While Nicki Minaj and Adele are great, sometimes it’s nice to branch out from Top 40 hits. That doesn’t mean you have to listen to music you hate, though! We’ve pooled together some of our favorite under-the-radar pop and alternative artists, so give them a listen—this could be the making of a whole new playlist!
Marina and the Diamonds
Despite the misleading name, this act is a one-woman show: the name is a play on singer Marina Diamandis’s name. Diamandis’s pop beats are infectious, and her lyrics are full of Lily Allen-esque zingers. She’s been featured in Nylon, Marie Claire and Teen Vogue, and she also did a style series for Vogue UK. For an introduction to Diamandis’s music, start with “Oh, No!”—it’s fun and poignant, and the video is full of bright colors and Batman-inspired pop-up exclamations. Her first album, The Family Jewels, is currently available on iTunes, and her second album will be released in the U.S. later this year.
Passion Pit
You may have heard Passion Pit’s first single, “I’ve Got Your Number,”when the band debuted its first EP back in 2007, and dismissed it as generic techno. But if you heard their song “Moth’s Wings” in the “Gossip Girl” season three premiere, you’ll know they can produce pop beats too. Their second album, Manners, develops the beats and lyrics they created with their first EP, and they’ve blown up on the electro-pop scene, playing packed shows and landing spots on various soundtracks. What was started as a gift from lead singer Michael Angelakos to his girlfriend has become an international pop sensation. A good introduction to Passion Pit is “Make Light” because it’s upbeat and fun. Once you’ve heard some of their more beat-driven stuff, you’ll have deeper cuts like “Seaweed Song” on repeat for weeks.
Matt and Kim
This duo isn’t totally obscure, but they produce ridiculously awesome albums. They turn traditional gender roles upside down, with Kim Schifino on drums and Matt Johnson on the main vocals and the keyboard. Matt and Kim are sort of a pop-inclined alternative band – their lyrics are snappy and the chords will be stuck in your head for hours, but in a good way. If you’ve heard any of their songs (and not realized it was them), it was probably either “Daylight” or “Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare” off of their second album, Grand. Last November, they released their third album, Sidewalks, which is arguably their best album yet. The sound is more refined than Grand, so if you don’t know these two songs, “Block after Block” and “AM/FM Sound” are great places to start, because they’re memorable without being overwhelming.
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Mika
The editors at Seventeen and Teen Vogue consistently rave about his work, and he’s been featured in Cosmopolitan, too. It’s impossible not to smile while listening to any of his songs, whether it’s because of how insanely good his singing is or how funny his lyrics are. His first album, Life in Cartoon Motion, is whimsical and lighthearted, but on his second album, The Boy Who Knew Too Much, he deals with more serious issues of divorce and homophobia. “Love Today” is a great start, and “Any Other World” is great once you appreciate his talent.
Ra Ra Riot
How many indie bands do you know that have members who play the violin and the cello? Ra Ra Riot has been featured in Nylon and Spin, and has released two albums to date. For an introduction to their style, listen to “Can You Tell” and “Too Dramatic”. You’ll fall in love with Wes Miles’s voice, Alexandra Lawn’s sheer adorableness, and Matthieu Santos’s amazing bass skills (which have led him to a solo career in addition to his work with the band). If you really want to branch out, Passion Pit did a great remix of “Ghost Under Rocks,” so check that out as well.
School of Seven Bells
If you’re someone who listens to soothing music while studying, this is the band for you. Their alternative tracks will help you focus and keep you awake on late nights. They’ve been featured in Nylon, and their second album, Disconnect from Desire, received great reviews from Rolling Stone, New York magazine and Spin, and we can tell you from experience that they put on a great show. For a first listen, try “Windstorm.”
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The Virgins
They were featured in the “Gossip Girl” season one soundtrack, Nylon raves about them, Topshop plays them, and they’ve appeared in the soundtrack to a Zac Efron movie as well as being featured on “The Hills.” So why aren’t you listening to them yet? “One Week of Danger”, their first single, is perfect to play at a party and will give you a sense of what their music sounds like.
The Boxer Rebellion
This band was featured in a side plot of the Drew Barrymore movie “Going the Distance” (a hilarious film if you haven’t seen it – Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis co-star and are as funny as they were in “Horrible Bosses”). They’ve got tons of talent and have already released three albums, so if you haven’t heard of them yet, you probably will soon! “Spitting Fire” is one of the tracks featured in the movie and a great introduction to the band.
Cut Copy
If you love ‘80s music, this electronic-alternative band is for you. Their concerts will make you forget what decade you’re in – the best comparison of their sound is to Depeche Mode (the band that brought you “Just Can’t Get Enough”). Their lead singer, Dan Whitford, is also extremely hot, which is a great bonus! “Lights and Music” is undeniably catchy and will make you want to hear more of their music if you’re not familiar with them already.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
You’ve heard their song “Janglin’” in commercials for the Ford Fiesta and probably a few coffee shops, but we’re guessing this indie group won’t be under the radar for long. Their song “Carries On” will be featured on the soundtrack to the upcoming Joseph Gordon-Levitt movie “50/50,” and they’ve also been on the soundtracks of “Ugly Betty” and “Breaking Bad.” A good introduction to this band is “Home” because you may have heard it before and not known it was them, and it’s got a cute message. And if you caught SNL a few weeks ago, she was the musical guest on Jason Segal’s episode!
Have you all heard of these bands, or have you discovered your new favorite band after reading this article? What are your favorite under-the-radar artists? Leave your comments below!