Meet the Artists on e.l.f.'s “GRWM ”Album

These 12 musicians are aiming for a permanent spot on your pump-up playlist

Everyone knows that unique joy of getting ready for big plans, with a glass of bubbly, a bestie or two on hand and a fierce-on-the-first-try cat eye — all while the perfect soundtrack to your night plays in the background. e.l.f. Cosmetics wanted to capture that feeling in one playlist, so they commissioned 12 breakout-ready artists to create songs for Get Ready with Music, The Album, which the brand said in a release "gives a megaphone to self-expression, extending the definition of beauty."

From pop stars whose songs you haven't been able to get out of your head for a decade to up-and-comers you're bound to hear everywhere soon, these artists are ones you'll want to get to know better — so we asked them to answer our Q&A so you can say you knew them before they blew up.

Related: Get to Know the Music Industry Disruptors Taking Stardom on Their Own Terms

Betty Who

Age: 33
Hometown: Sydney, Australia
What was your first concert: Mel C
Describe your sound in a sentence: Sparkly!
Tell us about your song on the album: My song is called “Wings” and it’s a self-love anthem that makes me want to dance around in my living room. 
What music do you like to play when getting ready? Every few months i start a new playlist and collect songs from my life in that time ... so that each chapter of my life has a soundtrack. The one i’m on now is named after Sabrina Carpenter because I am obsessed!
What’s your ultimate dream as a musician? My career’s been a slow burn, so getting more and more people out to the shows every time I go on tour. My dream is to end up headlining arenas. 
What’s your favorite e.l.f. product? The "Pout Clout" lip plumping pen is the best. I love the shades it comes in and the texture/finish is gorgeous. I’ve been wearing it on stage religiously.

Tasty Lopez

Age: A lady never tells…
Hometown: Sydney, Australia
What was your first concert? Nine Inch Nails, I went with my Dad. I’m a rock‘n’roll girl at heart.
Describe your sound in a sentence: Distinctive, daring & delicious; catchy pop-soul hooks with powerhouse vocals and an indie twist to live rent-free in your head.
Tell us about your song on the album: "Blush" is an unapologetic Timbaland-meets-Britney pop banger that I wrote with my friend Lancelot. We messed around in my studio one day & accidentally made something we couldn’t stop singing.
Describe your go-to makeup style: Dramatic: Dark brows, metallic eyeshadow, blush, highlighter, red or pink lipstick and a cat eye. Very subtle, very demure.
Tell us about your getting ready ritual: Pump the tunes, build the outfit, create the glam and hopefully get out the door before I’m too late.
How does it feel to be part of a compilation album? Amazing, I’m so grateful to be a part of this album among so many other brilliant artists. I can’t wait for the world to hear it.

Black Gatsby

Age: 37
Hometown: Born in Shawnee, Okla. and grew up in Dallas, Tex.
What was your first concert? The Temptations
Describe your sound in a sentence: A mix of pop, soul, R&B and house.
Tell us about your song on the album: This song happened organically with my friend and producer Nick Rosen. We started with percussion and horns. And the song just came together after that. ... "All In My Head" is about where our minds go when we sit and fixate on something for a small period of time.
Tell us about your getting ready ritual: As soon as I wake up, I make myself coffee. I warm up my voice for an hour or so singing some of my favorite songs. Then I shower and do my skincare routine (add makeup if the day calls for it). Get my look together, get dressed. And the look for me isn't complete without a hat or some kind of headdress.
What music do you like to play when you’re getting ready? I love the Afro-Soul Mix on Apple.
What’s one song that you wish you have written? Either "Wonderwall" by Oasis or "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac.
Why did you want to partner with e.l.f. on the album? I love e.l.f. because they've always delivered on quality, which is how I feel when it comes to my music. If I need a product in a hurry, and I don't have a lot to spend, I know I can find what I need with e.l.f.

Alana

Age: 24
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
What was your first concert? I’m pretty sure it was Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never tour…
Describe your sound in a sentence:  It’s fun and playful, and colors outside the lines.
Tell us about your song on the album: "Muse" is about shifting focus from trying to please others / look a certain way to finding a way to express yourself that feels good in your body and authentic to who you are.
What inspired the song? My inspiration for the song was a conversation I had with with a friend where we were talking about wanting to be somebodies muse, and I thought to myself, I think I’d rather be a source of inspiration for myself than a love interest.
What’s your ultimate dream as a musician? My ultimate dream as a musician is to make people’s lives better by giving them something they can connect to or feel moved by. Music has changed my life on an everyday level and that’s what I’d like to do for others!
What’s one song that you wish you have written? I wish I wrote "Herjira" by Joni Mitchell.
Describe your go-to makeup style: My go-to makeup look is just concealer, blush, mascara and liquid eyeliner.
What do you listen to when you get ready? Recently that was "Walking a Dead Deer up a Hill" by Grouper.

