawn styles, from indie rock to plush grunge to party punk.

Today we’re shifting the spotlight onto women from the lively world of alternative pop, featuring some of the more melodic, sharp and sugary music that we adore.

Our picks include electropop aplenty, but also indie earworms, Scandipop darlings and chilled electronica, all with complete profiles penned by FEISTY editor and Women On Vox assembler Katy.

We’ve also included vital statistics on every artist, and the essential discography you’d need to track down to gather their entire essential output.

Read on for the full second installment, or alternatively skip straight to the sounds with our full Spotify playlist:

Pale Waves

In a sentence: Of all the bands we’re featuring across five parts, it’s this polished indie pop quartet – with their backing from the Dirty Hit juggernaut – that we’re most certain will go astronomical in the years to come.

We’ve picked: The Tide, the single that announced them as an unsigned prospect back in 2015 and since reproduced for their All The Things I Never Said EP.

Hometown: Manchester, UK
Vocalist: Heather Baron-Gracie
Spotify followers: 54,026
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: EPs – All The Things I Never Said (2017); Singles – Television Romance (2017), There’s A Honey (2017), Heavenly (2015), The Tide (original, 2015); Demos – Lust (2014)

Anna of the North

In a sentence: Borne of an almost implausibly romantic backstory, Anna of the North’s ice-cool music is some of the most essential electropop of the decade, first noticed as a SoundCloud viral hit and now immortalised on their outstanding debut album.

We’ve picked: Someone, one of our favourites from Lovers.

Hometown: Gjøvik, NO
Vocalist: Anna Lotterud
Spotify followers: 51,099
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: Albums – Lovers (2017); Singles – Oslo (2017), Us (2016), The Dreamer (2015), Sway / Undervann (2014), ILYAF 1996 (2014)

Kitten

In a sentence: Dominated by their prodigious frontwoman Chloe Chaidez, Kitten create consistently immaculate alternative pop music, sprinkled with synths and ranging from perky guitar pop to their current retro-spirited brilliance.

We’ve picked: The new single I Did It! is one of our favourite tracks of 2018 to date.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Vocalist: Chloe Chaidez
Spotify followers: 16,499
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: Albums – Kitten (2014); EPs – Heaven Or Somewhere In Between (2016), Like A Stranger (2013), Cut It Out (2012), Sunday School (2010); Compilations – Diamonds (2015); Singles – I Did It! (2018), Steal The Night (2016)

Fickle Friends

In a sentence: Packed with sleek pop hooks, Fickle Friends’ prolific output of glistening, catchy electropop finally builds to a crescendo this Friday with the release of a debut album we’ll be sure to have on heavy rotation.

We’ve picked: Glue, first released last year as a single and included on their full-length. Cry Baby is our favourite to not make the cut.

Hometown: Brighton, UK
Vocalist: Natassja Shiner
Spotify followers: 45,878
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: Albums – You Are Someone Else (2018); EPs – Glue (2017), Velvet (2015); Singles – Cry Baby (2016), Say No More (2015), For You (2014), Play (2014), Swim (first mix, 2014)

Skott

In a sentence: One of Scandinavia’s everpresent army of electronic pop starlets, Skott’s music follows mainstream tropes more closely than her peers but still possesses that unmistakable Swedish gleam.

We’ve picked: She’s released a new EP since – Russian Soul is the clever highlight – but Glitter & Gloss from early last year remains our favourite.

Hometown: Vikarbyn, SE
Vocalist: Pauline Skott
Spotify followers: 35,000
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: EPs – Stay Off My Mind (2018); Singles – Remain (2017), Mermaid (2017), Glitter & Gloss (2017), Lack Of Emotion (2016), Amelia (2016), Porcelain / Wolf (2016)

Wild Ones

In a sentence: Underrated indie pop group, with vocals that resemble CHVRCHES at their poppiest and something altogether more sombre in their more muted moments.

