For lovers of husky voices: Female singers in Western music
From a slightly hoarse, smoky, soothing tone to a powerful voice that might make you think for a moment, “Is that a male vocalist?,” husky female vocals radiate a wide range of charms.
Many of my vocal training students admire husky voices as well.
This time, I’ve selected recommended works by female artists in Western music who showcase such captivating husky singing.
Some tracks are chosen from my perspective as a vocal producer, so I believe they’ll be helpful references for female singers with husky voices.
However!! No matter how wonderful a husky voice is, please never intentionally damage your own voice to get it, okay? I truly mean it—please be careful.
- [Western Music] A Recommendation of the Lady of Soul: Wonderful Female Soul Singers
- [Healing & Cool] Female Vocalists with Captivating Husky Voices
- [Cool Female Vocals] Badass Women Singers Around the World [2026]
- I Want to Be Healed from the Heart: Recommended Western Ballads Sung by Female Vocalists
- A male Western music vocal artist with an appealing husky voice
- Female Western music artists who are good singers
- Top 1980s Female Singer-Songwriters: Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
- Ranking of Commercial Songs and Popular Hits by Western Female Singers [2026]
- [Western Music] Female vocalists known for their beautiful voices
- Still Shining! Recommended Female Singers of 1980s Western Music
- Female vocal songs where women with low voices can shine
- Captivating female jazz singers who illuminate the history of jazz. Recommended jazz vocals from around the world.
- [70s Western Music] Timeless Masterpieces and Popular Songs by Female Singers
For Lovers of Husky Voices: Female Western Music Singers (21–30)
MaybeJanis Joplin
A legendary singer with a one-of-a-kind voice and exceptional vocal prowess, she passed away at the young age of 27, yet even now, whenever an outstanding newcomer appears, the highest praise they receive is to be likened to Janis Joplin.
Though her career, which began in the ’60s, was brief, every performance she left behind showcased extraordinary talent and continues to profoundly influence subsequent artists.
Her energetic intensity could make an average rock band run for the hills, and her passionate, bluesy vocals were imbued with her soul through and through.
Even if you’ve never heard her voice before, please take this opportunity to experience Janis’s soul.
DiamondsRihanna
A singer-songwriter from Barbados who has become a global star.
There’s a subtle quiver in her voice that offers a unique charm, different from a typical husky tone.
Rooted in R&B, she has explored new territory through numerous collaborations and continues to deliver fresh facets of her artistry with each album.
RehabAmy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse was a destructive, doomed singer who epitomized the 2000s in the UK and tragically died at the young age of 27.
Her 2003 debut album, Frank, was highly praised, but it was the 2006 masterpiece Back to Black that truly made her a global name.
Rooted in soul, jazz, and R&B, her commanding vocals—astonishing for someone in her early twenties—embodied what can only be called “real soul.” Many can still vividly recall the fervor surrounding her in the music scene of that time, even now in the 2020s.
Although Amy had many personal struggles, the works she left behind will continue to be loved for years to come.
Make You Feel My LoveAdele
A diva with rich vocal power and overwhelming singing ability, and a Grammy-winning track record.
In the United States, the spotlight had long been cast on flashy-looking singers, and it was difficult for someone like her—plain in appearance and relying solely on vocal talent—to be recognized.
That’s the nature of showbiz, and why many international artists have struggled in that country.
But Adele overturned that precedent.
In 2012, she also succeeded in a dramatic weight loss, drawing praise from around the world.
Stop This FlameCeleste
With a husky, soulful voice and an overwhelming presence that heralds the birth of a new diva for the 2020s, she is Celeste—born in Los Angeles, raised in Brighton in the UK, and of Jamaican descent.
Influenced by the great singers of classic jazz, soul, and blues, she began creating original songs at 16 and posted them on YouTube in 2014.
Her precocious talent was soon recognized, and in 2018 she signed with major label Polydor, drawing widespread attention.
She went on to take the top spot in the BBC’s “Sound of 2020,” and her name became known here in Japan as well.
If you’re a fan of singers like Adele or Amy Winehouse, she’s a must-listen.