March is Women’s History Month: 31 days devoted to recognizing and celebrating women’s accomplishments throughout history. Women’s History Month is a time to express gratitude towards women for all the incredible things they do and to lift them up in whatever way possible. A wonderfully easy way to do this is by listening to female musicians.

Supporting female artists is an easy and effective way to support their success, help them make a living, and contribute to their ability to continue sharing their art with the world. Plus, there’s the added bonus of discovering artists, albums, or songs that could become new favorites.

“I think supporting female musicians is super important because they shape the music industry in such influential and positive ways,” junior Audrey Leatham said.

Additionally, it is especially important to support female artists of color due to the marginalization they face because of both their gender and race. Sexism and racism continue to be serious issues plaguing today’s world, and listening to music from these artists is a small but important step to support women and people of color.

Here are 10 female artists to check out.

1. Maude Latour is an indie pop artist who recently signed her first record deal and released an EP entitled 001. As a young singer beginning to grow in popularity, one of the things that draws listeners to Latour is her ability to convey vulnerable emotions and experiences through upbeat tracks.
2. Jhené Aiko is a six-time Grammy nominated R&B artist. Her 2020 certified Platinum album Chilombo is one of her most popular works. Aiko’s musical style is deeply lyrical, and her vocals have an almost magical or ethereal quality to them.
3. Carol Ades is a singer and songwriter who tells stories through her music. Ades’s songs put a bit of an alternative spin on typical pop songs, and she dives into deeply personal themes like love and relationships. Sadtown USA is her newly-released EP.
4. WILLOW is often recognized for being the daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, but she has a strong presence of her own through alternative R&B hits. “Wait a Minute!” and “Meet Me at Our Spot” rose to fame over social media, and WILLOW continues to release songs with a punk tinge.
5. Niko Rubio draws inspiration from her beautiful surroundings in California and her favorite artists such as Vampire Weekend and Lana Del Rey. With the help of her stunning vocals, Rubio’s song “Saving Me” has reached many audiences.

6. Lennon Stella is a pop artist boasting collaborations with The Chainsmokers and Charlie Puth. Her 2020 album Three. Two. One. is one of Stella’s most popular works with beautiful lyricism and rhythms.
7. Gatlin’s music combines folk sounds and indie pop vibes while exploring love through her lyrics. Popular tracks like “What If I Love You,” “never been in love” and the Stephen Sanchez collaboration “2000 Miles” are heartfelt and personal.
8. Victoria Monét is an R&B singer and the songwriter behind many of the greatest hits from artists like Ariana Grande and Fifth Harmony. Her 2020 album JAGUAR features buttery-smooth vocals and fresh, upbeat tunes.
9. UMI is an R&B and soul singer with a unique sound that captivates listeners. Her top tracks like “Love Affair” and “Remember Me” are slow-paced and calm, yet engaging to listen to.
10. The Aces is a female alternative pop band featuring two instrumentalists and two vocalists. Their songs explore topics ranging from mental health to love and heartbreak. The Aces have been growing in popularity ever since the release of their 2020 album Under My Influence.

These female artists span genres and styles, but they all offer exquisite musical talent. Taking a minute to listen to any one of their songs is a great step in the right direction of supporting women, an important thing to do during Women’s History Month and throughout the rest of the year.