Beyond the stream count
At last week's “ Stater ” meeting I pitched a review of an album that was about to come out thinking it would be good (it wasn't ) and one of my editors jokingly asked how many monthly listeners the artist had. I admit a lot of the music I like to write about is not exactly topping the charts, so it made me want to highlight several different artists of different sizes that I think anyone can enjoy.
Carly Rae Jepson – 17.3M monthly listeners
It’s a bit of a running joke at this point in music nerd spaces that everyone who loves weird experimental music also loves Carly Rae Jepson and I am doing absolutely nothing to change that stereotype.
If you're only familiar with her music from her 2012 hit “Call Me Maybe,” I highly encourage you to listen to some of her other work. It is some of the most fun, primally compelling music I have ever heard. It's like looking at a sunset, it is just beautiful, on the most base, instinctual level, it makes you feel good in your brain. No deeper connection needed.
Listen to: “Run Away With Me” and “Emotion”
Janet Jackson – 7.4M monthly listeners
Janet Jackson is an artist that I find myself consistently returning to every fall. Her music is lush, beautiful and the perfect accompaniment for the slight chill of the season. However, the thing that has kept me coming back to her music year after year is her ear for melody. Janet Jackson writes songs that one day get stuck in your head even though you haven't heard them in years. Songs with rhythmically intricate production, some of the most gorgeous vocal performances of all time and just the right amount of freaky to catch your ear and never let go.
Listen to: “You” and “Any time, Any Place”
Bright Eyes – 1.3M monthly listeners
Over time I have left behind a lot of the “Sad Guy with Acoustic Guitar” music that I used to really enjoy. However, one of the artists that can be lumped into that group that I find myself returning to consistently is Connor Oberst and his band Bright Eyes. I can safely say that I think Oberst is one of the greatest songwriters of all time. His songs are not high-concept and are usually pretty simple in terms of subject matter. However, through his specific wording, he is able to put into song the nuances of certain emotions in a way that few others can and deliver some of the most emotionally poignant prose of any songwriter I’ve ever heard.
Listen to: “First Day of My Life” and “Poison Oak”
Friko – 36K monthly listeners
If I had to put money on a musician or band's success in the coming years, it would probably be Friko . They have everything an indie band needs to be successful , emotional song writing, catchy choruses and lead singer with a slightly whiney voice. Their sound is a charcuterie board of indie music with bits of chamber pop, shoegaze and slacker rock that all blend together perfectly. They are also by far the most accessible band in the wave of chamber rock following the success of Black Country, New Road. For anyone interested in the future of indie rock, keep an eye on Friko .
Dealers of God - 2.5k Monthly listeners
“EMOTIONALLY MANIPUALTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH CRIME #THANKYOUDEALERSGANG”.
This is the Spotify bio for Australian cloud rap / hypnogogic pop group, Dealers of God and does a better job than most bios at letting you know what kind of music you are about to listen to.
The musical equivalent of shitposting, Dealer’s music is wildly unserious and often laugh out loud funny. However, the actual music at the core of everything is very good.
Their heavy use of samples, atmospheric synths and hypnotic drum loops result in music that makes you feel like you are peering through a thick cloud of weed smoke at a TV that switches YouTube videos every time you start to figure out what the hell it is you are looking at. Through the music creation philosophy of “release anything you had fun making” Dealers of God deliver a hazy look into another world; a world full of ketamine, aliens and the floating heads of Allan Rickman and Adam Driver. #TYDG
Listen to: “Tingo” and “The Green Ketamine”
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