My Favorite Artists of 2022
The year is nearly over (again). I’ve been listening to a lot of new music and wanted to share some of my recent favorites with you. Unsurprisingly, women songwriters are dominating my ear space. Whether it’s Amricana, RnB, rap, or pop songwriter music, women are proving time and time again their mastery over the craft of writing songs.
Muni Long - Née Priscilla Renea, Muni Long has had a storied career as a songwriter penning hits for Rihanna, Fifth Harmony, Kesha, and Mariah Carey. Her pivot to artistry is a welcome change. She incorporates elements of RnB + Trap successfully on her debut album Public Displays of Affection. She fits squarely in the new vein of RnB songstresses like Summer Walker + Jazmine Sullivan who are delivering masterful works with masterful vocals.
Ethel Cain - Fans of Lana Del Rey, gothic Americana, and subverted religious symbolism rejoice! Ethel Cain - producer, writer, and artists - has arrived fully formed. Her album “Preacher’s Daughter” features soaring ballads, yelpy Cranberry’s type vocals, and immaculate lyrics. In a post Kim Petras era, Ethel Cain proves that trans femme artists can operate masterfully in varied genres.
Ice Spice - Drill music has a potential breakthrough star with Ice Spice. Her track “Munch” coins a new term to degrade obsessive men desperate to eat it - if you know what I mean. Her flip of “No Clarity” is proof that Ice Spice can handle big hooks and ascend to the top of the pop ladder.
Carol Ades - A songwriter who has proven herself with cuts with Ava Max + Selena Gomez, Carole Ades (née Caroline Pennel) steps out from behind the curtain with an deeply expressive voice and lyrics concerned with sadness, the complicated nature of sex, and learning to self actualize your desires. Carol Ades, with a limited discography, proves that she is one to watch.
