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PHOTOGRAPHED BY GEORDY PEARSON.

Introducing: Music's Bold New Stars

Not to state the obvious, but beauty is a high priority at Refinery29: We cover it all, from the latest trends to the most innovative products to the gurus who share their hard-earned advice. But, to us, beauty involves much more than what meets the eye. The passion, the quirks, and the unique point of view of every woman we admire — that's what real beauty is made of.

So, to celebrate this ever-evolving concept, we're showcasing 12 women who challenge convention. That's why we teamed up with the beauty trailblazers at Revlon for our second installment of Beauty Nation: The New Provocateurs. You’ve met fashion’s rising stars; now, we’re shining a spotlight on some of the fiercest up-and-comers in the music biz.

Up ahead, you’ll get an exclusive look at 12 of the most boundary-pushing singers, songwriters, producers, and DJs out there. Whether they're baring their souls in a poetic piece of lyrical genius or shredding riffs that could blow the roof off Barclays Center, these women are shaking things up with their daring looks, their unconventional sounds, and their fierce determination. Read on, listen up, and discover the beautiful ladies behind some of music’s boldest sounds.

Kim Schifino

BN_PostImage1_Kim
You’ve probably heard of Kim Schifino before — she’s the fairer half of Brooklyn indie-rock duo Matt & Kim and is partially responsible for infectious radio jams like “Daylight” and “It's Alright.” What you might not expect is where you’ll find Kim onstage: Instead of manning the mic, she’s slamming on the drums, providing the heartbeat of the band’s high-energy sound.

Schifino’s spot behind the drum kit challenges the chanteuse-like role we've come to expect for female musicians. And, she and Matt are constantly daring themselves to take their music and performances a step further — even stripping down to their birthday suits and strolling through Times Square for a video. Luckily, their risks have paid off: They’ve toured with Passion Pit and played massive festivals like Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo. Oh, and that naked romp led to an MTV VMA Moonman — how’s that for a win?

Revlon_BeautyNation_PullQuote_KimSchifino All products by Revlon. ColorStay™ Eyeliner, $6.79, $6.79; ColorStay™ Creme Gel Eyeliner, $9.99; ColorStay™ for Combo/Oily Skin Makeup, $12.99; Age Defying Concealer With DNA Advantage™, $10.99; PhotoReady™ Cream Blush, $12.99; Bold Lacquer by Grow Luscious Length + Volume Mascara, $7.99.

BN_PostImage2_KimPHOTOGRAPHED BY GEORDY PEARSON.
The most daring thing I ever did
"Walk naked through Times Square! I didn’t want to do it. Matt had to talk me into that — it took many, many months and a sh*t-ton of foot massages. But, we won the VMA for that video. Afterward, I had to tell him he was right. And, that doesn’t happen often! I could have easily said no, but that video took us to a whole new level."

What makes us unique
"Matt and I are the type of people who take what we do extremely seriously, but we don’t take ourselves seriously. We have fun with everything. We joke around all the time, and we’re very honest with everything — maybe a little bit much. But, there’s no 'persona.' I’m sure there are a lot of people who would tell us to act differently, but I know who I am. I don’t need someone else to tell me who I am, or this is how I should act."

Our next musical risk
"For a while, the idea of addressing a relationship or love in our songs was something we steered away from. I think we just didn’t know if we could do it, or if we could do it in a way that we were comfortable with and didn’t feel was cheesy. And, I think we’re finally figuring that out. This recording process that we’ve been doing the past couple of months has been incredible. I just feel like we’re reaching new ground."

Beauty is...
"Just being confident. If you can own something, you’re f*cking gorgeous. I feel like if you’re confident and you feel great about yourself, you’re going to look good, whatever you’re wearing. But, finding that confidence can sometimes be harder than putting on fake eyelashes!"

GetTheLook_Kim

Walter Baker Embellished Tank; All Saints Black Denim Jacket; Tripp Rocket Denim; Burberry Black Creeper Wedges; Jewelry, Kim's own.

Makeup by Ashleigh Ciucci; Hair by Bethany Brill; Styled by Melaney Oldenhof
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