
Erykah Badu won her first grammy for her album Baduizm in 1997. Ever since I discovered that album's existence, my entire ear for sound has changed. From her smooth but spicy vocals to her equal parts R&B/Neo-soul instrumentals, she has truly affected who I am as a musician and as a person.

King Krule, a skinny kid from south London, probably has a voice that you would expect least, given his appearance. He can go from soft crooning to all-out screaming effortlessly, and is backed up by a superb band with chords that could give anyone goosebumps and mind-blowing drums.

Cibo Matto, Italian for "crazy food," was an alt-rock band formed by Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori in New York City in 1994. Initially, the band's lyrics were primarily concerned with food, before expanding into broader subject matter following the addition of Sean Lennon, Timo Ellis, and Duma Love to the band.