We’ve picked: Standing in the Back at Your Show, the wistful second single from last year’s Mirror Touch album. For something more syrupy, try album track No Money.

Hometown: Portland, OR, USA
Vocalist: Danielle Sullivan
Spotify followers: 11,434
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: Albums – Mirror Touch (2017), Keep It Safe (2013); EPs – Heatwave (2015), You’re A Winner (2010); Singles – Yard (2014), Hold On, We’re Going Home (2013)

Kristin Kontrol

In a sentence: The solo electropop reinvention of Kristin Welchez, frontwoman with dearly-missed indie icons Dum Dum Girls.

We’ve picked: Standalone single Concrete Love, but the unabashedly synth moments of X-Communicate are all essential.

Hometown: San Leandro, CA, USA
Vocalist: Kristin Welchez
Spotify followers: 4,779
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: Albums – X-Communicate (2016); Singles – Concrete Love (2017), Baby Are You In? (2016)

Nelson Can

In a sentence: Danish troupe combining pulsating bass riffs, vocal allure and thumping drums to create a mixture of fun indie disco and sultry pop-rock.

We’ve picked: Miracle, the high energy indie floorfiller from last year’s EP3.

Hometown: Copenhagen, DK
Vocalist: Selina Gin
Spotify followers: 4,746
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: Albums – Now Is Your Time To Deliver (2014); EPs – EP3 (2017), EP2 (2014), Nelson Can (2012); Singles – On Christmas Night (2017), Troublemaker (2012)

Gothic Tropic

In a sentence: Powerful alt-pop from the boundless Cecilia Della Peruti, influenced by R&B, psychedelia and new wave and scurrying around styles accordingly.

We’ve picked: Your Soul, a lush pop composition from her debut album Fast or Feast.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Vocalist: Cecilia Della Peruti
Spotify followers: 3,393
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: Albums – Fast Or Feast (2017); EPs – Awesome Problems (2011); Singles – Puppet Master (2015), Underwater Games / Bird Of Prey (2014)

Ardyn

In a sentence: Gloucestershire duo with a knack for producing impeccable pop music, epitomised by smooth rhythms and Katy Pearson’s gentle, tuneful vocals.

We’ve picked: Together, taken from their third EP Bloom.

Hometown: Stroud, UK
Vocalist: Katy Pearson
Spotify followers: 3,832
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: EPs – Bloom (2017), The Valley (2016), Universe (2015)

Cronicle

In a sentence: An alternative girl turned electropop hopeful, Cronicle combines the pop stylings of her native Nordics with UK garage and dance music influences.

We’ve picked: Head Up & High, her first and only proper single release to date.

Hometown: Stockholm, SE
Vocalist: Melanie Mohlkert
Spotify followers: 56
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: Singles – Head Up & High (2018)

HALIE

In a sentence: Norwegian teen with marked similarities to Scandipop star Sigrid and a good tip to follow in her footsteps in the future.

We’ve picked: The endearing debut single Echo.

Hometown: Bergen, NO
Vocalist: Hannah Emilie Grung
Spotify followers: 924
Links: Facebook • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: Singles – Youth (2018), Echo (2017)

Pixey

In a sentence: Youthful, bedroom-produced pop from giddy Merseyside fledgling Lizzie Hillesdon.

We’ve picked: Lively single Hometown, complete with its punchy, breakbeat-inspired instrumentation.

Hometown: Liverpool, UK
Vocalist: Lizzie Hillesdon
Spotify followers: 609
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: Singles – Hometown (2017), Birthday (2017), Young (2016)

Peaness

In a sentence: Preppy indie pop from a cheery trio that contrast in approach, albeit not underlying lyrical depth, with the rawer bands that they often share a stage with.

We’ve picked: Ugly Veg from the Are You Sure? EP, a track about environmental damage and food waste.

