Music these days has such a bigger outreach than it used to. With platforms like Youtube, SoundCloud and Spotify, it’s no longer as much of a hassle to get your work out there. Due to this, the pool of artists grows and many get lost at the bottom of the search results. Whether that’s due to a lack of advertising or social recognition, it does not take away from the fact that there is talent out there that you have probably not even bothered to scroll down enough to find. Today, I’d like to take the time to spotlight 10 underrated artists that I personally love and hopefully you will too!
EthanUno is a new face in the hyperpop and hip-hop genre, with his first single releasing only this year titled “Drop That.” Ethan has released a multitude of singles already and a collaborative album with producer Kimj called “Mexikoreano.” Ethan often mixes latin classics with the bubbliness of hyperpop to create a unique and feel good style with a hint of nostalgia that you just can’t help but bob your head to. My personal favorite song of his is “c u girl.”
Will Wood is by no means unknown, having been in the music business since 2015. However, he is not a household name, and yet his music has circled around the internet for a while. With hits like “ I/ Me/ Myself” having blown up on TikTok within the queer community in 2020 and a snippet of “Against the Kitchen Floor” having appeared in a popular video of a dancing John from Garfield that got over a million views, it shocks me that people have not yet picked up his other music. Wood’s music feels autobiographical, with lots of his songs delving into his possible personal life.
BRONZE AVERY is someone I came across fairly recently, and I’ve been especially hooked on his song “Scan and Copy” ever since. The song has a sensual sort of pop feel, and you can feel the influence with the use of Brittney Spears being sampled in the background. Avery’s musical talent has stretched from reggeatón to hip hop, house and pop, every new song bringing something newly unique to Avery’s style.
Postcard Boy has probably been one of my favorite artists since 2020, with my favorite among his music being under his surname “carwash.” His music literally feels like if summer itself was a genre. Postcard Boy/Carwash makes alternative/indie music that has this muffled lofi feel to them and lets the instrumental shine while still sounding…right? His style just itches something in my brain, with some of my favorite songs of his being “Company,” “striptease,” “supermarket,” “friendship” and “boyfriend, girlfriend.”
Panchiko. Oh my god, Panchiko. The lore behind this band is insane. From a group of highschoolers recording in their house starting in 1997 to falling off the map with the only remains of their music being a cd found in a thrift store, Panchiko was a mystery until the internet around 2016 decided they needed to know who was behind it. Panchiko eventually returned after a fan found one of the band members on Facebook and the band eventually re-released their first and only album titled “Deathmetal” in 2020. Their music has that lofi/alternative feel, with choppy samples and raw vocals, their music has this very solemn and yet nostalgic feel that just transports you into another world. I personally recommend the songs “Deathmetal,” “The Eyes of Ibad” and “CUT.”
By no means is Buck-Tick underrated in Japan, but I wanted to give them some love as they’re not as well known in the western hemisphere. Buck-Tick is a Japanese goth rock band and one of my favorite goth bands of all time (sorry Cure). Having formed in 1983, the band’s music is heavily reflective of the rock scene at the time, and is still a joy to listen to today. Hits you may have heard throughout the internet if you’re into the goth genre or visual kei are “Dress” and “Just One More Kiss.” Buck-Tick is a total classic, and even if goth rock isn’t necessarily your thing, I still heavily recommend it as the band was sort of my gateway into the genre itself.
If you ever want to just dance, Jay Safari will have you on your feet immediately with songs like “Dance” and “Too Hot.” His vocals are beautiful and you can definitely hear the 2000’s R&B influences within a lot of his music. I remember I could not stop playing his song “Dance,” and I think it was one of my top listened songs of 2022 on spotify. Definitely give him a listen, his music is incredibly catchy and will have you HOOKED.
For anyone who loves Mitski, Fleetwood Mac or Hemlock Springs, I’ve gotta recommend Sarah Kinsley. With a background in classical music from her childhood and a reputation for the emotional nature of her performances, her talent shines through with the beautiful classical melodies mixed with modern pop beats, along with her obvious vocal talent in the music she has been making in her recent career. I had actually first encountered her music through my Spotify recommended, and I remember just replaying her song “Oh No Darling!” while working on a personal piece of my own. I don’t know what it is about sad songs, but they really fuel that creative energy when you’re stuck in an art block.
Mild High Club. Despite what the title may suggest I promise it is nothing like that. This band is definitely one of my favorites to date, having made one of my favorite albums to date: “Skiptracing.” The band makes what Wikipedia likes to call “psychedelic pop” and has been active since 2013, with their most recent album having been released in 2022. I started listening to them roughly around 2018-2019 and would always listen to “Homage” on rainy days, like any depressed pre teen would. Although I’m older and roughly past my edgy pre teen days I still find myself shuffling through “Skiptracing” when on walks or just doing homework, as it now provides a much more relaxing sort of ambiance.
To conclude this list I’d like to recommend probably one of my favorite upcoming artists whose music feels like running along the clouds: Hemlock Springs. You’ve probably heard her song “girlfriend” on tiktok, y’know, the one with the chorus that goes like: “2,3,4 Secretly I’m aiming for a rhythm that exceeds my expectations! (am I ever gonna get it?).” Yeah, that one. I’m literally in love with every one of her songs and I promise you will be too. It has this mix of 80’s and 2010’s vibe that just goes together almost too well and creates this sort of magical feeling with every one of her songs. My personal favorite of her songs is “enknee1,” which I definitely haven’t cried to.
That concludes the list of underrated artists that you have yet to stream. The music industry is highly competitive and with as much accessibility there is now to release music independently, sometimes the most talented end up buried under the rubble, so it’s incredibly important to support and uplift new artists in a world in which art is often underfunded and undervalued.
