Meet 2015’s Anti-“It” Girls Of Pop — From Niykee Heaton To Madison Beer

Bianca Gracie | October 13, 2015 7:08 am
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Admit it, 2015 has been one of the more blander years in recent memory with a wash of pop music that did not strike enough fire — well, save for a few notable stars (Carly Rae Jepsen, The Weeknd and Selena Gomez come to mind). But there are a select group of rising pop stars who shook up the industry and shown they have no business in being a part of Taylor Swift‘s ever-growing #squad — and we love them for that very reason!

From the clever sassiness of acts like Alessia Cara, the story-telling mentality of Halsey, the Lolita vibes of Melanie Martinez or the unabashed sex appeal of Niykee Heaton, these are ten ladies who are creating their own musical lane.

So turn the bass up on your speakers and get into our list (in no particular order) below!

1. Name: VÉRITÉ
Origin: Orange County, New York
Essential Song: “Wasteland”

Kicking off this list is a budding songstress who is making waves both in the Big Apple and beyond. VÉRITÉ first captured our attention when we premiered her electric “Weekend” single last summer. The singer/songwriter continued to build momentum in the pop world with solid sets at festivals like SXSW, which led to her ethereal second Sentiment EP that was the perfect vibe for the sweltering months. We’re crossing our fingers that a debut album is in the works soon!

2. Name: Madison Beer
Origin: Jericho, New York
Essential Song: “All For Love” feat. Jack & Jack

When a megastar like Justin Bieber is the reason behind your instant popularity, then you know you’re doing something right! But don’t let the haze of frenetic fangirls fool you — 16-year-old Madison Beer definitely has talent to boot. Thanks to Internet fame, she signed with Scooter Braun and nabbed a record deal with Island Def Jam. Sure Madison released cutesy songs like 2013’s “Melodies” and last year’s “Unbreakable,” but she proved her musical flexibility with mature and incredibly sultry dance tracks like the Jack & Jack-assisted “All For Love.” In our recent interview with the rising pop starlet, she revealed that a debut project is in the works and is more interested in R&B/pop.

3. Name: Seinabo Sey
Origin: Stockholm, Sweden
Essential Song: “Pretend”

This broodingly soulful chanteuse dropped her For Madeleine EP last year — which features tunes like “Hard Time” and “Pistols At Dawn” — and picked up a record deal at Virgin/Universal along the way. Now, Seinabo Sey is gearing up for the release of debut album Pretend (out October 23) that is led by the single of the same name. Here, the singer/songwriter shows her versatility by taking a quick step away from a previously sultry, moody vibe and diving into something more upbeat that is just on the brink of dance. It is a smart balance that makes us excited for her upcoming debut!