Meet Meiko.

The US-born (and 25% Japanese–thus the nickname!) 30-year-old songstress first gained notoriety with the release of her self-titled debut in 2007, right around the time of the Great Singer-Songwriter Explosion of 2005-2008. (Note: not actually a real thing.)

Remember that, though? It was when the tunes of brilliant folky indie-pop acts like Imogen Heap, Ingrid Michaelson, Rachael Yamagata and Sara Bareilles began popping up on the radio waves of KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic, on the road on the Hotel Café Tour, and in the soundtracks of shows like Grey’s Anatomy, One Tree Hill and 90210.

To craft a follow-up to her debut, Meiko worked with Belgian artist/producer Styrofoam (Death Cab for Cutie) and Jimmy Messer (Kelly Clarkson, The Veronicas) during the latter half of 2010 in Los Angeles.

The result is The Bright Side, a record of “sumptuous folk-pop with thumping electronic beats” (sounds promising!) due out on May 15.

The first single from the album, “Leave The Lights On,” (originally called “Between the Sheets”) is what specifically put Meiko on radar (on my ray-dah): After hearing a Morgan Page remix of the track (which you can download for free below!), I found the incredible original version, which balances between guitar-pop and wisps of Ellie Goulding-like folktronica magic.

“We’re in the dark, it’s getting late/I really should go, he’s waiting for me,” she starts above the song’s lone guitar strum and dark synthesizers brooding below the surface. As the track builds, more electronica comes pouring into the speakers, resulting in a mini-rumination on the dance floor. Almost like a darker take on Robyn‘s “Call Your Girlfriend,” but with more grief and guitars.

Basically, it’s quite incredible. Listen immediately!

DL | Meiko – Leave The Lights On (Morgan Page Remix)

“Leave the Lights On” was released on April 10. (iTunes)

Sounds like: Rihanna, Jessie J
Genre: Pop, Dub-pop

Prepare for the rise of Rita Ora.

After catching the eye and ear of an A&R in London, the 21-year-old Kosovo-born, U.K.-bred songstress was introduced to Jay-Z in New York and soon signed to Roc Nation (Rihanna style!) back in 2009.

Since then, she’s been working with just every heavy-hitter in the pop industry to craft her upcoming 2012 debut, including Ester Dean, The-Dream and Stargate.

Admittedly, I wasn’t too bowled over by Ora’s lead US single which premiered recently on Z100: “How We Do (Party)” (originally titled “Party & Bullshit), a carbon copy of the Katy Perry “Teenage Dream”/Jessie J “Domino” strumming power-pop formula. It’s a hit, for sure…but, well, it’s been done to death at this point.

Her debut UK single “R.I.P.,” however, tickles my fancy far more: Penned by Drake, produced by Chase & Status and Stargate and featuring Tinie Tempah (that enough talent in one track for you?), the dubstep-infused number sounds a lot like something off of RiRi’s Rated R, featuring gritty guitar licks and dark, searing synths. “R.I.P to the girl you used to see/Her days are over!” Ora declares.

With powerful pipes and a bevy of top song scribes at her disposal, Rita Ora’s got plenty of potential to take over in 2012 as one of the newest pop princesses. You ready?

Heard of Stooshe? They’re a rising UK pop trio, and the only girl group listed on BBC’s Sound of 2012 longlist. And as you can see above, they’d like to be taken seriously, thank you very much.

With effortlessly melodic, soulful voices a la En Vogue or The Sugababes and a perky power punch of personality (think a slightly more X-minded version of the Spice Girls or The Dolly Rockers), the girls have making strong waves in the UK already. After the release of their debut single “Betty Woz Gone” back in October, the cheeky trio is about to service their brand new second single on March 5: “Love Me,” featuring Travie McCoy. (Cheryl Cole, The Saturdays…is there a girl group he hasn’t worked with yet?)

With its swinging ’60′s surf-pop charm, “Love Me” is an immediately infectious, twinkling jam full of fun ‘n’ sassy lyricism and cutting hooks: “Oh, your chocolate got me melting/Baby, got me melting all my days/Let me give you double helpings/You’ll be screaming baby, baby, baby!” the girls yelp.

