Elli-torial: 5 Alternative Artist Worth Finding

Working at an alternative rock station, you get introduced to a plethora of new sounds. Whether it be songs from the punk years of the 80s, the 90s grunge, the early emo 2000s, to today’s hybrid of the indie alternative style. With new ways for bands and artists to stand out and be easier accepted, I think that today’s alternative rock scene is in an intriguing position. So what I will be discussing today are five artists that I feel are worth looking into.

Here are the five artists/bands in the alternative music sphere that I think you need to check out and add to your on-loop playlist! These artists are perfect for the hot lake-side days and late summer nights from summer vibes to that classic late-night drive in your feels!

I am going to put these artists in order not from which I think is the best, but at which point in the day these artists hit at their peak impact.

Early morning-Noon:

  1.  Surfaces: A newer group on the scene, Surfaces consists of the Forrest Frank and siblings Colin and Alexa Padalecki. Though many would and can argue that they are more of a pop sound, the boys from Texas bring a fusion of many other genres of music that I feel can fit under the alternative or with their use of hip hop and reggae mixes. Surfaces are a band to ease you into your day with a wave of positivity, a feeling that can get lost in the fast-paced “Oh sh*t I overslept, snoozed 4 alarms” mornings a lot of us so often face. If I had to describe them in five words or less it’d be “Easing Into Your Saturday Vibes.” Funky, something you’re smiling to. Boom gave you another one just like that.

Songs I recommendLoving, Come With Me, Come Around, 24/ 7/ 365, Dancing With Nobody, Sunday Best, Someday.

 

Midday-Afternoon:

2. Goth Babe: Have you always wanted to be in an indie film about traveling and self-discovery? Goth Babe has you covered in and then some. Griff Washburn is the musician and does most of his work on the road as he’s all about that #vanlife. As you listen you get a sense of freedom all while you feel you are just scratching the surface of something far more impactful. An electric indie style that is perfect for those road trips, whether it’s hiking through luscious greenery to parking alongside a random beach to get dip your toes in the ocean. For my five words to describe them? It would be “Longing for the next adventure.”

Songs I recommendMoments/Tides, Her Vacation, Driving South, End Summer, Sometimes, Weekend Friend, Casita, Taking Over The Sun.

 

Afternoon-Late Afternoon (Working our way to the sunset.)

3. Petite League: It’s about 4:30 pm-5:30 pm, you gotta decide if it’s too early to get the night started or not and you don’t know if you should take the plunge. In comes Petite League ready to kick in the door with what I’m coining as “Skateboarding Rock.” This is the music I imagine played when you use to watch the old skateboarding tapes you could watch inside SBI back in the day. Think the sound of the old Tony Hawk Pro Skater games. Based out of New York, Lorenzo Cook with friend and drummer Henry Schoonmaker started Petite League back in 2014 with their first demo and since then have 5 albums with Joyrider being the most recent. For my five words or less test: “Get the wheels rolling.”

Songs I recommendMoon Dogs, New York Girls, St. Michael, Bad For Fun, Shin Bruise, Floating Blue,  Raspberry Seeds, Naked, Greyhound, Annie, and Not Always Happy.

These next two are honestly a toss-up, as I feel they both hit best either while the sun is setting or late at night. So instead, I will be breaking these two up into different scenarios… at night.

Night Walks: Times you just need out of the house and time to yourself, A place and time of reflection and decompression.

4. Cuco: I’ll start with this. WE NEED MORE BILINGUAL SINGERS AND SONGS. Cuco, aka Omar Banos, is a Mexican American singer and producer out of Southern California. At 23 years old he has already gained a ton of viral fame and dropped his first album Para Mi back in 2019. What makes Cuco so impressive is how he can switch from English to Spanish while it flows rhythmically in sync. They say that Spanish is the language of passion and Cuco has that and then some. Though his lyrics are on the sadder side, the lo-fi type beats are a perfect pairing. I was lucky enough to stumble upon him at this year’s Coachella Music Festival and I was astounded at how his sound gripped me from the start of his set to the end. Not to toot his own horn, but he also plays a lot of the instruments himself, horn included. Incredibly talented and has nowhere to go but up, his upcoming second album Fantasy Gateway drops July 22. As for my five words or less, “Optimistic, uncertain, naive, and love.” We’ve all felt this way whether it’s about relationships, our futures, or our own mental health. Cuco has found that essence in a bilingual fusion.

Songs I RecommendAmor De Siempre, Bossa No Se, Lover is a Day, Feelings, Dontmakemefallinlove, Caution, One and Only, Time Machine, Lo Que Siento.

Late Night Drive: Similar in the sense that you just need out of the house, but different because of where the road can take you.

  1. The Midnight: It’s only fitting that the clock strikes midnight on this blog. For everyone who misses that 80s synth wave, The Midnight has you covered. Tyler Lyle and singer Tim McEwan met at a writers workshop in 2012 and the rest is history. Though to some they are considered an edm group, and though they use a heavy amount of synth, I don’t quite feel they fall into that genre. What I feel sets them apart is their use of instruments, especially the use of the saxophone. Though it says that their saxophonist is Jesse Molloy, I’m giving the credit to the saxophonist they’re touring with and that is Justin Klunk. Justin’s ability to ensnare you with every rip of the sax with the synth music behind it can leave you mesmerized. If you don’t believe me check out his Instagram or any of their videos on YouTube, the dude RIPS. From sad and in your feels, to ready to rev up your night, the weekend perfectly balances the two. You feel as if you’re the protagonist in an 80s flick, unsure of your untapped potential but sure you’re meant for me. If you put this on the aux cord you’re gonna find yourself driving through a neon-covered night. To give them a five-word or less description, it’d be “Night Drive Under Neon Skylines.” Their newest album Heroes has also been announced to release on September 9th with a tour along the way, and yes I’ve got my ticket.

Songs I RecommendVampires, Jason, River of Darkness, Sunset, Change Your Heart or Die, Crystalline, Monsters, Dance With Somebody, Deep Blue, Good in Red, Los Angeles, Shadows.

 

Though these are the five artists I think you should check out there are a few honorable mentions. I will be just dropping names because they may make another list later on.

Honorable Mentions: Artists that are probably better known but should get a little more attention than they do.

Bad Suns, Joji, Easy Life, Courtship, Hollow Coves, Still Woozy, Bakar, Far Caspian, and Coheed and Cambria.