Spotify has released a five-track Spotify Singles collection tied to the fifth anniversary of its EQUAL program, featuring South Africa’s Shekhinah alongside artists from Sweden, Germany, Portugal and the United States.
The limited series pairs five rising artists with songs by women they cite as influences. The collection honors the influence, creativity and legacy of women artists. EQUAL is Spotify’s program for amplifying women in music through editorial programming, marketing campaigns and cultural activations.
The Singles Lineup#
- Namasenda (Sweden): “Lucky” by Britney Spears
- badmómzjay (Germany): “Rehab” by Rihanna
- MARO (Portugal): “Sauvignon Blanc” by ROSALÍA
- Willow Avalon (United States): “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon
- Shekhinah (South Africa): “I Love Music” by Lebo Mathosa
Bel Aztiria, Spotify’s Global Music Program Lead, said the project highlights artists shaping music today and the women who preceded them. “Music has the power to connect cultures, generations, and communities, and we’re proud to play a role in amplifying exceptional women artists across borders,” Aztiria said. “Our new Spotify Singles celebrate both the artists shaping music today and the trailblazing women who paved the way for them, demonstrating the lasting impact women continue to have on music around the world.”
Namasenda and badmómzjay#
For Namasenda, recording Britney Spears’ “Lucky” was a full-circle moment. She first referenced the song in her 2021 track “☆ (feat. Oklou)” before performing her own take at the 2025 Denniz Pop Awards, an annual event that honors artists contributing to Sweden’s international pop legacy.
“For me, ‘Lucky’ has always been one of the most powerful pop ballads ever written,” she said. “It balances glitter and sorrow in a way I try to do in my own music. Being able to record my own version, and having that happen as part of celebrating EQUAL and women in music, feels extra special.”
Originally from southern Sweden, Namasenda has become one of pop’s most inventive voices. Her latest album is Limbo.
German artist badmómzjay covers Rihanna’s “Rehab,” a track she said fits her genre-defying sound, which blends confidence with vulnerability in songs about identity and self-acceptance.
“I chose ‘Rehab’ because it’s about a woman taking her power back and refusing to let love break her down again, and choosing herself instead,” badmómzjay said. “That’s the energy I want every woman listening to feel. You don’t need anyone to save you, you can heal yourself and come out stronger. Still, I truly believe in love, and honestly, I feel this song so deeply. Huge respect to Rihanna for creating something so powerful.”
badmómzjay’s upcoming third studio album, Haus im Meer, is set to be her most personal project to date. Fans in Germany can see her on tour this autumn.
MARO, Willow Avalon and Shekhinah#
MARO reimagines ROSALÍA’s “Sauvignon Blanc” while paying homage to their shared Iberian roots. “I chose to record ‘Sauvignon Blanc’ because it’s such a beautiful song, and because ROSALÍA is such an inspiring artist,” MARO said. “It also felt like a meaningful choice to record a song by a Spanish artist, given the many cultural and musical links between Portugal and Spain. This felt like a lovely way to celebrate that Iberian connection.”
The singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has built a devoted fanbase through songs that blend folk, pop and jazz influences across her collaborations and solo work.
Willow Avalon puts her own rebellious spin on Carly Simon’s classic “You’re So Vain,” paying tribute to one of music’s most celebrated storytellers. “I chose ‘You’re So Vain’ because it’s a sassy song I grew up on that made me want to write sassy songs,” Willow Avalon said. “While I may write songs in a different genre than Carly Simon, the tone is still the same.”
The Georgia native taught herself guitar at 12 and has since become a powerful voice in Nashville’s music scene, taking her sound from the Grand Ole Opry to festival stages. Her two albums are Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell and Pink Pocket Pistol.
Shekhinah’s reimagining of “I Love Music” by Lebo Mathosa brings her signature blend of pop, R&B and soul to a song that celebrates joy, creativity and the transformative power of music.
“Lebo Mathosa is one of the artists who helped shape what it means to be a powerful woman performer in South Africa,” Shekhinah said. “Recording ‘I Love Music’ felt like a chance to celebrate her legacy while paying tribute to the women who continue to inspire and open doors for the next generation.”
Born in Durban, South Africa, Shekhinah’s platinum-certified debut album Rose Gold put her on the country’s pop radar. She has since released Trouble In Paradise, Less Trouble and the EP Love on Repeat Vol. 1.