Hometown: Chester, UK
Vocalists: Carlea “Balla” Balbenta, Jess Branley
Spotify followers: 861
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: EPs – Are You Sure? (2017), No Fun (2015)

Charly Bliss

In a sentence: Sugary pop-punk with grungy undertones, starring lively frontwoman Eva Hendricks and her one-of-a-kind candy vocal style.

We’ve picked: Glitter, the most memorable single from their debut album Guppy.

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Vocalist: Eva Hendricks
Spotify followers: 12,943
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: Albums – Guppy (2017); EPs – Soft Serve (2014); Singles – Turd (2016), Clean (2013)

Miss World

In a sentence: Scuzzy guitar pop from the oddball solo project of Natalie Chahal, taking inspiration from ’90s girl rock and unhealthily obsessed with blow-up dolls.

We’ve picked: Click and Yr Mine, the gooey lo-fi standout of the Waist Management EP.

Hometown: London, UK
Vocalist: Natalie Chahal
Spotify followers: 207
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: EPs – Waist Management (2017)

The Regrettes

In a sentence: Zippy power pop, inspired by riot grrl and classic punk, and telling tales of teenage life.

We’ve picked: Come Together, the opening track from February’s Attention Seeker EP.

Hometown: Eagle Rock, CA, USA
Vocalist: Lydia Night
Spotify followers: 22,486
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: Albums – Feel Your Feelings Fool! (2017); EPs – Attention Seeker (2018), Hey! (2015); Singles – Back In Your Head (2017), Marshmallow World (2016)

Thea and the Wild

In a sentence: Thea Glenton Raknes creates clean indie pop with enduring choruses and glossy production, developing two acclaimed full-lengths to date.

We’ve picked: When a Kiss Becomes a Habit, from her new album Ikaros.

Hometown: Oslo, NO
Vocalist: Thea Glenton Raknes
Spotify followers: 821
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: Albums – Ikaros (2018), Strangers and Lovers (2014)

ASTR

In a sentence: Previously a twosome that fused R&B with electronica, ASTR reappeared recently as a solo project, dropping two easygoing singles at the back end of February.

We’ve picked: Ritual, our favourite of the new tracks. The EPs, while they haven’t aged well as a whole, contain a gem or two.

Hometown: New York City, NY, USA
Vocalist: Zoe Silverman
Spotify followers: 36,428
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: EPs – Homecoming (2015), Varsity (2014); Singles – Ritual (2018), In Your Eyes (2018)

La Lusid

In a sentence: Laidback, loungy, analogue-feeling pop from a band that have become more widely accessible since taking the decision to move away from their native Swedish tongue.

We’ve picked: Brand new single Empty Bones, released earlier this month.

Hometown: Stockholm, SE
Vocalist: Paulina Palmgren
Spotify followers: 267
Links: Facebook • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: EPs – Legend (2017), Legend (Swedish Version) (2017); Singles – Empty Bones (2018), Årsta Brygga (2017)

The Marías

In a sentence: Chilled electronic pop from a viral marvel who’ve enjoyed widespread adoration since the release of their debut EP last year.

We’ve picked: I Don’t Know You, the spellbinding opening track from the Superclean Vol. I EP.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Vocalist: Maria Zardoya
Spotify followers: 19,666
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: EPs – Superclean Vol. I (2017)

Cajsa Siik

In a sentence: Cult indie singer-songwriter from Sweden who, with her ethereal vocals and dainty, plush instrumentation, has ascended in stature from album to album.

We’ve picked: It’s unlike any of her other output, but we’ve went with the incredible old-school synthpop edit of White Noise by Forêt de Vin. We’d love to see her work with him again.

Hometown: Umeå, SE
Vocalist: Cajsa Siik
Spotify followers: 3,332
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: Albums – Domino (2017), Contra (2014), Plastic House (2012); EPs – Ego (2013); Singles – White Noise (Forêt De Vin’s 1988 Edit) (2017), Change Of Heart (2015), State Of Low (2015), Follow You Down (2015)

Sheila and the Kit

In a sentence: Electropop upstarts and potential future movers from the Netherlands, a cheeky little pleasure with glossy vocals and ritzy, polished synths.

