When we asked readers yesterday if Gwyneth Paltrow was the mainstream’s Zooey Deschanel, we got an interesting response: a yawn. It turns out, many of you are sick of hearing about Zooey at this point. And frankly, we’re beginning to agree. Which begs another question: Who has enough style and substance to become the next Queen of the Indies? We’ve got 10 solid nominees after the jump.
10. Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast
What She’s Known For: Only time will tell if the “beach”-wave trend that her fame has successfully ridden so far will last longer than this summer, but we have faith in this singer-songwriter.
Why She’s A Possible “It” Girl: Although relatively new to the scene, massive coverage from websites such as the Hipster Runoff and Gorilla vs Bear has helped Bethany establish name recognition in most indie households. Also, hipsters probably hate to admit it, but most of them enjoy gossip as much as anyone else, and her relationship with Nathan Williams of Wavves makes for indie gossip gold. Bethany and Nathan may just be the next Ben and Zooey.
Bethany’s potential for lasting success is too early to call. Her songs are approachable and fun, which could lead to high album sales in the future, but being a somewhat successful indie artist would certainly not earn her “queen” status. Perhaps she’d have a shot if she starred in an indie movie about surfing or a remake of Disney’s classic Johnny Tsunami, but we have a feeling that isn’t going to happen.
Comments (14)
Alice Glass gets my nod for “girl most likely to wake up next to someone else’s recycling bin at 4 in the afternoon on Thursday.”
Janelle Monae all the way. Love her. She’s the only unique one in the bunch.
A couple of things,
1. Please don’t refer to Animal Collective as “AnCo” again.
2. The success of Bat for Lashes and Natalie Khan was pure hype. The album got lost because it was nowhere as good as anything else that came out last year. That’s no one’s fault but her’s for putting out middling dull music.
3. A ’60s girl band? Really? Don’t hold your breath.
4. The thing to remember is that Deschanel really was noticed for acting. Picking musical artists, particularly indie musical artists, isn’t really showing a lot of foresight. Despite how relatively accessible they are, most people do not have the access or the interest in pursuing these artists. There’s only so much that their fans can do to put them in the mainstream. For example, despite being enormously successful bands in indie circuits, most people still could not name a member of the Arcade Fire or Animal Collective. They just don’t have that crossover appeal.
Three cheers for Janelle!
Janelle Monae is the queen of indieland for sure, everyone else is just a lady-in-waiting…& Nika Roza Danilova of Zola Jesus is the awesome evil sorceress.
Definitely Janeelle Monae. That girl is the whole package.
Karen Elson? The girls of Au Revoir Simone?
In terms of acting, Carey Mulligan all the way.
I think you mean “(shudder),” unless you were being punny about wanting to “shutter” all Colbie Caillat releases from your senses. Then I can’t disagree.
[...] is one of the many successful indie bands to date. Their strain has been featured everywhere from wild movie trailers to lame sports championships. But you don’t need us to discuss it you [...]
Where’s Marina???
@Jackson: Bat for Lashes is not “pure hype.” There are people who are genuinely into this sort of folk music.
Truly I find a list like this ridiculous, because right now there is no one women who will be the “It-girl.” Music is different than it was 20 years ago. While the internet brings us together more as one homogeneous group, it seems that there isn’t just one stand-out act like there used to be, because people have more access. Years ago we didn’t have so much access, now because of this, it’s easier for us to find many artists that we feel represent us as people–and that’s what it means to be an “It” person. There will be no one “It” person.Those days are long gone in the underground. Now in mainstream it’s a different thing altogether.
Why are each of these women required to either do a solo album or become an actress in order to be considered some sort of arbitrary “it-girl”? Isn’t the art they put their whole minds, emotions, and creativity into enough?
Also–
Who says any of these girls are motivated to become “it-girls”? I think someone as bold as Alice Glass should get a lot more credit than a bratty girl who is trying to create that persona into some sort of marketable “brand”.
Florence or Alice definitely, but probly florence more cause she is more well known. I totally disagree with u saying that the younger crowd won’t get her, im 17 and she is totally known loads of people my age.
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