MANILA, Philippines?While British soul singer Amy Winehouse is currently out of the music scene and is instead in the headlines for her destructive drug and self-harming habits, more and more female singers are surfacing, each one winning fans and possibly even stealing Amy?s supporters. Forget Lily Allen or Natasha Bedingfield, the following women would make you go ?Woah!? once you hear their fresh brand of music.

Adele

Background: This young English soul and jazz singer won the 2008 Critics? Choice award in the 2008 Brit Awards and is known for her hit song ?Chasing Pavements.?

Amy Winehouse similarity: While their voices are different, Adele does sound like Amy sometimes in certain songs. In fact, some of her songs can pass for Amy?s songs.

Listen to: Aside from ?Chasing Pavements,? her other singles ?Daydreamer? and ?Cold Shoulder? are worth listening to as well.

Duffy

Background: Duffy is a young Welsh singer gifted with a powerful voice that is perfect for the kind of music found in her album?a combination of jazzy-blues and soul.

Amy Winehouse similarity: That ?old soul? sound plus a great, unique-sounding voice.

Listen to: Her smash hit ?Mercy,? which interestingly sounds a little bit like Amy?s ?Rehab.? Her reported next single is the title track, ?Rockferry,? which is more mellow than ?Mercy? but is nevertheless great-sounding as well.

Kate Nash

Background: Kate is an English artist best known for the song ?Foundations,? which helped her win a couple of awards in this year?s Brit and NME Awards.

Amy Winehouse similarity: Nothing much, even if a lot of people are saying that she is one of the next Amy?s. Kate?s accent is so thick you can hear it even when she?s singing, and her songs are so much happier-sounding than those of Amy?s.

Listen to: Apart from her hit ?Foundations,? the fun and headbop-inducing ?Pumpkin Soup? is also a great tune from the singer.

Estelle

Background: Born and raised in West London, this 28-year-old singer/songwriter/producer/rapper is now based in New York, signed under the new label of singer John Legend. Her new album ?Shine? showcases her unique sound (a combination of hip-hop, pop, reggae and soul) and features collaborations with big names, including Wyclef Jean.

Amy Winehouse similarity: Estelle has also worked with Mark Ronson, the genius who has worked with Amy. She definitely doesn?t sound like Amy, instead reminding you more of Lauryn Hill.

Listen to: ?American Boy,? produced by will.i.am and featuring Kanye West. It?s a funky song that showcases the singer?s unique voice.

E-mail the author at ninomarksablan@yahoo.com