When it comes to music, I feel as though people often fall into one of two categories; they’re either a lyric person or a “general vibe” person. Though I used to wholeheartedly be a general-vibe-listener, I am so happy I started paying attention to and developing a genuine interest in lyricism and songwriting within the past couple of years. “(Name of song) lyrics meaning” has quickly become one of my top searches on Google, as studying lyric interpretations is much more fun to me than doing actual studying for classes (Sorry, professors!). Not surprisingly, the TikTok “for you page” algorithm, which gears what videos you see based on your interests and what you watch most, quickly caught onto my interest and has been exposing me to hundreds of up-and-coming/undiscovered singer-songwriters. Though there are plenty of male underrated singer-songwriters out there, I decided to focus on female singer-songwriters for this article. This is both because female musicians often have a harder time receiving exposure for their talents, and because most of my favorite singer-songwriters are women (Joni Mitchell, Fiona Apple, Taylor Swift… the works). So, without further ado, here are ten up-and-coming singer-songwriters on TikTok that you should check out!
Maude Latour (@maudelstatus on TikTok)
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My Picks: “Lovesick,” “Superfruit,” and “Walk Backwards”
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Maude Latour is by far the most popular singer-songwriter originating on TikTok that I have on this list, but she deserves it sincerely. Latour is a 19-year-old Philosophy major at Columbia University who writes all her own music. Many have described her voice as being very similar to Lorde’s, which I can attest to. Each one of Maude’s songs contains a little bit of electricity; with her hearty alto vocals, upbeat instrumentals, and nostalgic, bittersweet lyrics, her music is addictive. There is not one Maude Latour song that I don’t like, and there will be plenty to come, as she promises a new album is on its way!
Isabel Pless (@everythinghurtsman on TikTok)
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My Picks: “Just Keep Floating (Unofficially Titled)” and “Last Sip (Unofficially Titled)”
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Isabel Pless’ lyrics and tone reminds me of a perfect combination of Phoebe Bridgers’ and Sidney Gish’s. As I am sure you can tell from her TikTok username, Pless’ songs are solemn, often touching on topics like insecurity and vulnerability. She only has two released songs at the moment, “Family Tree” and “Love Blind,” but my favorites of her’s are the unreleased snippets she posts on her TikTok. Most are unnamed and go unnoticed, other than the few that got boosted to the for you page, but they deserve to be heard by all.
Paige Gold (@paigegold on TikTok)
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My Picks: “Real Date (Unofficial Title)” and “Midnight Boatride (Unofficial Title)”
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Paige Gold has more of a beautifully unique style than most singer-songwriters you’ll hear today. Combining playful piano melodies with conversational spoken word, her music is an experience to listen to. She only has two songs officially released, but again, my favorites of hers are her casual postings on TikTok, where she simply sings and speaks about seemingly random and unimportant life experiences, but makes them into a musical-theatre-esque creation.
Simone (@simonemusic on TikTok)
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My Picks: “Monsters” and “Can’t Get Enough Of You”
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16-year-old Simone is a diamond in the rough when it comes to pop singer-songwriters. I got hooked from the first listen of her smooth yet powerful tone in “Monsters” and was a fan from then on.
Julia “Shappy” Shapiro (@juliashappy on TikTok)
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My Picks: “Build-A-Boy (Unreleased)” and “Love Letter”
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You may recognize Julia Shappy from her fairly well-known TikToks writing her own verses for pop songs. Though she is just starting out, it is clear that Julia has insane lyrical talent. I look forward to seeing her renditions of pop songs come up on my for you page, as well as her sassy and confident full-length originals.
Zoe Clark (@zoeclarkmusic on TikTok)
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My Picks: “Last One Standing” and “Spinning”
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18-year-old country pop singer-songwriter creates a warmth to her music that just about anyone would enjoy. I fall into the “country music hater” category, yet even I adore Zoe Clark’s country twang in her cynical lyricism. Her song, “Last One Standing,” in particular, stands out to me, as I am a sucker for upbeat songs about “bitter” topics.
Easha (@eashamusic on TikTok)
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My Picks: “Dying is a Beautiful Thing To Do” and “I Don’t Like You”
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There’s a soothing nature to Easha’s voice that is indescribable, which is why I am always so surprised at how underrated she is. I love how she incorporates songwriting tips and process videos on her platform, as well as interacting often with her listeners through songwriting requests. Followers will comment requests for what they want a song written about and Easha delivers often with beautiful and thoughtful lyrics.
Dafna (@dafnarocks on TikTok)
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My Picks: “Light Of My Life” and “let u go”
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Dafna, although she is young, is someone I can see going far in her future music career. Her lyrics are soft and airy, mostly focusing on romance and lost love. However, my favorite song of her’s, “Light Of My Life,” always makes me laugh now, as she revealed that though it is seemingly about losing a lover, she really wrote it about losing her favorite pair of sunglasses.
Harriette Hull (@soccerchik72 on TikTok)
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My Picks: “At Least I’m Pretty,” “Monday,” and “Thursday”
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Harriette Hull, with just around 7k followers on TikTok and no formally released music, caught my eye (Or, ears?) only recently. In the past few weeks or so, Hull has released mini songs simply about the days of the week and the moods they evoke. This may sound silly and a bit juvenile, but I find every one of these songs to be gorgeously written. Since then, I’ve watched almost all of her videos and love all her songs. Hull is able to make me think in such a detailed way about simple things and I am so glad I discovered her page.
Lizzy McAlpine (@lizzymcalpine on TikTok)
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My Picks: “Nothing / Sad N Stuff” and “Means Something”
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Listening to Lizzy McAlpine’s music feels like getting a hug from someone you’re about to say goodbye to for a long time. That’s the best way I can describe it. It is warm and soft, yet powerful and real. McAlpine’s lyrics are simple, yet hold a complexity that takes a few listens to really understand. I expect to hear her name on the charts in the future, for sure.