Welcome to “Underrated Artists,” an entertainment column from the St. Louis Park Echo covering unpopular and unknown artists. Every week, a different Echo staffer takes on the role of writer, reviewing single releases and albums from four underrated artists.
Since his debut in 2022, Malcolm Todd has been a rising gem in the indie scene. As a musician and lyricist, Todd has showcased his talents through his multiple EPs and freshly debuted album, “Sweet Boy.” I thoroughly enjoyed the album because his relaxed delivery brings an infectious energy to otherwise vulnerable lyrics. The acoustic guitar loops and catchy melodies became a signature in this record, and I especially liked them in the songs “4Me 4Me,” “Sweet Boy” and “Ladygirl.” I didn’t dislike one track on the 16-song record, which shows how much he’s been having fun and developing his craft in the studio. Since this recent album nearly tripled his monthly listening on Spotify (and rightfully so), I wonder if Todd will be ‘underrated’ for much longer.
Dev Hynes, commonly known as Blood Orange, has been in the music industry for nearly 15 years. In that 15-year discography, he’s produced some relatively successful hits, like “Champagne Coast,” “I Wanna C U,” and “You’re Not Good Enough.” One thing in common between these songs is their unique sound; a Blood Orange song can only be a Blood Orange song and no one else’s. His music blends Indie Pop, R&B, Electronic and Funk almost harmoniously; creations from these genre fusions can now be recognized as Hynes’ sound. One of the reasons I like Hynes so much is because he’s able to embed complicated social issues into his groovy music, like with “Charcoal Baby,” where he explores the many types of black depression that he’s experienced. Hynes’ music has also appeared in media you might have already seen: His song “Uncle ACE” played during an intense scene in the recent film “Challengers,” and Hynes himself scored and produced music in Gia Coppola’s 2014 film “Palo Alto.” Because of his versatility as a singer-songwriter, producer, and film composer, Blood Orange’s music remains wildly underrated today in the music industry.
Samia Najimy Finnerty, lead singer of the band Samia, is no stranger to the entertainment industry. As daughter of actress Kathy Najimy, it’s no surprise that she has an artistic, musical streak. Samia is one of my favorite indie bands because of their lyrics — they capture the experiences of young adulthood so poetically yet subtly. Their debut album, “The Baby,” is one of my favorite indie albums. It has upbeat and hopeful tracks like “Big Wheel” and “Triptych,” but also heart-wrenching and deeply vulnerable ones like “Pool” and “Does Not Heal.” Samia sticks to a typical sunny indie rock sound — one you can picture yourself driving around in the summer listening to. Finnerty’s voice, smooth and precise like melted caramel, truly sets them apart. I believe the wide range she has in her voice allows for a large number of feelings to be addressed in their music: anger, sadness, optimism, or even sarcasm. Indie fans will love Samia due to their remarkable instrumentals and killer lead vocals.
Lastly, Etta Marcus is one of the most exciting up-and-coming indie artists right now. I discovered her through TikTok in 2021, where she made a video promoting her first-ever single, “Hide and Seek.” I was lucky to be able to see that video on my For You Page because she quickly became one of my favorite artists. Her exploration of different sounds in her following EPs, “View from the Bridge” and “Heart-Shaped Bruise,” resonated deeply with me. Her deeply emotional piano ballads like “View from the Bridge” and darker indie rock sounds like “Provider” showcase her versatility. Her deep, sultry voice paired beautifully with Matt Malteses in their collaboration, “Salt Lake City.” With each new song Marcus puts out, I can hear her sound maturing and coming into its own. I love her vibe and think it’s only upwards from here for her — I can see her becoming much more popular in the coming years.
