There is a stigma surrounding small artists on social media that has made the internet an almost negligible factor when it comes to promoting lesser-known music. Listening to a small artist is now seen as “trying to be different” rather than having an original music taste. People are not expanding their music taste and are missing out on new music and artists they could potentially enjoy due to the unfair treatment of these lesser-known artists. Popular music is popular because it’s enjoyable. However, there are small artists with similar sounds to the icons that the casual listener might not give a chance to. Below is a compiled list of popular genres, albums, and artists with less acclaimed but equally talented comparisons in hopes of introducing you to new music.
Starting with Pop: If you’re a fan of The Weeknd, Bruno Mars, or Steve Lacy, you might like Portraits of Tracy. Portraits of Tracy is a young experimental pop artist from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Inspired by the counterculture of the 1990s and 2000s, she decided to teach herself how to produce music. She is beginning to reshape the pop scene with her experimental sound and her meaningful lyrics. Concept album-lovers will enjoy her 2023 album Drive Home, where she mixes her unique sound with her powerful lyrics of the struggles of growing up in Baton Rouge as a black member of the LGBTQ+ community. Fans of The Weeknd and Beach House will enjoy her single titled “The Party”, as it samples The Weeknd’s “The Party and The After Party,” which originally sampled “Master of None” by Beach House. “The Party” is a more pop-like twist on The Weeknd’s song off of House of Balloons, and could be a hit to fans of experimental pop.
Similarly, fans of indie music like Arctic Monkeys or Tame Impala should give Housing Co. a listen. Housing Co. is a band from Maryland, and are by far the smallest creators I’ll detail in this article, with only around 10,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Their music produces a nostalgic feeling similar to Coldplay and their lyrics detail the relatable themes of the trials and tribulations of love and heartbreak. Their 2023 album One More Day is filled with the feeling of nostalgia and heart of a small band who plays for passion over money. The lead singer of the band, Trey Niccolini, has confirmed the release of their next album, titled Homecoming, to be releasing some time in the near future. Housing Co. is a must-listen for all fans of the indie genre.
Next, Country and Folk: Fans of Zach Bryan or Noah Kahan may enjoy Nick Drake. Nick Drake was born in 1948 in Yangon, Myanmar. His soft acoustic style and weighty wording is sure to be enjoyed by fans of Zach Bryan’s 2022 album American Heartbreak, which follows similar themes. Drake’s reluctance to perform live led to a lack of popularity during his short lifetime, and became more popular after his passing in 1974 and the crossing of the millenia, as even today he has a decent-sized fanbase. He released a handful of soul-touching albums during his short recording career that are sure to speak to the hearts of fans of the folk genre. An excerpt of Drake’s Spotify description reads, “In the manner of the young Romantic poets of the 19th century who died before their time, Drake is revered by many listeners today, with a following that spans generations.”
Finally, rap. Fans of Tyler, the Creator, Childish Gambino, Joey Bada$$, and MF DOOM should without a doubt check out Lexa Gates, one of my personal favorite artists. Gates is a 23-year-old jazz-rap artist from Queens, New York who has recently garnered a lot of attention for her viral publicity stunt marketing strategy: sitting in a glass box in Union Square, Brooklyn for ten hours to promote her outstanding new album titled Elite Vessel. Gates has been releasing music since 2020, and has already tallied up five albums and one EP in this time period, all of which are of high quality. She keeps most of her songs relatively short and has something for all moods. Her New York accent pairs nicely with her unique beats to create a sound that cannot be replicated by most. Gates isn’t one to miss, as her music is on par with or exceeds most of the big names in the music industry right now.
As previously stated, we hope our list of small creators and comparisons helps you find a new sound or artist to enjoy. The bullying, for lack of a better term, of small artists on the internet can fog the view of the talent that these artists have to show. Ignoring the noise and having a listen can help clear the view and broaden your taste.
