There’s always time to discover new music. Listening to the same artists repeatedly can become boring. It’s also fun to find new music, especially when the artists or bands are underground. Here are some of my favorite artists and bands who I believe deserve some hype.
The first band is Thee Sacred Souls. This R&B/Soul band started in 2019, releasing their first single, “Can I Call You Rose” in 2020. Thee Sacred Souls have 2.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify with their first single being their most streamed song. What I enjoy about this band is the music, which is just so soothing. I can listen to any of their songs at any time. What immediately attracted me to this band was the neo-soul energy. When listening to their songs, I felt as if I was listening to a band from the 60s. The lead singer, Josh Lane, has such a captivating and calming voice. Whenever I listen to this band, I feel at peace. My favorite song of theirs is “Running Away.” The song has such a catchy beat while still keeping its soulful touch. The lyrics tell a story about a man who has commitment issues when it comes to relationships. The song starts off with “He’s used to getting hurt by all the girls. They try his world for just a season. And now he’s got a good girl (good girl). And she wants to stay. Ooh, but he’s gotta go for his own reasons.” Hence the name, “Running Away.” If you enjoy artists like Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill, you’ll definitely enjoy Thee Sacred Souls.
The second artist is Wesley Joseph. He is UK based and composes R&B/Hip-Hop music. Wesley Joseph released his first single, “Imaginary Friends,” in 2020. Joseph has 1.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify with the song “The Bloom” being his most streamed song. Words can’t even describe how I feel when I listen to Joseph’s songs. My love for his music runs deep. The vocal layering mixed with beautifully produced music have me yearning for more. Something that stuck out to me in each song was that they sound almost futuristic. He incorporates singing and rapping into all of his songs, showing two sides of himself. What I enjoy most about Joseph’s music is the lyricism. Specifically my favorite song of his, “MONSOON.” In the song, Joseph is talking about the feeling of hitting barriers, but you keep pushing, even if it seems like you’re at a point of no return. If you enjoy artists like Little Simz and Denzel Curry, you’ll enjoy Wesley Joseph.
The third artist is Sudan Archives. Sudan Archives, born Brittney Parks, debuted with her first EP being self-titled. Sudan Archives has 867.7K monthly listeners on Spotify. Her most streamed song is “Come Meh Way.” Sudan Archives consists of songs that fall into the genre of Soul and R&B. What makes Sudan Archives unique is that she incorporates her violinist skills into each and every one of her songs, making me love her even more. My favorite song from Sudan Archives is “Selfish Soul.” This song introduced me to the artist, and it’s about a black woman finding beauty within herself that’s more than just her hair. If you enjoy artists like Solange and Kali Uchis, you’ll enjoy Sudan Archive.
The fourth and last artist is Matt Martians. Also known as a producer and being in the band, The Internet, Matt Martians debuted as a solo artist in 2017 with the single “Diamond in da Ruff.” Matt Martians has 267.8K monthly listeners on Spotify. His most streamed song is “2Gether (Enterlude)” on Steve Lacy’s album, “Gemini Rights.” What I enjoy about Matt Martians is the music he produces on every song. While he doesn’t have a lot of solo music released, you can see his talent in the songs he produces. They all have a playful and enjoyable vibe that makes it fun. My favorite song by Matt Martians is his song “Pony Fly” with Steve Lacy. The bouncy beat mixed with the enchanting voice from both Martians and Lacy have me in a trance. If you enjoy Steve Lacy and Ravyn Lenae, you’ll enjoy Matt Martians.
All of these musicians have created some of my favorite and most cherished songs. One thing they all have in common is producing music in the R&B genre. I hope that you can enjoy some of their underrated music as well.