Dianna Lopez

Age: 28
Hometown: Rockland County, New York
What was your first concert? I think it was a Khruangbin concert.
Describe your sound in a sentence: Ambient/spiritual mystic folk.
Tell us about your song on the album: "Something Wild" is a self-love song of sorts, it felt really empowering to write. I was comparing parts of my body to natural elements of the earth - thinking about nature and how strong and wild it’s able to hold up even through the stormiest disasters. My intention for the song was for the people listening to it to feel like anything is possible and that they’re capable and built for a lot more than we think.
What’s one song that you wish you had written?  Bill Withers - "Make a Smile for Me." It always puts me in such a happy space, I think the lyrics are my favorite part. But it’s so beautifully orchestrated, and intimately sung.
What’s your ultimate dream as a musician?  To positively touch and influence a lot of souls from the art and music that I make. I think the reason we’re on this planet is to give what we’ve got to other people. Living off of that, feeding my family and having a beautiful home would mean so much to me. Then more dreams build.
What’s your favorite part about getting ready? Probably picking and playing with colors or fabric textures to put together. I usually base it on the mood I’m in that day; if I’m feeling earthy I’ll wear brown or green, if I’m feeling more fiery or like I want to be seen, I’ll wear yellow or orange.
Tell us about your getting ready ritual: If I’m not running out the door, setting a calm setting for me to exist in is really important. I light some incense or a candle, play some music on my speaker (ambient sounds like Laraaji, Uther Moads, Naran Ratan and even some of the ambient sounds I’ve made myself) and get in the zone.

Olivia Reyes

Age: 23
Hometown: Teaneck, N.J.
What was your first concert? One Direction Take Me Home tour.
Describe your sound in a sentence: Elegant pop with an essence of R&B.
Tell us about your song on the album: My song is called "Dream." It's an afro-beats-inspired song about taking you through a journey of self-expression from the moment you wake up to stepping into your own as a confident individual.
What’s your favorite part about getting ready? - I love sitting in front of my vanity and taking my time (usually up to 2 hours sometimes) to get ready in peace and listening to my favorite playlist. 
What’s your favorite e.l.f. product? Soft Glam Foundation!
What’s your ultimate dream as a musician? To be able to tour the world performing, also winning a Grammy of course.
How does it feel to be part of a compilation album? I love it! The fact that I am a part of such a cool project with so many talented artists with such different perspectives is something I am very proud of!
Tell us about why e.l.f. was the perfect brand partner for you? Besides the fact that I am an employee, e.l.f. embraces everyone and really cares about diversifying their platform and being inclusive to every eye, lip, face, paw, and fin! It is something I deeply align with and couldn’t be prouder to collaborate with such an amazing brand.

Cakes Da Killa

Age: Old enough to know better.
Hometown: Teaneck, N.J.
What was your first concert? The Gossip
Describe your sound in a sentence: A pure shot of dopamine.
Tell us about your song on the album:  I wanted to write a bitchy, upbeat bop for all types of girls.
What’s your favorite part about getting ready? Stepping out of my Uber.
What music do you like to play when you’re getting ready? Depends on where I'm going but it's typically house music.
What’s one song that you wish you have written? "All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey.
What’s your ultimate dream as a musician? Financial stability.
How does it feel to be part of a compilation album? I love compilation albums, my first project was one. Love the variety! It's like a group project without the slackers.

Jenita

Age: Cenozoic Era
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
What was your first concert? Janet Jackson
Describe your sound in a sentence: '90s pop radio blasting in NASA's lunch room.
Tell us about your song on the album: The song is called "Zero G (U&Me)". Though the melody existed for a while, the lyrics were written after being part of a music video shoot involving a zero gravity airplane. Good day at the office.
Tell us about your getting ready ritual: Wet hair and getting through seventeen playlists before finally leaving the apartment.
What music do you like to play when you’re getting ready? Currently on a middle eastern psychedelic funk kick.
What’s your ultimate dream as a musician? Tomoyasu Hotei's "Battle Without Honor Or Humanity."
How does it feel to be part of a compilation album? Like I stumbled into a jam session. And stayed.
Tell us about why e.l.f. was the perfect brand partner for you? The product is true and the competition is nervous.

Zoe Ko

Age: 23
Hometown: New York City, NY
What was your first concert? Hozier with George Ezra as the opener. I went to the concert with my cousin and we both sobbed.
Describe your sound in a sentence: My sound is confident and raw. It's been described as 2000s pop/rock meets indie sleaze.
Tell us about your song on the album: It's a fun, upbeat dance, alt-pop song. It has lots of girl gang vocals and cheeky lyrics.  
Describe your music style: I listen to a lot of 2000s pop and rock women icons like Gwen Stefani, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Rihanna, and Nelly Furatado, and also indie sleaze like LCD Soundsystem and Peaches.
What music do you like to play when you’re getting ready?  Energetic dance-pop bangers. Anything I can scream and dance to.
Describe your go-to makeup style: A grungy, messy, smokey eye, sometimes paired with a bold red lip. (I like e.l.f.'s O FACE satin lipstick — pigmented but creamy and hydrating!)
What’s your ultimate dream as a musician? All I've ever wanted to do is make music and perform forever. It would be a dream to eventually be able to create a fashion line too. I think right now, my big goal is to sell out Webster Hall in NYC, I grew up next to it and always went to shows there.

