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Hidden Gems: Musical Ladies Worthy of the Spotlight

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Hilary Glassman Student Contributor, Bucknell University
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Elizabeth Bacharach Student Contributor, Bucknell University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Bucknell chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

What’s hotter than some badass chicks taking the music biz by storm? Pretty much nothing. These three sassy and oh-so-talented hidden gems deserve a little light shed on them. Or a lot.

 

Jillette Johnson

HOT right?!

 

If this girl wasn’t put on this earth to do music, I don’t know who was. Her voice is sultry and sexy and her mad piano chops are the icing on this deliciously musical cake. Her debut album Water in a Whale just dropped this summer and it is a vocal masterpiece. Her lyrics are mature far beyond her years, both emotional and inspirational. In her song “Torpedo” which is about being resilient and getting up no matter how many times you get knocked down, she says, “So come on torpedo do your worst. You get me right in the heart, blow me up ’til you see my ghost.”

You gotta check this girl out.

Torpedo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW2raSgROrc
Also, be sure to take a listen (or five) to: Flood the Ocean, True North and Cameron

 

Jesse Thomas

Originally from Kentucky (how cool!) and now based in LA doin’ her thang. Her “thang” is indie-folk, and man, does she do it well. Her smoky, raspy voice leaves listeners hanging on her every word and desperately wanting more. Her debut album War Dancer came out last February and she’s somehow been flying under the radar since then. Well it’s time she got on everyone’s radar because Jesse is not someone to be missed. Her song “Better Geography” grapples with long-distance love and trying to fix a lost relationship. The song is undeniably catchy and the lyrics are endearing and honest.

Better Geography:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjoyR99v-Zo
Also, don’t miss: Oh My Dear, Madeline and Where the Sidewalk Ends

 

ZZ Ward

Ok so ZZ may not be quite as “hidden” of a gem as the others, but she is just too cool and fabulous to be left out of this one. This girl is pure blues and soul and I love every magical moment of it. Fun fact: her real name is Zsuzsanna Eva Ward. Wow. Her debut album Til the Casket Drops hit the scene last October, and it is so good it hurts. It’s a healthy dose of girl-power awesomeness and this world definitely needs more of that. Her song “Put the Gun Down” is about fighting for her man when another woman threatens to steal him from her. She sings, “Take what’s mine, don’t hurt me. Steal my money, steal my car. Don’t take my man.” Have a listen.

Put the Gun Down:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5chkHjTNFgk
Also, check out: Home, Til the Casket Drops and Move Like You Stole It

 

It’s time for these gems to come out of hiding!

Elizabeth is a senior at Bucknell University, majoring in English and Spanish. She was born and raised in Northern New Jersey, always with hopes of one day pursuing a career as a journalist. She worked for her high school paper and continues to work on Bucknell’s The Bucknellian as a senior writer. She has fervor for frosting, creamy delights, and all things baking, an affinity for classic rock music, is a collector of bumper stickers and postcards, and is addicted to Zoey Deschanel in New Girl. Elizabeth loves anything coffee flavored, the Spanish language, and the perfect snowfall. Her weakness? Brunch. See more of her work at www.elizabethbacharach.wordpress.com