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 singers in Western music (31–40)
Strange fruitBillie Holiday
A great American jazz singer also known as “Lady Day.” Her life was far from smooth, yet her voice—seemingly shaped by her constant battles with troubles and hardships—has a gravitas that sets her apart from other singers.
Its appeal can’t be measured by simple criteria like volume or technique; it’s the raw emotion infused with life’s sorrows that shakes the listener’s soul.
From her signature number “Strange Fruit” to many other standard tunes, her achievements will never fade and will continue to be sung for generations to come.
LoveLana Del Rey
A singer-songwriter from New York who describes her musical style as “sadcore,” she shines in her ability to distill profound sorrow into polished pop music.
Her major-label debut album, Born to Die, released in 2012, was a massive success with over 12 million copies sold worldwide, establishing her as one of the definitive, ethereal divas of the post-2010s.
Rather than relying on vocal gymnastics or an expansive range, her languid, smoky husky voice perfectly suits the introspective worlds her songs evoke.
She’s highly recommended if you’re looking for a voice that isn’t about belting high notes, but offers a different, more atmospheric kind of allure.
SmileMadeleine Peyroux
Madeleine Peyroux, an American singer-songwriter often described as the “Billie Holiday of the 21st century” and a “post–Joni Mitchell,” moved to Paris in her teens.
After discovering music, she began busking on the streets of France and has since lived in various countries, building a richly varied background.
She made her major-label album debut in 1996, and without getting swept up in the surrounding buzz, she has maintained her own pace and carved out a unique position.
While rooted in genres with strong traditions—jazz, gospel, and blues—she doesn’t cling to any single style.
At the heart of her music is her distinctively husky voice, tinged with a poignant melancholy.
From captivating original songs to tastefully chosen covers, she can do it all—highly recommended listening even if you’re not typically a jazz fan!
Happy Ever AfterJULIA FORDHAM
“Happy Ever After,” a signature song by British singer-songwriter Julia Fordham.
Released in 1988, it drew attention in Japan when it was used as an insert song for the drama “Set Your Heart on Fire!” starring Yuko Asano.
Contrary to the impression she gives, Julia has a rich, powerful voice.
It’s a mysterious kind of voice that seems to calm a troubled heart just by listening.
I Only Want to Be With YouDusty Springfield
Born in London, England, she is a legendary singer who lit up the music scene of the 1960s.
She debuted in a group called The Springfields with her two older brothers, but later left to pursue a solo career.
Heavily influenced by the popular American Motown sound of the time, her upbeat debut single “I Only Want to Be with You” became a massive hit and instantly made her a star.
Armed with powerful vocals and a captivating husky voice, her deeply emotional singing led many to call her a “white soul singer who sings with a Black heart,” making her a true pioneer of blue-eyed soul.
Her life story was later adapted into a musical.
For lovers of husky voices: Female Western music singers (41–50)
Back To BlackAmy Winehouse
A soul and R&B singer-songwriter from the UK, often called one of the greatest singers of the 21st century.
She struggled with issues related to drugs and alcohol, but her uniquely husky voice and performances were undeniably powerful and deeply moving.
She passed away in 2011, yet she will continue to be loved by many music fans.
The self-titled album of the featured track, Back to Black, is also a masterpiece—be sure to give it a listen.
LukaSuzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega is a singer-songwriter who drew attention in the flamboyant music scene of the 1980s for her socially conscious, literature-minded poet persona and her style centered on voice-and-guitar performances.
Her classic song “Luka,” included on her second album Solitude Standing released in 1987 and issued as a single, became a hit and marked her first appearance on the U.S.
charts.
While “Luka” is a bright, accessible pop song with a memorable melody, it is in fact about child abuse, and the plain, matter-of-fact way she delivers it with her distinctive husky voice gives it a striking sense of realism.
Although she later ventured into a wide range of musical styles, the appeal of her singing voice has never changed.