Mariangela

Age: 23
Hometown: Difficult to answer but I live in San Antonio, Tex.
What was your first concert? RBD
Describe your sound in a sentence: Mariangela’s sound is a best friend that’s nostalgic, feminine, understanding and empowering you through life, breakups, heartaches, happy moments and to go have fun! 
Tell us about your song on the album: When I first received the initial beat Cola Boyy made, it was so exciting because I had never done something so experimental before. But I knew where I wanted to take it. The song took on so many colors and textures until it became what it is now. But in the end, the mission, intention, and essence for me remained the same: to showcase how much makeup can do for us as a community and how much it can play a big part in our essence and our memories in life. I loved collaborating in L.A. with the girls who did the initial chant for the song and creating a story. I loved finding poetry inspired by one of my Mexican muses, Frida Kahlo, and many others to portray a surrealist image of all things mentioned above. This was the most incredible journey and challenge for me as a writer. I’m so thankful for the way Lance brought everything we envisioned to life in the end and how fun the song turned out to be. A poem, a moment, a fun time. And a love letter to women of all forms, shapes, and backgrounds.
What’s your favorite part about getting ready? Listening to music and getting hyped. There is different music for every occasion. It certainly inspires the creativity of the type of makeup I want to use!
Describe your go-to makeup style: My go to makeup style is a bold lip combo, Mascara with slight glitter shadow ... and lots of blush!
Tell us about your getting ready ritual: I am definitely a romantic when it comes to getting ready. I take a warm shower, light a candle, and put on music by my favorite artists or artists that make me feel empowered. I usually do my hair in a blowout. Then I start with makeup! ... I love listening to Disco House, Reggaeton, or something by Lana Del Rey, Dua Lipa, Shakira, Nelly Furtado, Sabrina, or Madonna. Some of my favorite women!
What’s one song that you wish you have written? There are a lot but I’ll say two: "No" by Shakira and Gustavo Cerati. And "Burn" by Ray LaMontagne. These songs bring me to tears and have a special place in my heart from when I was younger.
What’s your ultimate dream as a musician? To connect with people so deeply that even when I'm 80 years old, I can still hear one of my songs playing somewhere, some time.

Charlotte Rose Benjamin

Age: 28
Hometown: Martha's Vineyard
What was your first concert? Aly and AJ with The Jonas Brothers opening — 2006.
Describe your sound in a sentence: New York City based confessional story-telling alt rock for girls.
Tell us about your song on the album: My song is called "Hairpin" and it's a lot of fun! It's about being free and messy and having the freedom to enjoy making mistakes. I was inspired by '90s/'00s girl bands like Le Tigre and Hole. 
Describe your music style: I put a lot of emphasis on lyrics. I'm very specific about what I say because I am usually writing from personal experience. I love the sound of live music and try to incorporate that into the recordings as much as possible. I love to collaborate with my band. 
Describe your go-to makeup style: I love makeup, but I don't wear a ton. I use my fingers only. I love blush and lipstick the most. I think when in doubt try to look as French as possible. 
What’s your favorite part about getting ready? I love clothes! I love spending a long time picking out my outfit.
Tell us about your getting ready ritual: I do my hair first because it's too loud to play music or watch TV while I blow dry. I usually like to have whatever trash reality TV show I'm watching on at the time or play a new record recommendation from a friend. Makeup first and then outfit because everything looks better with a makeup look.
What’s your ultimate dream as a musician? To make a comfortable living making records, touring and playing music with my friends. 

Meduulla

Age: 25
Hometown: Manchester, U.K.
What was your first concert? Mindless Behavior
Describe your sound in a sentence:  Bold strokes of jazz, 24-karat boom bap beats and witty lyrics.
Tell us about your song on the album: "Dupe" is all about getting ready to have a good time and leaving your worries at home. We all have different versions of ourselves that we tap into depending on the scenario, so "Dupe" is a song to channel your cool, fun, confident alter ego.
What’s your favorite part about getting ready? My favorite part of getting ready has to be putting my lipgloss on. Once I finish everything, I put my gloss on (I like the lip oil!) and I know I'm ready to step out.
Tell us about your getting ready ritual: Before I start getting ready, I need to find a playlist that matches my energy. I love playing songs by strong women: A lot of Beyoncé, Little Simz, Nicki Minaj and Lauryn Hill. Then I pick my outfit. I like to set up my mirror in front of some good natural light and I start painting.
What's one song you wish you had written? I wish I wrote "Tyrone" by Erykah Badu.
What’s your ultimate dream as a musician? My ultimate dream as a musician is for my music to reach my tribe in every corner of the world and travel from country to country performing and rapping with people that resonate with something that was once just an idea in my head.
How does it feel to be part of a compilation album? I am super excited to be part of a compilation album. To be able to showcase what I do next to such talented artists across the world means a lot to me.
Tell us about why e.l.f. was the perfect brand partner for you? I love the way e.l.f. champions individuality. They never try to fit in with other makeup brands and they remind me of someone who I would want to be friends with in school.

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