In the vibrant landscape of alternative pop music, a diverse array of voices is rising to the forefront, challenging conventions and carving out their unique sonic identities. From the bustling streets of Toronto to the sun-drenched shores of Australia, women and nonbinary artists are making waves with their innovative sounds and compelling narratives.
Check out these eight remarkable acts who are reshaping the contemporary music scene with their artistry and authenticity in the genre of alt pop music.
Marie Naffah – Rust & Blue
‘Following in the restless footsteps of the great folk and rock songwriters’ — The Independent ‘A brilliant show’ — NME London-based Marie Naffah fuses classic storytelling (inspired by the likes of Bob Dylan, The Beatles & Joni Mitchell) with modern moments (Sharon Van Etten, Bleachers & Big Thief) striking the perfect balance of modernity & nostalgia.
Proudly authentic, ‘Marie carves her own musical path that is unlike any other’ as put by Wonderland Magazine.
Savanna Leigh – Like I Used To
Rising pop singer-songwriter Savanna Leigh knows how to pull her audience in and take them inside her mind with ease.
Telling stories is Savanna’s superpower, as her fans use her music to express the emotions and feelings they cannot share themselves. With songs that feel like vulnerable confessions, Savanna is able to authentically connect through unapologetic lyricism.
The 23-year-old has known she’s been born to make music since a young age. Her profound appreciation for the industry began while growing up in Florida where she was raised within a family of seasoned entertainers that opened her up to everything from production to touring.
Now Nashville-based Savanna is taking everything she has learned and sharing her wisdom with her audience in a personable way.
The transparency in her music leaves listeners feeling less alone as they navigate their own experiences, relating to the high of falling in love and the loneliness from heartbreak. Her words are carried further with her voice that is both strong and soft even during the most power-packed moments.
Savanna’s music has garnered over 4M+ streams across all platforms, and most recently was featured on POP Rising, Next Gen Singer-Songwriter, Fresh Finds and Fresh Finds: POP. She just released her ep “somewhere in between” and is set to release another 6 tracks before 2024, which includes a collab with 90’s Kids. Savanna is sharing her real-time experiences in navigating the good, the bad of your early twenties.
tiger del flor – james dean
Rising Hollywood-based indie pop star tiger del flor makes music that’s been described as “the grainy film of memories” by EARMILK and “the perfect backdrop to a midnight drive down Sunset Boulevard” by Get Some Magazine. Born Tigerlily, del flor grew up in Seattle fronting an all-girl grunge band with her sister and cousin that was named “Seattle’s Best Underage Band” by Seattle Weekly and featured on KEXP’s “Music That Matters” podcast. Since launching as a solo artist, she’s garnered millions of streams on Spotify, a fanbase of over 285,000 across TikTok and Instagram, a TV appearance on Love Island, and performances at SXSW.
Her releases have topped Hype Machine charts with praise from tastemakers globally including Spin Magazine, Ones to Watch, and Fashionably Early, as well as editorial support from playlists like Spotify’s “Indie Pop” and “Fresh Finds” and Amazon Music’s “Indie Dance.” As Plastic Magazine put it, “She effortlessly fuses the raw energy of her grunge influences with the catchy hooks and infectiousness of pop music… tiger del flor is undoubtedly an artist to watch.” Named “One of America’s Most Promising Rock Newcomers” in 2023 by Alfitude, del flor has been a vocal advocate for greater representation of women and artists of color in the music industry.
As Japanese tastemaker Green Banana put it, “She defies industry expectations, standing as an artist with a clear mission and the tenacity to bring it to fruition… tiger del flor is poised to become the ultimate bombshell on the scene.”
Lucy McWilliams – Old Ways
Irish singer-songwriter Lucy McWilliams has reemerged once again to share her shimmering new single ‘Old Ways’.
Emotional narratives are at the centre of the singer’s songwriting, which has garnered her over 16 million streams on Spotify alone. Based in London, McWilliams keeps her Irish storytelling link strong through her tender, heartfelt lyrics and relatable songs.
This new release expands the artist’s genre umbrella even wider, with a discography that roams from expansive indie to slinky R&B, swaying acoustic pop to ‘90s-rom-com-style rock.
Harmony Redford – Approval Of The Unknown
At 20 years old, Harmony Redford is a breath of fresh air in the indie pop music scene. Writing, recording, and producing her music from the confines of her college dorm room, she embodies the DIY spirit that defines a new generation of artists.
At the age of 17, Harmony released her sophomore EP, “This is Not Nostalgia,” a record that left listeners yearning for more. Releasing her latest single, “Approval Of The Unknown,” Harmony weaves a powerful narrative of dedication and self-discovery through her venerable lyrics and captivating melodies.
After a pivotal sold-out performance at the historic Bluebird Cafe in 2023, she’s been hard at work, expanding her repertoire with new instruments and honing her production skills.
Thea Dora – Collected
Thea Dora is a Danish artist and producer born and raised in the center of Nørrebro, Copenhagen. Her music is full of energy and brings catchy melodies on glitchy beats. The 25 year old dane first started writing songs on the guitar, but quickly found out that she wanted to expand and build a bigger universe around her songwriting, which initially led her to producing her own music. She spent a lot of time experimenting with different music, but she always ended up making pop songs and found that this was meant to be the core of Thea Dora.
On “Collected”, Thea Dora debuts as a pop-songstress ready to dominate the charts and your party playlists. A perfect balance of glitching beats and effervescent pop melodies, the track is fresh.
Neoni x Trevor Daniel – BLEACH
Caitlin and Sid (aka NEONI) combine modern alternative pop and electronic music. In short time they’ve built an extensive catalog, debuted their first album ‘Wars in a Wonderland’ in the Fall of 2021 and “All My Favorite Monsters” in 2022 and amassed over 450 million streams on Spotify, two viral TikTok songs DARKSIDE and ROYALTY with over 1 billion video views with 1 million user generated videos.
Their music continues to connect with a broad audience worldwide. With no sign of slowing expect to hear even more from Neoni.
Follow This Is Neoni and NEONI – collection for more music.
Lou Monroe – phantasm
This song offers a dynamic journey, as it possesses an unnerving stillness at its human core, yet still delivers a full body experience. This one is for fans of Frou Frouo, Imogen Heap, & St. Vincent.
Their description of phantasm is as beautiful as the track itself, as they reveal, “This song is a fever dream. You remember each creak in the floorboard of this infinite stretch of a hallway. You remember the wallpaper and the way it peels and in which corner.”