There’s no doubt that 2022 was full of great releases, festivals, and overdue tours from many globally adored artists – however, we’re deciding to begin the new year by looking into the future.
Whether they’re from Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom or the United States, six emerging women in particular landed on our radar during 2022. With sounds ranging from mystical bedroom-pop to jungle, these women all have one definite thing in common: star power. That’s why they’re our chosen six women to watch in 2023 (and beyond).
1. Dora Jar
If you love Billie Eilish, then the name Dora Jar may already be familiar to you. Dora Jar is the moniker of Dora Jarkowski, who’s not only a rising star but also someone who could convince you that fairies exist. She has a uniquely lush and ethereal inner world to her music, pushing her craft into storytelling territory. Dora spent 2022 opening multiple dates for Billie Eilish on her ‘Happier Than Ever’ world tour, celebrating the release of her second EP comfortably in pain, followed by three singles: ‘Bumblebee’, ‘Bump’, and ‘Spell’. With a music video inspired by the 1966 Czech New Wave film Daisies, ‘Bump’ best showcases Dora’s ability to form original fantasies from her inspirations and create magic through song.
2. Kiki Rockwell
Aotearoa New Zealand has unearthed its own treasure with one of the nation’s most enigmatic and exciting artists: Kiki Rockwell. Rockwell is an Auckland-based musician who combines a love of medieval folklore, mythology, and womanhood to create a niche that no other artist can begin to imitate. With a rich body of work consisting of her 2021 EP, Bleeding Out In A Forest, and the feminine-charged single, ‘Same Old Energy’, Rockwell’s future is larger than we could all imagine. 2022 saw Rockwell release two new singles: the dark and sensual ‘Cup Runneth Over’ and her new standout single, ‘Madeline’. Kiki Rockwell is an artist that profoundly understands her vision, with songs which heavily resonate and cut deep for women in a world which can feel so personally suffocating. As a woman, the world feels less haunted when listening to Rockwell’s music.
3. Kim Petras
Kim Petras is no stranger to those of us who have been following her rise to stardom since her earlier work with the late queen of PC music, SOPHIE. With an array of different approaches to creating pop ballads and bangers under her belt, Petras has proven that she can (and will) do it all. 2022 saw Petras claim the top of the charts and find viral fame on TikTok with her single ‘Unholy’, in collaboration with the wonderful Sam Smith. The success of ‘Unholy’ saw Petras and Smith break new ground by becoming the first nonbinary and trans artists to reach number one on the charts. Last year also saw Petras release her EP Slut Pop, a faithful cover of Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’, and the lead single from her upcoming untitled album, ‘If Jesus Was A Rockstar’. Undeniably a mega pop icon in the making, Petras is one to watch because we know 2023 is going to be her year.
4. Nia Archives
Nobody has been producing and creating music the way British/Jamaican artist Nia Archives did in 2022 (her Boiler Room set cemented this notion). By combining the sounds of experimental DnB, hip-hop, jungle, and samba, Nia is creating sounds the world has been void of. In 2022 Nia released her EP, Forbidden Feelingz, played dozens of festivals around the globe, and also released two new singles, ‘Baianá’ and ‘So Tell Me…’. Last November she won the first British MOBO Award for Best Electronic/Dance Act, showing her clear path to future world domination. When speaking to NME last year about her craft, Nia said “we wouldn’t have all these amazing musicians that we love without the blueprint that is jungle.” If anyone is going to revive jungle back into the limelight where it rightfully belongs, it’s Nia.
5. Peach PRC
The queen of TikTok and the colour pink, Peach PRC is not only a rising popstar, but also a great example of how TikTok functions as a new landscape to showcase talent. Peach PRC is the stage name for Adelaide native Shaylee Curnow, one of the most relatable and sincere artists the world has seen in what feels like forever. After gaining rapid attention for not only her music but also for creating hilariously unfiltered and honest TikTok’s which chronicle her struggles, Peach became a sister figure to a worldwide audience – especially within the LGBTQIA+ community in particular. 2022 saw her release two singles, ‘God Is a Freak’ and ‘Forever Drunk’, a Spotify cover of ‘Teenage Dirtbag’, and open for Yungblud during his Australia and New Zealand tour dates. With lyrics which are incredibly relatable to all women and those within the queer community, we’re excited to see where 2023 takes Peach.
6. Remi Wolf
Never shedding the cool and carefree vibes from her Californian roots (she even has a song titled ‘Anthony Kiedis’), Remi Wolf has been making waves for the past few years with releases such as her song ‘Photo ID’ featuring Dominic Fike, and her three EPs: You’re A Dog! (2019), I’m Allergic to Dogs! (2020), and We Love Dogs! (2021). Speaking of dogs, Wolf named her critically acclaimed 2021 debut album, Juno, after her beloved French bulldog. After spending part of 2021 opening for Lorde on her North American ‘Solar Power Tour’, 2022 saw Wolf’s career ascend into the stratosphere by releasing the deluxe of Juno, touring relentlessly, performing with her Californian idols, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, releasing her Live at Electric Lady EP in collaboration with Spotify, and closing the year by releasing Christmas covers of ‘Last Christmas’ and ‘Winter Wonderland’. We have no choice but to admire such iconic behaviour, and it’s apparent we’ll continue to see Wolf’s stardom rise all year long.
