Six Alaskan Female Artists To Add To Your Summer Playlist

From the first albums to EPs, the musicians of Alaska are coming out swinging this summer.

Ava Earl, who made a name for herself on the Anchorage Folk Festival stage, is releasing her fourth studio album this week. Meanwhile, new artists like Kodi Hannah and Nichole-Lee released their first EPs this month.

Ava Earl – At age 14, Ava Earl performed on the Salmonfest stage as the youngest solo. Now, the 18-year-old singer-songwriter’s fourth studio album, “The Roses,” is out July 23.

The folk musician from Girdwood traveled to Nashville in February 2020 to record the album, which was produced by JT Nero of the American folk group Birds of Chicago.

Earl said in a statement announcing her new music that she wrote the title song about a friend of hers from a few years ago, whom she has since moved away from.

The first part of the song is about Earl blaming himself. She said it took a long time for her to realize “that some people can be a part of your life without having control over your emotions.”

Earl will perform the entirety of “The Roses” at his album release concert, which takes place this Friday at the Sydney Laurence Theater at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.

Ava Earl’s music can be streamed on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms.

Nichole-Lee – Nichole Baldwin, known as singer and rapper Nichole-Lee, released her EP “Booked & Busy” on July 2 with five songs. One features Anchorage drag queen Glenn Coco.

Throughout the EP, Nichole-Lee sprinkles lyrics recognizing his dual citizenship in the United States and Bermuda.

“I wanted to pay tribute to the places that raised me and made me who I am,” she said in an interview.

Earlier this year, she released her first music video, “HADOUKEN”, named after a Street Fighter special attack. video games she played while growing up. The clip was shot at Hatcher Pass.

“If this year has taught us anything, it’s just to do and come back to your passion,” she said. “Find your passions and go for it. “

“Reserved and Busy” can be streamed on Apple Music, Spotify, TIDAL, and other platforms.

Bethlehem Shalom – Following the fall 2020 release of her EP “Bad Mouth”, Bethlehem Shalom Hansen said she was dealing with a constant stream of live shows. Earlier this month, she performed with Mac Holtan of the now disbanded headbanging group Old Hounds and Justin Ferguson of electric pop group Aural Imago to open for beautifultheband in Williwaw.

Hansen said she still had music she still needed to record, but was eager to release her new song, “Greed,” which she describes as “psychedelic dream pop. “. The song will be released in mid-August.

“I really feel like there is a change in style,” she said. “People are going to see a different side of what I’ve been trying to do for a long time.”

She is performing this week, July 24 at 7 p.m., at Penny Royalty in Anchorage, and will also perform at a show at Akela Space on August 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Its music can be streamed to Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms.

Erin Heist – Juneau-based singer-songwriter Erin Heist released her EP, “Another Rainy Day,” on July 16, which features three original songs, her own version of Bill Callahan’s song, “Rock Bottom Riser” and the cowboy ballad “Bury Me Not on the Lonely Prairie.”

Prior to the EP, Heist said, she had never recorded anything professionally.

“You think it’s weird to hear your voice on an answering machine,” Heist said.

Heist said the first single from his modern folk EP was inspired by the heavy rains Juneau experienced in the summer of 2020.

“This EP project was to help me prepare for even bigger projects,” Heist said.

She said she has a new set of songs she will record this fall and have a full album coming out next year.

“Another Rainy Day” can be streamed on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms.

Kodi Hannah – Singer and songwriter Kodi Hannah recorded her debut album, “Dandelion Baby,” at Frostline Studios in Anchorage. The album was released on July 9.

The 20-year-old lives in the North Pole and has been working on the album for almost two years. Shortly after signing his registration contract, the COVID-19 pandemic occurred.

“Luckily there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and we started meeting and recording the album with three or four people in the studio at a time and trying to do it while complying with COVID regulations,” Hannah said. . “And we did, and it’s finally out now.”

Hannah said she has been working on the album and its songs for a long time and can’t wait to write new music. She also can’t wait to get back to the studio.

But for now she’s excited for everyone to listen to the album.

“I know it’s new to everyone who hears it for the first time,” she said.

“Dandelion Baby” can be streamed on Apple Music, Spotify, and other platforms.

Liz Snyder – Seattle-based Whiskey Class singer Liz Snyder and bandmate Patrick Troll are planning to release an EP this fall.

Snyder is from Alaska and will be performing at Salmonfest on August 6 at 2 p.m. and August 7 at 6:15 p.m.

The band released a single titled “I’m Afraid” and will release another single from the album “I Just Rule” on August 18th.

The EP represents the start of a new chapter for Snyder as a musician, she said. She and Troll are recovering, and this is the first outing done in sobriety, she said, which is “pretty special.”

“Over the past two years, I’ve had to reinvent my whole relationship with music,” Snyder said. “And this EP is kind of a little taste of this rebirth.”