What sets female goth singers apart from other women in music?
Is their sound different?
What about their look?
Female goth singers stand out from other women in music because of their dark styles and edgy fashion and hair. They tend to wear heavier makeup and sing about darker topics than other female musicians as well, and their sound fits into the goth subculture.
In the article below, you’ll find 21 examples of female goth singers who are either solo acts or lead singers in groups or bands. Check out these singers and their videos below.
1. Amy Lee
Band: Evanescence
Type of Music: Goth rock/emo
Description of Video: This video shows the lead singer in her goth makeup and clothing performing in front of a large crowd of fans. As the video goes on, she becomes more accepting of herself and more confident in this setting too.
2. Angelica Rylin
Band: The Murder of My Sweet
Type of Music: Hard gothic metal
Description of Video: This video plays a song by the band over images associated with the group and lead singer.
3. Caitlin Stokes
Band: Corlyx
Type of Music: Goth electronic
Description of Video: This video shows a character running through the woods in full white goth attire, while the singer in dark goth clothing performs between shots.
4. Charlotte Blythe
Band: Nox Novacula
Type of Music: Goth rock
Description of Video: The video is set in a Victorian-style era and shows the band in suits and gowns performing in the open air. It also includes footage of a character who seems to be thinking of ending her life, or running away from her responsibilities, throughout the video.
5. Chibi
Band: The Birthday Massacre
Type of Music: Indie goth alternative
Description of Video: This video includes the lead singer in a white dress with rabbit ears against a somewhat Victorian backdrop. It shows a juxtaposition of innocence and indulgence.
6. Diamanda Galas
Band: N/A
Type of Music: Indie goth alternative
Description of Video: This video is a song that plays over a still image of the lead singer, showcasing her black and red goth makeup and long straight black hair.
7. Elizabeth Fraser
Band: Cocteau Twins
Type of Music: Indie goth alternative
Description of Video: This video is shot in double exposure style with the singer positioned over grainy footage.
8. Emese Arva
Band: Black Nail Cabaret
Type of Music: Goth electronic
Description of Video: This video is shot in black and white and includes the lead singer in heavy black goth makeup. The video shows the singer having her hair cut short and then shaved off before showing that she’s happy with her decision.
9. Free Dominguez
Band: KidneyThieves
Type of Music: Indie goth alternative
Description of Video: This video shows the lead singer in a bath tub juxtaposed against images of the band playing live. The lead singer wears heavy goth makeup and hair.
10. Gen
Band: Genitorturers
Type of Music: Goth 90s rock
Description of Video: This is not a music video, but is instead a song that plays against a still image of the lead singer.
11. Helene de Thoury aka Hante
Band: N/A
Type of Music: Indie goth alternative
Description of Video: This video shows the singer seated against a blues backdrop with a distorted image and inverted colors.
12. Jessicka
Band: Jack Off Jill
Type of Music: Punk/goth rock
Description of Video: This video is full of romantic goth imagery including full gowns, floral designs, and Victorian furniture.
13. Jonette Napolitano
Band: Concrete Blonde
Type of Music: Goth alternative rock
Description of Video: This video shows the band performing the song on stage while wearing trad goth clothing and makeup styles.
14. Kerli
Band: N/A
Type of Music: Bubble Goth
Description of Video: This video is shot in black and white with some gray and silver int he mix as well. It is a sexually-charged modern style music video with various types of imagery included.
15. Lady Galore
Band: Lords of Acid
Type of Music: Goth acid house
Description of Video: This is not a music video, but is instead a video that plays one of the band’s songs with a still image of the lead singer visible.
16. Lene Lovich
Band: N/A
Type of Music: Trad goth
Description of Video: This video is a performance of one of the band’s songs on a stage with blue lighting and plenty of dark outfits.
17. Luna Blanc
Band: S Y Z Y G Y X
Type of Music: Goth electronic
Description of Video: This is a much more modern goth video than some on this list, and it includes elements of grainy footage and monochrome recordings as well as eerie imagery.
18. Siouxsie Sioux
Band: Siouxsie and the Banshees
Type of Music: Trad goth
Description of Video: This is a classic 1980s trad goth music video complete with big hair and bold makeup.
19. Tina Root
Band: Switchblade Symphony
Type of Music: Goth 90s rock
Description of Video: This video is not a music video; it is simply a link to a song by the band in the style of the Smashing Pumpkins.
20. Veronica Campbell
Band: Death Loves Veronica
Type of Music: Goth electronic
Description of Video: This video shows the lead singer standing alone in a space, wearing a goth outfit and expressing herself in a concerned and foreboding way.
21. Zohra Atash
Band: Azar Swan
Type of Music: Electronic goth
Description of Video: This video is shot in black and white and includes grainy images designed to come across as eerie to viewers.
Conclusion
Did you find the information you wanted to know about goth female singers? With the help of this list, you should be able to find a singer you love the sound and style of in no time.
Are there more female goth singers than male goth singers? Yes, and this has been the case since the 1980s. With Siouxsie Sioux as one of the leading icons in the goth subculture, female goth singers have always stood out. Many female singers led the goth movement in the 80s and continued into the 90s and 2000s as well. As goth branched into other styles, including emo, female singers helped lead these movements as well.
Why might female goth singers be more appealing to listeners than male goth singers? Female goth singers tend to have a more mystifying quality to their voices when they sing, and they may also exemplify the goth subculture’s makeup and hair more thoroughly than male goth singers do, too. They are more stylish and more likely to showcase multiple elements of the goth aesthetic through their styles and music videos. Additionally, female goth fashion is generally more noticeable than male goth fashion, so male goth singers may not visibly stand out as much either.
In the end, of course, if you like female or male goth singers—or both—there’s plenty of music out there for you to find. No matter which genre or decade you prefer to listen to, you can find music that isn’t defined by gender boundaries. Take your time checking out the goth singers on the list above, but don’t be afraid to branch out and discover even more over time as well. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy a band or singer you might not have ever ever heard of before!