Amy and Lily proved the selling power of solo female artists, and now women are at the top of the music biz agenda. Here are six to watch out for.
DAWN LANDES
She is:A former recording studio engineer who worked with Ryan Adams and Philip Glass before striking out on her own
The sound:The Kentucky native's beguiling homespun folkie pop has both quirky touches and solid, robust pop moments to make you hum.
See/Hear:www.dawnlandes.com. She tours Ireland with Stars later this month to coincide with the release of her second album Fireproof (Fargo Records)
SANTOGOLD
She is:Santi White, the punk from Philadelphia who moved to Brooklyn and got downright righteous and funky
The sound:"Nina Simone and Bad Brains are my two biggest vocal influences," Mark Ronson's ex-dogsitter says, and that will do nicely for us too. A rocksteady funky-punky party where Grace Jones and MIA are cutting a rug on the floor
See/Hear:www.myspace.com/santogold for tracks from her forthcoming debut record on Downtown/Atlantic
LAURA IZIBOR
She is:The south Dublin lass who spurned the basketball court for soul
The sound:Izibor's stock in trade are soulful showstoppers, which have served her well as she's prepared for the long overdue release of her debut album (due summer 2008)
See/Hear:www.myspace.com/lauraizibor for songs on the soundtracks to The Nanny Diaries, Greys Anatomy and PS I Love You. She plays Dublin's Crawdaddy on January 25th and Cork's Cyprus Avenue on January 26th
DUFFY
She is:The former runner-up in the Welsh Pop Idol competition who has been tipped for the top in 2008 by everyone who didn't tip Adele
The sound:Did someone mention Dusty Springfield? Duffy is a ringer for the 1960s blue-eyed soul diva, right down to the melodramatic swoon and swoop of her songs
See/Hear:www.myspace.com/duffymyspace for songs from the forthcoming album, including Rockferry. Duffy plays Dublin's Sugar Club on March 2nd and Belfast's Auntie Annies on March 3rd.
LAURA MARLING
She is:The teen who started playing guitar when she was five and found her mojo when she heard Bonnie Prince Billy's I See A Darkness album
The sound:Sharply observed, world-weary, wry lyrics that bely her youth, with subtle and stark acoustic guitar. It's the female Billy Bragg, innit.
See/Hear:www.myspace.com/lauramarling or download her ace My Manic and I EP, including the excellent New Romantic
JAYMAY
She is:Twentysomething New York singer-songwriter Jamie Kristine Seerman, a seasoned veteran of the Big Apple's open-mic hot spots
The sound:The Autumn Fallin' album won kudos for songs in which, to quote The Ticket, "matters of the heart are elegantly sketched, ruefully explained and poignantly expressed"
See/Hear:www.myspace.com/ jaymay has tunes from Autumn Fallin', while JayMay plays Dublin's Whelan's on February 11th