For those following the lewd ladies from the start just a few short months ago, you’d know that “Love Me” was originally released as “Fuck Me”–and those lyrics? Well, they were a whole lot ruder: “Free your mind…and the rest I’ll swallow!” Amazing, but hardly radio-friendly. Thus, “Love Me” was born.

I’m still not entirely sure what to make of these girls just yet–they’re either as infectiously rambunctious as the Almighty Spice in a sex shop, or as yell-y and obnoxious as Jessie J. in, well, everything–but it’s hard to deny the supreme hook-heavy pop quality of “Love Me.” So far, I’m in!

Looks like this is just the beginning for this trouble-making trio, so get yourselves acquainted now! Get ready to enter the loveeee hotel…

“Love Me (feat. Travie McCoy” will be released on March 5. (iTunes UK)

Monster by Meg Myers

Genre: Alternative rock
Sounds like: Fiona Apple, Alanis Morrissette, Marina + The Diamonds

Meet Meg Myers, a rising musician based out of Los Angeles.

While details about the singer are still somewhat minimal, we’ve got one excellent tune to work with: “Monster.”

The song was co-scribed and produced by Doctor Rosen Dosen, the up-and-coming producer responsible for a couple of MuuMuse’s favorite remixes over the past years for acts like Britney and Lady Gaga, as well as his exciting collaborative project with a slew of rising female pop stars, including Kay and Jessie And The Toy Boys, called GIRLS.

Yet Myers’ sound is a complete departure for Rosen: There’s no pop beats to be found here–only jagged riffs and raw, vulnerable lyrics: “My love, too much/Your love, not enough,” Myers sadly croons above a slow-strumming guitar before launching into the song’s haunting chorus: “Oh, what it takes out of me to lay by your side!”

As Rosen explained to me, the song’s stripped production is a nod to ’90′s alt-rock–from Nirvana to Portishead. “What have I done? I’m a fucking monster!” Myers bitterly yelps at one point, her voice quivering with all the anguish of a classic Morrissette angst track.

Although Myers’ 6-track debut EP isn’t due for release until later in January, you can already hear two more cuts from the EP on her official website, including the piano-tinged, hook heavy “Adelaide” and “Poison,” which surges with a slightly more modern electro-rock flare (and was also featured on Rosen Rosen’s Girls Vol. 1.)

What I like most about Myers, as with fellow alt-rock chanteuses Skylar Grey and, to a somewhat more pop-oriented extent Marina And The Diamonds, Lana Del Rey and Sky Ferreira (when she’s in a more punk mood), is that she provides a breath of fresh air in a rapidly smothering climate of club-pop. Don’t get me wrong–I live for the stuff, but there’s more than enough room for some snarling, kick-ass rock chicks to come clawing their way to the top of the charts and adding some much-needed variety to radio.

Coupled with comeback LPs from industry veterans like Garbage and No Doubt a little later in 2012–along with the rumored, much-delayed return of Fiona Apple (dear God, let it be!)–this might just be the year that (good) rock finally makes a comeback.

“Monster” is available as a free download at Myers’ official website.

Sounds like: Wynter Gordon, Jessie + The Toy Boys, Britney Spears, Dev
Genre: Electro-pop, dance, hip-pop

Dancing In Dirt by MoXiiE

I’ve watched Moxiie evolve for about two years now.

The unsigned NYC artist first caught my attention back in February of 2010 (then performing under the name Kyla Dreams) with her track, “Machine Gun Love.” I was immediately sold: Between the instantly catchy chorus and glittering synth beats, that one song alone kept me keeping close tabs on the up-and-coming songwriter.

Over time, I’ve come to learn that Moxiie’s one thoroughly cool chick with excellent taste–her influences include Madonna, Vanity 6, Debbie Harry and Janet Jackson–and her songs reflect her keen awareness for supreme pop.

After spending years writing for other artists however, the singer suddenly decided to go the solo route:

I did the whole writer thing, hitting tons of studios in L.A. and New York working with so many producers. I got bored with all the cliques and politics. Being one of hundreds of writers vying for a slot on someone else’s project, it felt wrong. It just hit me one day: I have a lot to say–I can write, sing and dance! What the hell am I doing?!

