The art of comparing artists: damaging or complementary?

Tate McRae – Britney Spears. Chappell Roan – Lady Gaga. Raye – Amy Winehouse. Whenever a new music star begins to ascend to the top of the business, they are followed by a slew of comparisons to any similar stars which have shone before them. But are these comparisons problematic? In setting emerging artists up as stepping into the shoes of the legends that paved the way for them, are we limiting their artistic potential by putting them in a box they feel they must stick within?

Following the recent release of her third studio album So Close to What, Tate McRae has become the latest in a flurry of recent artists to garner a strong comparison to one who has come before. As well as bearing a loose physical resemblance to Spears, her breathy vocals and similar seductive sound, notably on UK Top Ten hit ‘Sports Car’,  has led many to deem McRae the next Britney. The 21-year-old Canadian has also made high-octane, punchy choreography a standard feature of all her live performances, just as Spears did during her career. Speaking to The Independent, the 21-year-old Canadian singer touched on the comparisons, describing them as both “flattering and scary”, suggesting “it’s such a crazy statement because no one can compare to Britney Spears.”

If present artists constantly feel the comparison to a music icon of the past, they may feel restricted in the type of music they create

“Flattering and scary” is perhaps the perfect summary of all the feelings such connections may provoke within an ascending popstar, with similar sentiments being expressed by many other artists. South London singer Raye, whose love of jazz, soulful voice, and physical appearance have all led her to be compared to the late-great Amy Winehouse, described how she feels “insecure with that comparison”, deeming Amy as a “one of a kind” artist who can’t be imitated. Chappell Roan, with her avant-garde and flamboyant performance style, has evoked similarities to Lady Gaga, an artist who herself has battled comparisons to pop icon Madonna since the beginning of her career. Gaga has previously spoken out about her frustrations to such a comparison, deflecting them by saying she “wouldn’t make that comparison at all… I play a lot of instruments. I write all my own music… What I do is different.”

It seems then, comparing artists to those who have come before is sometimes validated by the resemblance which may be shared in music, performance and appearance, the act of doing so is one which places unfair pressure on such artists to stick to the same path as their predecessors. Not only could this be incredibly daunting for rising stars, being placed in the same position as previous artists who had tumultuous and, often abusive, relationships with the industry – like Spears and Winehouse. If present artists constantly feel the comparison to a music icon of the past, they may feel restricted in the type of music they create and the potential genres they perhaps wish to explore. On the contrary, one could argue this type of comparison may instead push artists creatively. In an effort to escape comparison and be original, artists are likely to be more experimental in their sound and performance style, yet this seems unlikely when any attempt at this is met with other, different comparisons and disparaging criticisms about trying something new –  if Raye released a drum and bass album in an effort to escape the Winehouse connection, this would likely be the response.

We still may make comparisons, but we must do so in a way which doesn’t make artists insecure about the brightness of their own, unique brilliance

These comparisons come from a well-meaning and good-intentioned place. McRae does at times sound and look like Spears, as does Raye with Winehouse. These comparisons come from a place of excitement about a new artist’s potential. We’re excited about the possibility of a new Madonna gracing us with new hits and iconic pop culture moments. Our love for these artists is perhaps an extension of the love with have for those that came prior to them, but this is something we must learn to detach. There is a fine line between drawing similarities between artists and casting them in the shadows of one another, a line which threatens to be crossed time and time again when a new talent begins to emerge in the spotlight. Instead, we must encourage new artists to shine in their most authentic light and accept them for who they are, rather than who they remind us of. We still may make comparisons, but we must do so in a way which doesn’t make artists insecure about the brightness of their own, unique brilliance.