Lesser-Known but Amazing Singers | A Ranking Focused on Pure Talent

Je t’aimeLara Fabian

Lara Fabian – Je t’aime

Lara Fabian, a Belgian artist known for her strikingly beautiful visuals, is truly impressive.

While she has very refined features, she is far from being just a pretty face.

She’s recognized as one of the world’s top female vocalists, and in live performances she sings with heartfelt emotion, scrunching up her beautiful face as she pours herself into the music.

Her low register is tremendous, and her style feels like an upgraded counterpart to Celine Dion.

Be sure to check her out.

ChuvaMariza

Mariza – Chuva (Concerto em Lisboa)

This is sudden, but are you familiar with a music genre called Fado? Fado is a form of Portuguese folk music, and many songs traditionally express the feelings of widows.

Not long ago, however, there were few artists carrying on the tradition, and its survival was in doubt.

The person who turned things around was Mariza.

She revived Fado and is widely respected by the Portuguese public.

Be sure to pay attention to her expressive power, which far surpasses that of many other Fado singers.

АминьГригорий Лепс

Григорий ЛЕПС – Аминь [Official Video] HD

Grigory Leps is one of Russia’s most iconic artists.

A heavyweight in the Russian pop scene, he may look like a gang boss, but he moves many listeners with his powerful expressiveness and vocal prowess.

His style is decidedly rock: he can astonish audiences with his mid-range voice and fire them up with fierce shouts.

Whether it’s gritty tracks, intense anthems, or moving songs that bring tears to your eyes, he’s a top-tier artist who can sing it all.

A Night Like ThisCara Emerald

Caro Emerald – A Night Like This (Official Video)

This is sudden, but are you familiar with a genre called electro-swing? It’s a very new genre that mixes electronic music and swing jazz, born in the early 1990s.

That said, since the Austrian music producer Parov Stelar sparked a boom in electro-swing in the 2000s, it still feels like a genre that’s only been around for a little over a decade.

Caro Emerald, featured here, is a singer from the Netherlands and is known as a leading vocalist in electro-swing.

Angels Make LoveAndy Allo

Andy Allo – Angels Make Love

Prince, one of the greatest singers in American history.

Although he sadly passed away in 2016, his music still captivates many fans and continues to influence artists.

In terms of musicality, however, Prince is still very much alive.

Andy Allo here is known as a protégé of Prince, and among the artists recognized as his protégés, she carries on Prince’s musical sensibilities the most.

As a writer who was a fan of Prince, watching music being woven by artists in this way moved me, making me feel that traditional music must have been passed down just like this.

Y Sin EmbargoAntonio Carmona

Antonio Carmona – Y Sin Embargo (Videoclip)

Unlike other traditional musical genres, flamenco did not undergo avant-garde development for a long time.

The person who changed that era is Antonio Carmona.

His band, Ketama, is known for pioneering nuevo flamenco—a genre that blends flamenco with R&B and jazz—and it made a profound impact on Spain’s music scene.

His solo work, like his work with Ketama, centers on nuevo flamenco.

Be sure to check it out.

Ke Tlo FihlaMaleh

Ke Tlo Fihla

Living in Japan, it’s hard not to internalize the assumption that “Western music = America and the UK.” But just as you can’t truly know what the world’s best cuisine is by only knowing Japanese and American food, the same goes for music: the broader your exposure, the more refined your sensibilities become.

I suspect some of you feel the same way.

For those people, I’d like to recommend an artist: Mareah.

She’s a female singer from the Kingdom of Lesotho whose impressively sophisticated songwriting blends folk traditions into Black music, and whose powerful vocal ability is striking.