Six female Canadian singers to add to your playlists

Keep your eye out for these talented women.

The music industry has historically been a tough industry for women. Yet many inspiring artists are making their way onto the scene with their catchy songs. Here are six female Canadian singers who have made a name for themselves in the music industry, along with some of my listening recommendations.  

Disclaimer: Some of these songs use explicit language. 

Jessie Reyez  

Early life:

Jessie Reyez was born in the Jane and Finch area of Toronto, Ont. to Colombian-Canadian parents. She became interested in music from her dad, who had an acoustic guitar. 

Her biggest song on Spotify:

“Figures,” with over 190,000,000 streams.  

Select awards/recognition:

Reyez received a Juno Award in 2018 for Breakthrough Artist. She also won the Billboard Impact Award in 2020. 

Recent projects:

Reyez’s song“SHUT UP” with rapper Big Sean was released on May 31, 2024. It has over 2 million plays on Spotify. 

Song I recommend (explicit):

Reyez’s song with singer 6LACK (pronounced Black) “IMPORTED” is one that I’m always listening to. I like how smooth the music sounds, how Reyez’s voice sounds in her verses and the way her voice blends with 6LACK’s.  

Ruth B.  

Early life:

Ruth Berhe, professionally known as Ruth B., was born in Edmonton, Alta. to Ethiopian-Canadian parents. She would post on Vine (a once popular platform for short videos), and her song “Lost Boy,” based on the show Once Upon a Time, started there in short form. She then made it into a longer song when it gained popularity. 

Her biggest song on Spotify:

“Dandelions,” with over 1.5 billion streams. 

Select awards/recognition:

Ruth B. won the Breakthrough Artist Juno Award in 2017.  

Recent projects:

Dean Lewis joined Ruth B. for the November 2023 release of “28.”  

Song I recommend:

I absolutely love Ruth B.’s song “Slow Fade.” It sounds airy and Ruth B.’s voice is so harmonious.    

Alessia Cara 

Early life:

Alessia Caracciolo (Alessia Cara, as she’s professionally known) was born in Mississauga, Ont. and grew up in Brampton, Ont. 

Her biggest song on Spotify:

“Scars To Your Beautiful,” with over 1.4 billion streams. 

Select awards/recognition:

Cara won Best New Canadian Artist at the iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards in 2016. Then, in 2018, she won Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards. 

Recent projects:

In December 2023, Cara posted “Make It To Christmas” to her YouTube channel. 

Song I recommend:

As someone who’s listened to Cara since her first album, I recommend one of her early songs.“Overdose” really shows how much Cara can push her melodic voice. 

Lennon Stella 

Early life:

Lennon Stella was born in Oshawa, Ont. to a Canadian musical duo known as The Stellas (Brad and MaryLynne Stella). She and her sister, Maisy, were both actresses on the TV show Nashville. 

Her biggest song on Spotify:

“La Di Da,” with over 181,000,000 streams. 

Select awards/recognition:

In 2020, Stella won a Juno Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year. She was also nominated for Single of the Year. 

Song I recommend:

 “La Di Da” is my recommendation. Lennon’s voice in the intro is what draws me in, as it’s quite soothing. The la da da di da part of the song gets stuck in your head.  

Alex Porat  

Early life:

Alexandra Porat was born in Malaysia to parents of different races— – a Polish dad and a mom who is Malaysian of Chinese descent. She grew up in Vancouver and settled down in Toronto in 2012. 

Biggest song on Spotify:

“Don’t Watch Me Cry,” with over 41,000,000 streams. 

Select awards/recognition:

Porat was selected as a 2023 Future through Gold House’s Futures Accelerator: music. Gold House Foundation Inc. is a non-profit that, according to its website, “unites, invests in, and champions Asian Pacific leaders to power tomorrow for all.” After applying and being selected, Futures receive support, a Spotify single and connections to other Futures. 

Recent projects:

In April 2024, Porat had a home show in Toronto (that I was able to attend) and CBC filmed the concert. She will go on tour with fellow Canadian and pop singer Virginia To Vegas starting in Sept. 2024. 

Song I recommend (explicit):

As someone who thoroughly loved Disney pop-rock, Porat’s song “I’m Not Crying” was an immediate #1 song for me. It’s upbeat and has fun lyrics, which and I really like that.  

Tate McRae  

Early life:

McRae was born in Calgary, Alta. to parents of German (mom) and Scottish (dad) backgrounds. She has a background in dance, having trained at Alberta Ballet Company. 

Biggest song on Spotify:

“greedy,” with over 1.3 billion streams.  

Select awards/recognition:

McRae won Artist of the Year at the Juno Awards in 2024. She also won a Rising Star Award from Global Awards in the same year. 

Recent projects:

In July 2024, McRae began her “Think Later” world tour. 

Song I recommend:

As a pop music lover, McRae’s song “she’s all i wanna be” was an earworm (in a good way) for me. Her voice blends so well with the music, and it’s hypnotic.