Underrated Music

BY SAMUEL LIU  '23

Tired of mainstream music or trying to diversify your playlist? Discovering new music can do it all while also supporting smaller creators. Plenty of undiscovered music exists behind the wall of industry giants like Kanye West and Taylor Swift, so here are a few of my favorite “underground” artists and songs.

“Snorkels” - Bachyard Ghost.
With only 10,000 plays on Spotify, “Snorkels’’ is a hidden gem. This laid-back tune is perfect for doing homework or lounging around in bed and can only be described as a ~vibe~.

“Lonely” - Sugarcat.
Combining English and Mandarin lyrics, Sugarcat emphasizes the idea of “East-meets-West.” Even if you can’t understand the lyrics, listening to foreign languages can boost productivity since you won’t be singing along!

“Take Me With You” - Wingtip. 
Although this song has more than three million plays, it has yet to join the pool of classic beach songs. You can’t help but nod your head to this song. 

“Pool” - Dizzy Spells. 
As the name suggests, “Pool” is a great song to play as you swim or relax. With less than 10,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Dizzy Spells is among the most underrated artists who creates music deserving millions of views.

“Hideaway” - Surfaces. 
This is a great song for when you’re missing summer in the dreary winter months. The soft instrumental music behind a soothing voice makes this song the perfect addition to a chill playlist.

Kid Quill: hip-hop/rap. 
With less than one-million monthly listeners, Mitchell “Kid Quill” Brown releases music that is almost always deserving of one’s playlist. Before he pursued music as a career, Kid Quill used to play soccer at the collegiate level and even went to Nationals twice. Rather than stretch himself thin, Kid Quill decided to prioritize school and music over soccer and consequently left his team. Some of his best songs include “90s Kids,” “Small Talk,” and “A Song to Sing.”

Blanks: indie/pop. 
Creating under the name “Blanks,” Simon de Wit is a twenty-four-year-old musician from the Netherlands. His popularity spiked after his remix of “Mine” by Bazzi went viral in 2018. His original song “Higher” is a great bop to play in the car.

Below is a Spotify Code to a playlist with all of the music mentioned above. This is a great way to support small creators while discovering new music. Instead of only waiting for Kanye’s new album, add some variety to your playlists.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1lTzjoJvMAYo8N0DSm9kWh?si=2b7cc90076be42db&nd=1