By Avery DeLacey

In today’s day and age, artists have the power to use their platforms for more than just themselves. They have the ability and perhaps the moral obligation to influence their following, no matter where they are in the world. We know influencers on Instagram who are famous simply by being influencers, but it shouldn’t matter how you became famous, you should still be using your platform to positively influence your fanbase. We’ve curated a list of artists that are using their platforms for the betterment of society. It’s important to remember to listen to and support singers who do more than just producing music.

North America

Billie Eilish: Everyone knows Billie Eilish’s hit music, but fewer know about her platform’s activism and what she does for girls all over the world. You may have noticed that Billie only wears baggy clothes and seldom shows off her body, and there is a reason for that. Eilish has always been quick to share her opinions, especially those regarding body positivity. In May of 2019, she appeared in a Calvin Klein ad in a major way. While most Calvin ads feature celebrities half-naked, Eilish remained true to herself in her baggy clothes. Eilish stated, “I never want the world to know everything about me. I mean, that’s why I wear big, baggy clothes. Nobody can have an opinion because they haven’t seen what’s underneath.” She more recently used her fame to educate her followers on the Black Lives Matter movement.

H.E.R.: Gabriela Wilson chose to go by H.E.R. in the music industry because of what it stands for; having everything revealed. H.E.R. says she is a voice for women who feel alone and hide their emotions and true feelings. She said she has a hard time being open with people except when she was writing or recording, and her name represents the fact that she exposes all of her emotions through her music, and encourages everyone to do the same in their own way.

Central America

Sofia Reyes: Sofia Reyes is a Mexican singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame in 2018. Reyes was discovered on Youtube and quickly became popular in both America and Mexico because of her bilingual lyrics. Reyes lives in LA now but makes trips to Mexico City often, as she is still close with all of her friends and family living in Mexico. Her bilingual lyrics show how close she is to her roots even with the fame she has gained in recent years. Recently, she has worked with young Latino musicians and given them the support they need to be successful in their music careers.

Bad Bunny: Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio is better known by his stage name, “Bad Bunny.” He’s a Puerto Rican singer and rapper who you might know from songs he’s collaborated on like “I Like It” by Cardi B. Earlier this year, Bad Bunny became the first Latin urban music artist on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine after his performance at the 2020 super bowl. He is very open about his views on the world and is an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and the Black Lives Matter Movement. He also works hard to use his platform to raise money for his home territory of Puerto Rico, which is still recovering after the devastating hurricane of 2017.

Europe

Vendredi Sur Mer: Swiss popstar Vendredi Sur Mer is definitely making waves in the music industry right now. Charline Mignot -Vendredi Sur Mer’s given name - is a Paris-based musician who originates from Geneva, Switzerland. Vendredi has a unique sound that combines futuristic beats, rap lyrics, and old French melodies. She has a large fan base after being featured in Vogue and DJ-ing for Gucci in the past year. If you know Vendredi, you know most, if not all, of her songs, are written about or for women. She says it comes naturally to her to write about women and their power. She uses her voice to spread positive, empowering messages.

Melinda Ademi: Another European rapper, Melinda Ademi, is making strides for women in the music industry. Melinda was born in Germany but moved to the U.S. at a young age. After living in the U.S. for most of her life, she moved to Kosovo to launch her music career. She dealt with a lot of backlash from men in the industry but continued to use her platform to empower women. Today, she has a wide fan base and has made a name for herself in the music and modeling industry, as well as on Instagram.

Africa

Falana: Victoria Falana, better known by her stage name, Falana, is a Canadian-based Nigerian soul singer and musician. Falana discovered her “soul fusion” style of music in Cuba. Her sound combines jazz, soul, Afro-beat, and R&B to create a unique sound, paying homage to her Nigerian roots and love of Cuban culture. Falana uses her fan-base to inspire others to travel and learn new languages. She studied sociology at the University of Havana and loves connecting and communicating with new people of all cultures.

Tiwa Savage: Tiwatope Savage, known by most as Tiwa Savage, is a singer, songwriter, and actress from Nigeria. Tiwa moved to London with her family at the age of 11 to better her education, but she always kept Nigeria close to her heart through her music. And in 2012, Savage returned back to Nigeria to sign with Mavin Records. Savage uses her platform to empower the youth and raise money for schools in Nigeria.

Middle East

Shadia Mansour: Shadia Mansour is a London based Arab hip-hop artist who’s often called, “the first lady of Arabic hip hop.” It is certainly difficult for women to enter into the music world in much of the Middle East, but Mansour shows it is indeed possible. Mansour uses her music to speak out against the political turmoil in the region. Even while living in Europe, Mansour stays true to her roots by dressing in traditional Palestinian clothing and singing in Arabic. She uses her platform to empower women and challenge Arab gender norms.

The Narcicyst: Yassin Alsalman, also known as The Narcicyst or Narcy, is an Iraqi journalist and hip-hop MC currently residing in Canada. Yassin traveled back and forth from Dubai to Canada for much of his childhood while still keeping ties to his parents’ home country of Iraq. Yassin began his music career in Canada in 2000 and has also dabbled in acting, journalism, and teaching. Narcy was one of the first to begin singing Arab hip-hop and opened the door for others to do the same. He used his music to start a conversation, ultimately allowing other Arab artists to join him.

South Asia

Yashashree Bhave: Yashashree is one of many up and coming female singers in India right now. She made a name for herself on Indian Idol as the runner up. Bhava grew up and started her career in Nagpur then moved to Mumbai where she currently lives and works. She hopes to sing in Bollywood someday and inspire other Indian women to do the same. The music industry in India was previously dominated by male singers, but women like Bhave are changing the game.

Vidya Vox: Indian-American singer, Vidya Vox, is trying to popularize Indian music by combining modern American music with it. Her music is a mix of classical rap, electronic dance music, and Indian classical music. Even though she currently resides in the U.S., she considers herself an Indian singer and tries to tie that into everything she does in the industry. Vox became popular by her Youtube channel in 2015 and since then has accumulated over 6 million subscribers. She opens up on her channel about being bullied as a child for her Indian heritage and today she inspires young people to embrace who they are and be proud of their culture.

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Artists From Around the World