Now known professionally as Moxiie, the songstress has finally unleashed her debut effort today known as the Jungle Pop EP, a raw, crunchy 8-track collection filled with sharp hooks and fresh pop influences and inspired by world beats, popular dance and club sounds, and the gritty textures of New York City.

The EP boasts production from several rising producers, including Fredro (Wonder Girls, Jessica Mauboy), REO (Lil’ Wayne), Jay Deasel (Miranda Lambert), and The SupaSonics.

Buzz by MoXiiE

There’s sizzling cuts like “Buzz” (above) which bangs with a fierce Euro-friendly beat recalling Enur‘s “Calabria,” as well as “Bottle Service,” which plays like a harder-hitting sequel to Far East Movement‘s 2010 summer smash, “Like A G6.”

“Animal” finds Moxiie exploring some slightly left-of-center electronica territory above a marching drum beat, bringing to mind Wynter Gordon‘s brand of smart dance-pop ingenuity: “I want to love you like an animal/I wanna touch you like an animal/I wanna hear the sound of you losing all control,” she purrs.

She even dabbles in some rap-pop at one point on “Platinum P,” meshing old school hip-hop samples with a fresh flow above wild marching drum beats a la Cher Lloyd.

My immediate favorite of the bunch, however, is “Dancing in Dirt” (top), an absolutely relentless uptempo banger with light dubstep flourishes that simply demands to be blared from the speakers of every club across the country: “Don’t you feel sorry for me, ’cause I’ll be dancing in the dirt!” Moxiie declares before diving into the most delicious beat drop. Mmmph!

After hearing what Moxiie’s served up all on her own, there’s no question that she’s got that somethin’ special to propel her into stardom in no time. Record labels and fans alike–take note now.

Moxiie’s currently offering up the entire Jungle Pop EP for just the price of a tweet (not too shabby!), and the EP is also available on iTunes.

Jungle Pop EP was released on December 20. (iTunes)

Though only 19 years old, Charli XCX has making a name for herself in the British pop circle for years now.

After rising to underground fame as a Londontown club kid and unleashing a smattering of songs to the Internetz, the young electro-pop singer has opened for several high-profile acts, including Robyn and Peaches.

As a result, she’s made several small-but-significant splashes in the mainstream press already, including an introduction in The Guardian back in 2008 (cleverly dubbing her “The Fisher Price Fischerspooner“), a profile in Dazed Digital, and a feature within an Interview Magazine article in 2009 spotlighting the rising “Brit Pop Girls” of the time, including Little Boots and La Roux. And while her own launch has been delayed far longer than the other girls highlighted within the group, hers may be the most promising and intriguing yet.

Earlier this year, Charli unleashed the unbelievably killer “Stay Away”–a jagged warning shot fired against grinding, gritty synthesizers that easily ranks amongst my favorite singles of 2011. “Do you remember what I said the first time that we met? Stay away,” she desperately pleads above the demented beat, crafted by American producer Ariel Rechtshaid. It’s gorgeous and haunting; the kind of song that simply can’t be played enough, and a dark, sexy slice of what both reviewers and she herself have lovingly dubbed “Goth-pop.”

Now the teenage chanteuse returns with a new song for the end of November: “Nuclear Seasons.” The song, which is available for free on her official website, plays like a darker take on the slick ’80′s revivalist pop sheen of Gwen Stefani‘s solo career (though I’m hearing a bit of No Doubt‘s “It’s My Life” in the verses as well), added to Marina + The Diamonds‘ damning, dramatic vibrato. “You taste the blast and it shook your bones,” she cooly croons as she ruminates on an explosive relationship on the rocks. Don’t drop bombs, baby!

Along with some of the aforementioned artists, she’s also giving me some serious Sky Ferreira vibes: She’s young, free-spirited, mysterious and fiercely rebellious (never too afraid to toe the line between outspoken and all-out bitchy, as her thoughts on Gaga and La Roux may attest). And like Ferreira, she’s responsible for more than a few pop ditties that utterly slay everything else playing on the radio today.

In short, I’m a big fan of Charli XCX.

