With Spotify Wrapped coming out last week, I found that many people were disappointed with their results. Maybe they didn’t have as many listening minutes as they thought, or their top artist was someone “basic” or someone they thought they didn’t listen to often. So, in order to freshen up a perhaps bland playlist, I’ve compiled a list of smaller artists one might enjoy if they listen to a popular creator with a similar style.
If you like Billie Eilish…
You are probably a fan of alternative music with unique beats and vocals. Eilish makes music with honest lyrics that make a person think. She tackles many relevant issues in our world and has touched the hearts of many. She has many styles of music, but I interpret much of her stuff as disturbingly beautiful. Especially if you are a big fan of her first studio album, WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?, then disturbing themes and symbolism are something you definitely enjoy.
You should try Sofia Isella
As I was scrolling through TikTok one day, I stumbled upon a woman with dirty clothes, greasy hair, and a haunting stare. She was speaking the words to her song “The Doll People,” with an eerie feeling that reminded me of Eilish’s older sound. Isella is a smaller artist, but she has been gaining larger traction recently as more people have come to realize her talent. She has poetically blunt lyrics with interesting metaphors to back them up. And along with that, her melodies have unsteady tones to them that make them oddly addicting. If Isella is not on your playlist as an avid listener to Eilish, I suggest you change that now.
If you like Phoebe Bridgers…
You definitely like music that is gut-wrenching and devastating to listen to. With soft yet powerful vocals and deeply saddening lyrics, Bridgers is perfect for night drives or a good cry session. Bridgers uses a guitar in most of her songs, with stripped-down production and raw-sounding songs. She writes about her open experiences so that people who have gone through the same thing can feel heard by listening to her music.
You should try Esha Tewari
I also discovered Tewari through TikTok when a video of her on her bedroom floor singing an original song popped up on my feed. The song was called “Beautiful Boy,” and it was her first song she ever put out. I was absolutely enamored with the honesty in her writing and how real it felt. She writes all of her own songs, about her own experiences, with her guitar and voice as the only instruments. Her music is for people who think a lot and feel everything deeply, as is Bridgers’ music. If you are looking for a substitution while waiting for new music from Bridgers, Tewari is a great pick.
If you like Fleetwood Mac…
You are a fan of soft rock and vintage-sounding music. Bands are hard to come by in the modern day, especially ones that even slightly capture the sound of Fleetwood Mac; Stevie Nicks’ voice is enchanting and unique. This band is long past the days of releasing new music, and, after a while, no matter how good the music is, it can become boring and repetitive. But, it can also be hard to get enough of the unique sound Fleetwood Mac produced. To me, they were most successful when it came to lyrics that could bring someone to tears, with heaving beats to back them up.
You should try Big Thief
Big Thief is a smaller band, with a lead singer who has a pretty successful solo career, much like Fleetwood Mac. You may have heard of Adrienne Lenker, who is the lead singer of this band. She writes beautiful lyrics and amazing music. My personal favorite by Big Thief is the song “Not.” This song has an almost desperate sound, with yearning lyrics and a long music break after the lyrics end, putting emphasis on the hopelessness the song portrays. But not all the songs sound the same; they vary sonically. This is one thing they share in common with Fleetwood Mac. The variety of their discography ensures you’re never bored.
Instead of listening to the same songs from the same artists, branching out is a strong option. These small artists will broaden your horizons of music and push you out of your comfort zone to discover more of what you like.
