U.S. Girls

Meghan Remy's work as U.S. Girls is proof that experimental artists oftentimes make the coolest-sounding pop. Remy was born in Chicago in 1985 and spent her teens blasting hardcore and anarcho-punk before delving into underground weirdness in the late 2000s. Remy gradually developed an interest in blending surrealist songwriting and lo-fi electronics with melodies influenced by vintage girl-group pop and R&B. This fusion resulted in entrancing listening experiences like 2011’s U.S. GIRLS on KRAAK. But Remy was only getting started. After signing with the legendary 4AD label in 2015, she entered a new phase of art-pop sophistication on albums such as In a Poem Unlimited and its follow-up, Heavy Light. Both titles showcase soul vocals suave enough to make Bryan Ferry envious and grooves perfect for dance-floor intoxication. Remy even notched an alternative hit in 2020 with the subversive single “4 American Dollars”. At first blush, the song’s disco opulence feels far removed from the singer’s early work. Listen closely, however, and you’ll discover a slyly anti-capitalist message that could only come from an artist whose roots reach back to DIY punk and noise.