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 (41–50)
PressCardi B
Cardi B, a breakout female rapper who burst onto the hip-hop scene in the late 2010s, has made waves with her bold personality and outrageous behavior and remarks, earning a reputation as a scandal-stirring figure.
Yet her talent as a musician is undeniable.
Her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, released in 2018, topped the U.S.
charts despite her newcomer status and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album—the first time a woman had received the honor.
With a Hispanic father and a Caribbean mother, her uniquely husky voice and straightforward lyrics sometimes draw criticism, but she exudes a strength that shrugs off such detractors.
Even if you don’t usually listen to rap, this is the perfect chance to give her a try!
You’d Be So Nice To Come Home ToHelen Merrill
Helen Merrill is known as a songstress who left an indelible mark on the jazz scene.
Her 1954 debut album, Helen Merrill, brought her into the spotlight through her collaboration with Clifford Brown.
While she is known for her “cool” style, her supple timbre and richly expressive delivery resonate deeply with listeners.
She began her career in 1951 as a vocalist with the Earl Hines band, and went on to excel not only in jazz but also across a wide range of genres, including Latin and pop.
Her singing—marked by horn-like phrasing and a sense of being one with the ensemble—earned the respect of many musicians.
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to fully savor the allure of jazz vocals.
Need U BadJazmine Sullivan
This is Jazmine Sullivan, an R&B singer from Philadelphia.
Her smooth, soulful vocals captivate the ears of many R&B fans! Her signature song “Need U Bad” is a heartbreaking love song that cries out in pain.
If you love R&B, you won’t regret adding it to your playlist!
Woman (feat. Lana Del Rey)Cat Power
This woman, who performs under a distinctive artist name, is a singer-songwriter who enjoys enduring popularity in the American indie scene.
She debuted during the heyday of 1990s alternative rock and, as a flagship artist on the prestigious Matador Records, has been highly regarded by connoisseurs for her natural, uncompromising approach and a smoky, truthful voice tinged with sorrow, earning her many fans among fellow musicians as well.
If anything, those who know her tend to be listeners fairly well-versed in Western music, but that doesn’t mean her sound is obscure or willfully eccentric.
If you want to savor a quintessential ’90s atmosphere, we recommend the 1998 classic Moon Pix, and if you’re new to her music, start with her breakout 2003 release You Are Free.
A Whiter Shade of PaleAnnie Lennox
Among many female singers, Annie Lennox is particularly known for her beautifully resonant low voice.
She is a British singer-songwriter, a strikingly handsome woman whose closely cropped hair suits her very well.
Her talent is such that she was ranked among Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Here, Annie is singing “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” the signature song by the band Procol Harum, known in Japanese as “Aoi Kage” (“Blue Shadow”).
The beauty of the song is accentuated by Annie’s vocals.
Story Of My Life – IrelandLesley Roy
“Story Of My Life” is a dance-pop track released by Lesley Roy in 2020.
She is a singer-songwriter from Ireland who gained attention with her 2008 release “Unbeautiful.” Her appeal lies in her edgy, rock-vocalist-like voice.
With just the right amount of grit—not overdone—her spicy vocals bring out the best in the song.
You might be missing out if you’ve never listened to that voice!
Baby It’s Cold OutsideNorah Jones
Debuting as a new-generation jazz singer, Norah Jones’s 2002 debut album, Come Away with Me, became an instant smash hit, achieving an astonishing global sales figure of over 27 million copies.
Unbound by jazz alone, she draws on a wide range of musical influences—pop, rock, country—and continues to work energetically not only as a solo artist but also as part of many projects and bands.
Her greatest charm, of course, is her refined, sweet, and deeply husky voice.
It never grows tiring to listen to, and it’s easy to see why it’s said to have exceptional soothing effects.
If you’re not into jazz and haven’t yet experienced Norah Jones’s voice, now’s the perfect time!