Another multi-talent we have here. A true songbird, the Russian-born artist has some interesting roots and as a child, was hugely influenced by Russian bard music, a unique kind of poetic folk music. Of course, growing up in America, she was also exposed to rock, pop, and blues. All of these musical ingredients make a lot of sense when listening to her intricate, even theatrical yet extremely catchy music.
With her 2006 hit “Fidelity” she completely blew up on charts everywhere. Since then the singer has gained worldwide fame, and though she hasn’t won a Grammy, her music has appeared in several film soundtracks.
Björk
Whether you're a fan or not, Björk's extremely unique music has majorly influenced indie music in the last couple of decades and even if she's often been the target of cruel media buzz, she is armed with awards. The Icelandic songbird has 13 Grammy Award nominations, a feat considering how esoteric her style is.
The artist has embraced many genres over the years, from big band to Avant Gard, she also tackles interesting topics in her music like social topics, science, and nature. Not to mention she's also an Oscar winner.
Solange Knowles
Move over Beyonce. You're not the only Knowles around here. Solange, her younger sister has been climbing her way up in recent years with her own unique sound. While the two are often being compared, Solange has created a very different sound to her sister and is substantially less commercial, but in the best way possible way.
Billboard ranked her the 100th most popular artist in the dance genre of all time. Considering your sister is one of the most iconic singers that ever lived.
Fiona Apple
Moving onto the slightly more eccentric, Fiona Apple gave a voice to the real alternative girl in the '90s. While everyone was bopping their little heads to the Spice Girls, Fiona Apple came out with "Criminal" an intimate and hypnotic song that probably filled the rooms and headphones of many brooding teen girls.
Of course, since then she's only grown, with her recent album "Fetch the Bolt Cutters" being a massive success. The talented singer and musician plays the piano, though on hearing songs like "Every Single Night" you'll find that her greatest instrument is quite simply, her vocals.
Mary J. Blige
Making great music means breaking boundaries. And that's exactly what Mary J. Blige. Making her mark during the era of the Hip Hop and R&B cross over, Blige, with her feminine touch and great vocals, added a whole lotta soul, to what was quickly becoming a sub-genre of new urban music.
The singer's music about survival and heartache deeply affected a generation, ultimately landing her the title of Queen of Hip-Hop-Soul. The singer managed to forge a career that was both mainstream and also appealing to R&B purists.