Though there’s still not too many tunes floating around by the young London-bred singer just yet, she’s quickly become one of my latest obsessions–and certainly one of my most anticipated acts for 2012. Watch for her debut to hit in 2012, which features more production by Rechtshaid, as well as “Dancing On My Own” producer Patrik Berger, and Teddybears member (and older brother to fellow Robyn hit maker, Klas Åhlund), Joakim Åhlund.

(Oh, yeah–and the XCX stands for “Kiss Charli Kiss,” which the singer herself calls “unbelievably crap.”)

“Stay Away” was released on May 15. (iTunes UK)

Meet Chronz, T-Roy and Martika (I’ll allow a moment to marinate on each those names individually), the members of one of Polydor’s newest girl groups, RD, AKA Ruff Diamondz. Again…marinate on that.

As my shady sister/bottom buddy Prophet Blog pointed out a few weeks ago, these chicks are the spitting image of the original incarnation of the Sugababes. Like…that redhead (Chronz) is literally Siobhan Donaghy. It’s a little unsettling as a Suga fan, but also kind of nice in a nostalgic sort in a way.

But even if they’ve got the Suga look down, the girls of RD are bringing an entirely different sound to the table.

“Got Me Burnin’” is RD’s infectious newest single due out on September 25, a mostly minimal UK garage/drum ‘n’ bass fest that plays like something straight off of Katy B‘s On A Mission. (Makes sense, as the track was produced by Katy B producer Geenius!) “Something like a fever got me burnin’ / It’s concerning, baby,” the girls croon above the song’s quick-tripping beat.

Ahead of their debut, the girls released a 9-track mixtape on their website, a multi-genre collection that includes features from Roll Deep and UK rapper Wretch 32 across R&B slow-jams (“I Know U Want Me”), swagga-riffic brag tracks (“Superstar Shades”) and unusual grime-infused pop hybrids (“Do It Like Me”).

While their songs have a tendency of getting a bit too mucked up in grime-y grittiness, the girls of RD still command a pretty soulful sound beneath those dirrty beats, especially when navigating the slower R&B numbers. Or is that just my Sugababes 1.0 nostalgia shining through once again?

Anyway, it’ll be interesting to see what musical styling RD actually serves up when their debut drops later this year. Let’s just hope the line-up doesn’t switch up by then!

“Got Me Burnin’” will be released on September 25. (iTunes)

Cady Groves – “This Little Girl”

Ladies and gentleman: She may look sweet, but do not cross Miss Cady Groves–that is, unless you want a bullet square between the eyes.

The 21-year-old Oklahoma-bred songstress first got her start as a MySpace act, posting her acoustic demos on her page and responding to her ever-growing fan base on a daily basis. The attention led to the release of two EP’s: 2009′s A Month of Sundays and The Life of a Pirate, released in March of 2010.

After signing with RCA Records last year, Groves is now prepping her first major label release: “This Little Girl.”

The song, which first premiered on Idolator two weeks ago, was co-penned by Groves, Sean Douglas and Tom Meredith and produced by Swedish pop whiz Kristian Lundin, the man behind such iconic pop classics as Celine Dion‘s “That’s The Way It Is,” *NSYNC‘s “Bye Bye Bye,” and one of Britney‘s very best, “Born To Make You Happy.”

“I checked your phone ’cause it was beeping / Are you alone? I know you’re creeping,” the vengeful singer reveals on top of the stabbing strings of the song’s opening verse. And then in comes the chorus; a crunchy, genius explosion of pulsating pop as Groves warns the good-for-nothing guy playing games with her heart: “You’re not the only one walking ’round with a loaded gun!”

With enough lyrical vitriol to have Kelly Clarkson shining up her rifle and just the right kind of synth-pop pulsations in between the song’s punchy production to set Ellie Goulding‘s heart a-flutter, this little girl is definitely capable of murder–not to mention a ridiculously promising career. Just don’t stand in her way!

“This Little Girl” is currently available for free from Groves’ official website.

Thanks to Muuser Calen C. for the heads up on this track!

Eric Hirschbeck is a devoted MuuStan and Robyn enthusiast from Canada who asked to Introduuce Norwegian rap-pop star Stella Mwangi to MuuMuse readers. And I said…SURE! Why not? Read on!

Stella Mwangi (alias: STL) is already an international superstar.