We’ve picked: The second single Next 2 U, released last year. It’s one of three singles to date.

Hometown: Amsterdam, NL
Vocalist: Suzanne Kipping
Spotify followers: 59
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: Singles – Good Love Stories (2018), Next 2 U (2017), Homeschool Sweethearts (2017)

Let’s Eat Grandma

In a sentence: Young duo that take the fundamentals of pop and experiment zealously, from the eclecticism of their debut album to the wacky all-out pop of their 2018 rebirth.

We’ve picked: New single Hot Pink, a celebration of femininity and a much glossier take on their sound.

Hometown: Norwich, UK
Vocalists: Rosa Walton, Jenny Hollingworth
Spotify followers: 11,945
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: Albums – I, Gemini (2016); Singles – Hot Pink (2018), Sink (2016)

GIRLI

In a sentence: Not to be missed, the unparallaled world of singer-slash-rapper GIRLI is one of biting lyricism, insatiable rhythms and – as her proud moniker suggests – lofty femininity.

We’ve picked: Hot Mess. Specifically, the sharp original, although there’s a single take featuring Anteros to check out too.

Hometown: London, UK
Vocalist: Milly Toomey
Spotify followers: 14,255
Links: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Spotify

Selected discography: EPs – Hot Mess (2017), Feel OK (2017); Singles – Mr 10pm Bedtime (with The Tuts, 2017), Hot Mess (with Anteros, 2017), Fuck Right Back Off To LA (2016), Girls Get Angry Too (2016), It Was My Party Last Night (2016), Too Much Fun (2016), Girl I Met On The Internet (2016), Breaking My Phone (2016), So You Think You Can Fuck With Me Do Ya / ASBOys (2015), Handbrake (2014)

Part 3 of FEISTY’s Women On Vox will be published on Wednesday 14 March 2018. Like what you’ve heard? Let us know, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Women On Vox is our series highlighting talented ladies in music by tipping over 100 brilliant bands where women take centre stage.

With female artists still underrepresented on major platforms, radio and festival stages, especially those performing in alternative genres, there’s so much boundlessly great music that isn’t given the same chance to be heard and loved.

That’s one reason why, every day this week, we’ll be celebrating female flair.

We’ll be profiling no less than 125 artists in total – mostly bands, with a few solo talents thrown in – that represent a diverse range of styles, from alt-pop to vicious punk.

The final picks were whittled down from a shortlist of close to 400, constructed with the help of a tip or two from friends around the UK music scene. We then split our selections into five equal parts, each roughly based around a specific genre or mood. These are:

• Part 1 (Today) – A guitar-drawn opening 25, starring a mixture of styles, some of our favourite talents of the moment and a few big tips for the future;

• Part 2 (Tuesday) – A sugarier selection, featuring electropop and alternative pop picks and the band we most expect to achieve colossal success in the future;

• Part 3 (Wednesday) – A heavier showcase of brilliant punk, rock, grunge and riot grrl bands, from the highly political to the ridiculously bizarre;

• Part 4 (Thursday) – Music of a more melancholy nature, including dream pop, darker pop and shoegaze, three of which you won’t find on Spotify;

• Part 5 (Friday) – An overflow assortment of the artists we had to include but couldn’t fit elsewhere, including some of the biggest hitters.

We set a few criteria for inclusion. We decided to not feature the obvious bands we’re sure everyone has heard of, omitting the likes of CHVRCHES, Daughter and HAIM despite being big fans of all of them.

Likewise, we opted to only include acts that made their recorded debut this decade, the vast majority very recently, ruling out long-runners like Tamaryn. We lastly skipped a number of groups in which women only provide some vocals and not as the only lead, making just three exceptions along the way.

