Top 15 Female Singers With Low Voices You’ll Love
When we think of female singers, we typically think of higher pitches. However, there are many talented female singers in the music business there with lower voices. Whether we’re talking about a smoky voice, a sultry tone, or an outright contralto voice, here are my picks for the best female singers with low voices!
Top Female Singers with Low Voices
Let’s begin with Nina Simone
1. Nina Simone
Nina Simone was an extraordinary artist of the 20th century. She known as a jazz singer, although her music blended jazz with gospel, folk, blues, pop, and classical styles. She overall rejected the term “Jazz Singer,” as she felt she was placed in this category strictly due to her African American heritage. Her music embodied empowerment, passion, liberation, and love, earning her the moniker “High Priestess of Soul.” Nina Simone’s repertoire included 40 original albums.
She studied classical music, and she was able to play nearly anything by ear. Nina Simone was one of the most outspoken and influential musicians during the Civil Rights Movement. One of her most powerful songs, “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black,” released in 1969, sought to make African American kids feel good about themselves. She also sand songs about the suffrage of African American women. Nina Simone’s music helps everyone understand the struggles African American’s faced before, during, and after the Civil Rights Era.
- My Favorite Nina Simone song is “I Loves You, Porgy.” This song is a timeless classic and filled with so much soul it is hard not to like it. This song is from a 1935 Gershwin opera called Porgy and Bess, and the singer is begging Porgy to keep her from going to her abusive lover.
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2. Lalah Hathaway
Lalah Hathaway is the daughter of the great Donny Hathaway, and with that bloodline comes high expectations. It wouldn’t have been a shock to see the offspring of a musical great be a slight disappointment, but Lalah has carved out a great career on her own.
With her deep, alluring voice, she’s one of the more stand out artists R&B music. There’s not too many female singers in the genre (not named Toni Braxton) that can match the deeper tonality of her voice, and it makes her all the more unique and memorable because of it.
- My Favorite Lalah Hathaway song: Strong Woman. The lyrics are already commanding and self affirming as it is, but when you add Lalah’s deeper voice register (on top of a head nodding beat), it makes for a song you gotta keep on repeat.
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3. Clare Maguire
If you’re looking for a young singer that, at times, gives you Cher vibes (especially when it comes to female singers with deep voices), then look no further than Clare Maguire. Maguire is a unique talent, as she can sing an upbeat pop ballad like “The Shield and the Sword” with a lot of guttural emotion, and then hit you with a teary-eyed slow jam like “Elizabeth Taylor.” Maguire has such a great, deep vocal range, and she’s easily one of my favorite female singers with husky voices on this entire list.
- My Favorite Clare Maguire song is “Leave You in Yesterday.” This song is all about moving forward, even when it’s hard. Or, perhaps especially when it’s hard. In may ways, this is a soft, delicate song, but Clare’s deep voice gives it a nice injection of edge and intensity.
4. Adele
Adele not only has a powerhouse voice but is one of the best-selling artists of all time. Her first album, 19, won her a Grammy for “Best New Artist” in 2008. All of Adele’s album titles are numbers, referencing the age she was when she wrote the songs. Her latest album is called 30. She was 33 when it was released but began writing the album at age 30.
Adele’s vocal range is full of rich, powerful, soulful, and occasionally edgy tones. She can create a fragile, breathy tone, but also a strong and powerful tone. Her songs “Hello,” “Chasing Pavements,” “Easy on Me,” and “Rolling in the Deep” are all powerful ballads that make you want to sing along with her. Her songs are so full of emotion and truth that they are easy to fall in love with.
- My favorite Adele song is “Hello.” This song is so relatable because we have felt like we are on the outside and want to right our wrongs. This song is more meaningful to me after losing my mother to cancer. This is one of those songs that covers a variety of different heartbreaks, from loss to a relationship ending.
5. Cher
Cher is one of the most iconic female singers of all time, thanks in large part to her smokey, deep voice. She began her career as a duo with her husband, Sonny, as Sonny and Cher. Cher has always fully embraced her sexuality as a woman and inspired many people over the 6decades of her career. Her more recent hits feature a more club/dance beat and helped keep her popular in a new era.
Her song “Believe” speaks to the difficulty in letting go of the pain of a broken relationship and embracing a new path forward. Cher has earned the title “Goddess of Pop,” and this is still as true today as it has been throughout her career. She is 76 years old and still touring the country performing her greatest hits. Cher is truly, the Goddess of Pop! Her amazing voice places her on this list of best female singers with low voices.
- My favorite Cher song is “The Shoop Shoop Song “It’s In His Kiss.” This is a song I grew up listening to this song. Although this song was released in 1990, it reminds me of a song from the 1960s, which is a genre I grew up listening to thanks to my father, who loves 50s and 60s music.
6. Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman has one of the most recognizable and unique voice of any female singer. Her voice is so low, some have even questioned her gender. Her first album, Tracy Chapman, was released in 1988, and she has been active since. Her best-known songs are “Fast Car” and “Give Me One Reason.” Tracy Chapman’s last release was in 2008, but she remains active in the music business. Throughout her life, Tracy Chapman has been active in many social activism causes, such as education and human rights.
- My favorite Tracy Chapman song is “Give Me One Reason.” I have loved this song since the first time I heard it. One of the things I deeply appreciate about this song is the simplicity of the musical instruments. The first portion of the song is nothing but her singing and an electric guitar.
7. Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston is instantly recognizable. Her music is some of the top movies, including Bodyguard. Her self-titled first album was released in 1985 and instantly boosted her into the spotlight. Her song “I Will Always Love You” was the longest reigning #1 hit on the Hot 100 charts, and she was the first woman to enter the Billboard 200 at #1.
One of her most precious assets was her ability to make her singing seem effortless. Whitney Houston was also a very versatile artist, incorporating many styles into her work including rock, gospel, pop, funk, soul, hip hop and R&B. She had upbeat dance tracks such as “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” and her vocal range is showcased in others such as “Didn’t We Almost Have It All.”
- My favorite Whitney Houston song, although difficult to choose, is “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” I was 4 when this song came on and have always gravitated to it. It is a fun beat, with great lyrics.
8. Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys signed her first contract at the tender age of 15, highlighting her immense talent. Her first single “Fallin’” earned her 5 Grammy awards in 2001. She is a classically trained pianist, and her passion for music drips into every single note she plays or sings. Her low register is rich and solid, giving an almost breathy tone to her music. You can feel the soul she puts into her lyrics.
- My favorite Alicia Keys song is her most popular and known song, “Fallin’.” This song is so moving and full of soul. Her piano playing is beautiful, and you can truly feel the emotions.
9. Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse’s deep, raspy voice was taken from us far too soon, but continues to evoke strong emotion even after her passing. Amy’s music was a combination of blues, soul, and jazz, ultimately giving her a vintage feel. Her emotions were palatable in her work. Amy Winehouse released her first album Frank in 2003. During the time of girl and boy bands, Amy Winehouse’s sultry jazz voice along with her highly recognizable winged eye liner, and beehive hair, made her a standout performer.
- My favorite Amy Winehouse song is “Back To Black.” This song is so reminiscent of a time in the past. Her deep voice lends itself well to the lyrics and music of this track.
10. Phyllis Hyman
You’d be a fool to not love what Phyllis Hyman brought to the world of R&B music in the 1980s and 1990s. Capable of absolutely destroying a soulful ballad, it was Hyman’s deep, passionate, and soaring voice that made her so memorable and undeniable. If the likes of Toni Braxton and Lalah Hathaway (from a deep vocal perspective) had a foremother in the industry, it would be the immensely talented Phyllis Hyman
My Favorite Phyllis Hyman is “Prime of My Life.” This jam from the mid-1990s just soars, and Hyman brings so much love, passion and emotion to the song. If you’re looking for one of the top female singers with deep voices, trust me, it doesn’t get much better than Phyllis Hyman.
11. Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey is another instantly recognizable voice. She was one of the first female pop singers of the early 2010s that made pop relatively sad. Pop music is typically more upbeat, as referenced to Katy Perry or Lady Gaga. But Lana Del Rey took it in another direction.
Her song “Video Games” on the album Born to Die is a notable example of how she sings. It opens with soft chimes and harp music, followed by a symphonic flood. This was unlike anything going on in the pop music world at the time.
- My favorite Lana Del Rey song is “Summertime Sadness.” This song references the passing of someone close to her, and it resonates with me personally after losing several family members in the past decade.
12. Shakira
Shakira’s Latin inspired music is instantly recognizable. Her low voice and combination of English and Spanish lyrics make for an unforgettable singer. In 2000, Shakira received a Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album and released her first English album the same year.
Her low voice tones pair well with the Latin inspired beats of her music. She moved on to a more electronic sound later in her career, with hits such as “Waka Waka.” She also featured music in the animated movie Zootopia.
- My favorite Shakira song is “Whenever, Whenever.” This song has such a catchy beat that highlights Shakira’s unique voice so well.
13. Florence Welch
Florence Welch was the lead singer of Florence + The Machine. She not only has a unique low voice but has a great stage presence. Her early vocals and lyrics are reminiscent of Sinead O’Connor and Kate Bush.
While initially only known in Britain, in 2010, Welch and her band made the scene in the United States, and she eventually performed during a Karl Lagerfeld catwalk during a Chanel spring collection launch. Her voice has a deep and rich quality to it, and Welch is known for her Boho Chic style.
- My favorite Florence Welch song is “Never Let Me Go.” This song is so full of emotion. Welch’s low voice lends itself very well to this song.
14. Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox is very well known for her deep voice and her androgynous style. During the 1980s, she, as part of the band Eurythmics, became famous for their song “Sweet Dreams.” Her low voice led her to the title “The Greatest White Soul Singer Alive” by VH1, and one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone. Other hits, such as “Walking on Broken Glass” and “Here Comes the Rain Again” feature her voice in the perfect way.
- My favorite Annie Lennox song is No More “I Love Yous.” This song was on the radio a lot when I was a kid, and I like the simplicity of it combined with the powerful lyrics (that I did not understand until I was older).
15. Toni Braxton
Toni Braxton is arguably one of the best female singers of the 1980s and 90s. Her soulful ballads evoked emotion in each of her songs. Her low register was something not generally heard from women singers and added to her musical persona.
Toni Braxton’s voice is a combination of sultry, elegant, and husky. Her low tones come so naturally, and make it seem effortless. Although she comes at the end of this list, there’s an argument to be made that she is by far one of the best female singers with low voices to ever grace a stage.
- My favorite Toni Braxton song is “Unbreak My Heart.” The song is sad and emotional. You can almost feel her heartbreak while listening to this song.
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