With two albums already under her belt–2007’s Living for Music and 2011’s Kinanda–Stella has showcased her ability to write, sing, and rap: Songs like “Lookie Lookie” have a Wynter Gordon-esque sweet-girl-but-she’s-a-freak-in-the-bed approach, while raps like “Copy My Swang” show off a bossiness comparable to that of Nicki Minaj.

While Stella’s music relates heavily to other godly Scandinavian pop music (we should all know by now that all good pop music comes from Scandinavia), she sticks to her Kenyan roots, infusing her songs with a medley of Swahili words and phrases.

Just this year, the 24 year-old Norwegian-Kenyan singer competed in the 2011 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with “Haba Haba,” earning her the number one position in the Norwegian singles chart. (Watch her performance here!)

Attitude is the only word that truly describes Stella Mwangi and her body of work. This girl is FULL of character; whether it’s on stage with her infectious smile (you can tell she actually enjoys performing!), or with her cocky lyrics, as in “She Got It/Kool Girls”: “Yeah the girl got it, I got it, some of them got it, some of them don’t / I got it bad and I’mma tell the world about it.”

Not convinced yet? Come take a “Lookie Lookie”!

And now, some basic reasons as to why you should worship Stella Mwangi:

1.) Not many girls invite you to take a “lookie.”
2.) She whips her hair back and forth.
3.) She refers to her breasts and buttocks as “hills.”
4.) Not even Robyn has had this much fun dancing alone.
5.) Look at those FUCKING GIANT EARRINGS.

In the pop world, not many artists can stay true to their image.For over four years, Stella’s kept her promise to her audience: Her music will always be playful, daring and full of attitude.

CUZ WHATCHU SEE IS WHATCHU JUST MIGHT GET.

“I was born bad, but then I met you / You made me not so wild, but my dark side’s true,” Lana Del Rey sings in the first few seconds of the swaggering Spaghetti Western strum of “Kinda Outta Luck.”

And just like that, the 24-year-old New York-bred chanteuse–born Lizzy Grant–has already become of my most anticipated acts of 2011.

A self-described “gangster Nancy Sinatra,” the striking songstress certainly looks the part, evoking some of the silver screen’s most glamorous Femme Fatales, including the va-va-voom bombshell quality of Brigitte Bardot and the bold features of Angelina Jolie.

When she sings she only broods further, echoing the dramatic conviction and theatrical vibrato of a healthy helping of ’60′s chanteuses, including Marianne Faithfull, Nico and Dusty Springfield (and yes, Nancy Sinatra too).

“Think Nina Simone singing a Cat Power song over Lil Wayne‘s track,” she recently told Flush The Fashion in describing her sound.

But even if you remain dubious about her own self-analysis, a quick survey of the talent she’s working with in the studio certainly adds some credibility to her case, including Liam Howe (Cocknbullkid), Chris Braide (Will Young, Diana Vickers) and Emile Haynie (Tinie Tempah).

“Video Games” is Del Ray’s most most recent release, which just scored major exposure for the singer after being played during Fearne Cotton‘s June 30 show on BBC1.

The haunting devotional gently rises and falls with a kind of world-weary exhaustion and restlessness not unlike fellow brooding bombshell chanteuse Sky Ferreira, making what’s but a simple love-swept ballad on the surface sound more like the accompaniment to a funeral procession. “They say that the world was built for two / Only worth living if somebody is loving you / Baby now you do,” she sings mournfully, enveloped by violin strings and gorgeous harp plucks.

But apart from the twangy, badly behaved “Kinda Outta Luck” and the crushing balladry of “Video Games,” there’s material like “DIET MTN DEW,”, her most modern sounding attempt: “Do you think we’ll be in love forever? Do you think we’ll be in love?” she coolly croons above a swaggering, slow-skipping hip hop rhythm.

Just as with the first time I heard Florence + The Machine back in 2009, I’m utterly entranced by Ms. Lana Del Rey: She’s dark, she’s mysterious, and her music sounds like something Quentin Tarantino‘s already queuing up to include in the soundtrack in his next bloody vengeance epic.

“I heard that you like the bad girls / Honey, is that true?” she ponders during the chorus of “Video Games.”

You see that? She knows me too well already.

For more on Lana Del Rey, check her out on MySpace and YouTube.