From seemingly soft-spoken crooners (Jenny Lewis, Regina Spektor) to loud-mouthed firecrackers (Beth Ditto, Amanda Palmer) it’s no surprise that women have taken the reins from the guys and have proved that, they too, can rock as hard as any man. It’s time to let the ladies take over for a bit, and none too soon. Check out AOLmusic’s top female performers who are currently rocking the stage (and your iPod) right now. Photos after the jump: Read More »

There are so many reasons to root for Regina Spektor. Not only does her music have a unique, refreshing and whimsical sound that will lighten your heart, but the girl has worked tirelessly to get to where she is today.

With the release of her fifth album, Begin To Hope, things are finally starting to take off in the mainstream. Her song On the Radio was featured on Grey’s Anatomy this past season, and despite the decline in quality of the show itself, its soundtrack still manages to make stars out of relative unknowns. And the mainstream is right about where Regina deserves to be—except that we’ll miss her intimate shows at small venues.

Moving to the Bronx from Russia at the age of 9, Spektor had to improvise when she got to the States. The family left their piano behind in Moscow, and Regina was forced to practice on anything she could find upon her arrival here—window sills, and benches included. She ended up honing her craft, and developing her songwriting skills on a piano in the basement of her synagogue. Read More »