Finally, the name Women On Vox reflects that, while we’re promoting women in music, band lineups often include men and non-binary people too. (If you’re interested, 70.7% of band members on our list are women.) We’re strong believers that “female vocalists” is not a genre.

Read on for the first installment, with profiles of every artist from FEISTY editor and Women On Vox assembler Katy. We’ve also included vital statistics and the key discography you’d need to collect to gather everyone’s entire essential output.

Or, if you’d prefer, dive straight into the music with the full Spotify playlist of Part 1:

British rock-and-roll is being fired back into the spotlight, as the appetite grows for bands with something to say and an attitude about it.

And as the genre comes back to the fore, Reading’s The Amazons are sure – with their debut album on the way – to be part of the conversation.

Their fiery alternative rock, ready-made for arenas and stadiums in the years to come, has been weightily tipped around the houses, and they’re off to some of the planet’s biggest festivals this year.

The Amazons’ new single Junk Food Forever was released last week, as were details of a new headline tour in the autumn.

They’re also at plenty of UK festivals, starting this weekend at Live at Leeds – and with both that and their album release looming, we caught up with guitarist Chris Alderton for a chat.

Read on for Chris on making an impact on British music, the effects of hype, and the band’s tips for this weekend’s first festival.

Thanks for taking the time to chat to us! You’ve been on tour for most of this year so far. What have you all been doing recently, resting?

Chris: “There’s no rest for the wicked, last week we had our first proper day off since 15 February! Earlier this month we hit the road again for the second half of our UK tour, including Glasgow, Manchester, London and then our homecoming show in Reading to finish – which was well worth the wait.”

The Amazons have set out to make an impact on, and even reinvent, British rock-and-roll. When was the last time that rock music was truly great in the UK?

Chris: “I guess commercially great, it’d be the back end of the 90s and early 2000s. Those bands – Radiohead, Oasis and the Gallaghers, Muse, Kasabian, and so on all still headline festivals. When I was at school, those were the bands everyone was excited about and wanted to be like.

“But, for us, British rock-and-roll has never not been great – it’s not about the commercial success, but the fuck off attitude. Hopefully kids growing up with bands like Foals, Wolf Alice, Royal Blood and Arctic Monkeys will create another wave of people getting behind bands, pushing British rock back into the foreground again.”

The Amazons, the album, is out on 26th May. It’s a pretty clichéd thing to ask, but what are you thinking now we’re so close to the release?

Chris: “Aside from the occasional flashes of nervousness, the general feeling is still anticipation and excitement to finally get it out. We’ve been waiting to release the album for a year now, so we’re very ready to tour it and try some new ideas at the shows.”

What is the one track on the debut album that sums up The Amazons and what you’re all about best?

Chris: “Our recent single Black Magic is probably the closest we get to an all-rounder, but there’s a few tracks on the album that I think will tilt some heads.”

Recently you also released the video for that track. It’s full of symbolism that we’re told is open to interpretation. How much of that was your doing, or was it the vision of the director? We know sometimes bands don’t really know much about it until they see it!

Chris: “The video was a collaboration between our frontman Matt Thomson and our resident photographer and videographer Matt Goff. Matt T provided the vision and the feelings that the song is supposed to convey and Matt G weaved that train of thought into a video, which he then directed.

“We’ve had some bad experiences by getting lazy and handing the project over to someone else, so we went for the more hands-on approach on this one and it worked out.”

Did any good album material end up on the cutting room floor? Anything you disagreed on taking out?

Chris: “There was one track that split the group into two during the track listing, but after a good ol’ 4-way brawl complete with hair-pulling and ball-crushing, all the kinks were gently worked out. We’re all happy with the track listing now and we have a few songs to put in our back pocket for later.”

You’ve been picking up lots of hype recently, as happens when a band starts to break. How do you deal with that? Can it go to your head?

Chris: “Of course it can, and if we’d had an ounce of the attention we’re getting now after we put our first bedroom recording up on SoundCloud 3 years ago, then it would have.

“But I think we’ve grounded ourselves by playing to 3 people in a dingy Barnsley venue, and a man and his dog everywhere else in the UK for 2 years. Getting the BBC Sound Of [on this year’s long list] felt more like recognition for all of our hard work than a sign that we’re the dog’s bollocks, we know we’re more of a dog’s pube at the moment.”

So, coming up soon, you’re at Live at Leeds this weekend. How are you looking forward to playing there?

Chris: “It’s our first UK festival of the season so we’re pumped to say the least. Had a lot of people talk to us after our shows saying they’ll be there so hopefully they’ll keep their word.

“Live at Leeds is a city festival that’s done right. It strikes me as a proper new music lover’s festival, filled with a lot of the best upcoming bands at the moment, and with a touch of the more established acts to ensure you’ll definitely see a good show by the end of the day.”

You’re playing the O2 Academy stage with Black Honey, DMA’s and Slaves. How familiar are you with them, have you met?

Chris: “We first met Black Honey at the first Flying Vinyl Festival in Hackney and a few times since then. Yet to meet DMA’s or Slaves, but we’ve heard good things so looking forward to meeting them.”

Are there any other bands across Live at Leeds this year you’d pick out as a must see?

Chris: “Always. A big plus to playing any festival is it gives us a chance to see all the bands we’ve not had the chance to see while on tour.

“A must-see for me personally is HMLTD. I find them intriguing, and have heard good – but also strange – things about their live shows. Then our pals The Big Moon released their album last week, so we’re excited to catch up with them.

“There’s a band from Newcastle called The Pale White, who are featured on our On The Road Spotify playlist, and supported us on a few dates in the UK. We’ve been driven to the edge of insanity while trapped in the van with their songs stuck in our heads, which is a good thing! Their new single’s killer and they kick-ass live too.”

You’re at loads and loads of festivals this summer too. What are some of the highlights on your schedule?

Chris: “Isle of Wight, Best Kept Secret, Fuji Rock, Valley Rock and BBK Bilbao are a few of the bigger ones we’re playing, but we’re predictably most excited for Reading and Leeds in August. Seeing some of our favourite bands rise up the bill through the years has been a real marker for the level of success that they’re having, so to know we have our foot on the ladder now is incredible.

“Going to Japan for Fuji Rock is nuts too. It’ll be interesting to see what the people of Japan make of Matt’s hair and height!”

What are the odds on another headline tour later this year? Sometime around the autumn, right?

Chris: “The odds are very high: It’s just been announced! It’ll be in the first two weeks of October, and tickets went on-sale on Friday.”

The self-titled debut album from The Amazons is released on 26 May. They’re at Live at Leeds this weekend, playing the O2 Academy stage at 6:15pm. The rest of their UK festival and tour dates for 2017 are:

The Amazons UK Festivals

April 29 – Live at Leeds – Leeds, UK
May 18 – The Great Escape – Brighton, UK
May 27-28 – BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend – Hull, UK
May 28 – Liverpool Sound City – Liverpool, UK
June 11 – Isle of Wight Festival – Isle of Wight, UK
August 25 – Reading Festival – Reading, UK
August 26 – Leeds Festival – Bramham, UK

The Amazons Autumn UK Tour

October 2 – The Waterfront – Norwich, UK
October 3 – The Leadmill – Sheffield, UK
October 4 – The Liquid Room – Edinburgh, UK
October 6 – Rescue Rooms – Nottingham, UK
October 8 – Riverside – Newcastle, UK
October 9 – Tramshed – Cardiff, UK
October 11 – Phoenix – Exeter, UK
October 12 – O2 Forum Kentish Town – London, UK
October 13 – Engine Rooms – Southampton, UK
October 14 – SWX – Bristol, UK