We all flip through the radio stations, looking for something new after hearing all the same artists and tunes on the dial. You might be bored with your Spotify playlist and are looking for something different. 

Good news! Here are some of my favorite, lesser-known music artists who have released a few songs to cure your boredom.

Olivia Dean

The English 22 year-old has gathered an eclectic mix of R&B and emotional lyrics, earning herself the Amazon Music 2021 Breakthrough Artist award. Her heartfelt and genuine EP, “Growth”, came out earlier this year, starring her single, ‘Be My Own Boyfriend’ echoing self-love and independence.  

Deans 2020 single, ‘The Hardest Part’, has gained the most traction with over 10 million streams on Spotify since her 2018 debut.

Dean has yet to put out a full album, only releasing EP’s, singles, and only female-directed music videos. Fans excitedly await for more content from the east Londoner. 

Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/artist/00x1fYSGhdqScXBRpSj3DW?si=8_KyY9qiSyy7yNOj-4qfFA

The Band CAMINO 

This All-American pop-rock band mixes an alternative and electro-pop sound to form their newest self-titled album. 

CAMINO’s Jeffery Jordan, Spencer Stewart, and Garrison Burgess started out in 2016, putting out ‘Daphne Blue’, an alternative, dance-around-your-room, rock ‘n roll mashup, as their first single.  

After parting ways with Graham Rowell, CAMINO’s bassist, in 2020, the band released their 2021 album with hit tracks, ‘Roses’, ‘1 Last Cigarette’, and ‘Underneath My Skin’. These heart-wrenching and punk lyrics are backed by beating drums and electric guitar riffs to keep you jamming. 

Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6d4jrmreCmsenscuieJERc?si=YXEkvNCpT5uLYkCM9e39UQ

joan 

The Arkansas duo, Alan Thomas and Steven Rutherford, have created a nostalgic mix of 80’s synth-rhythm and pop to form their newest 2021 EP, “so done (bye)”. 

Although joan has yet to release a full album, fans have been overloaded with singles and EP’s since 2017 with their track, ‘love somebody like you’. 

Joan’s sound of love songs and alternative beats have captivated listeners worldwide, leading them to interviews with People magazine and Ones to Watch. 

Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3HXLY1sNXIxHfulrjPiRf5?si=svKdcwQuQrWVfAf6aE2bRQ

Almost Monday 

Based in Southern California and mixed in Brooklyn, the trio emerged from last year with 30 million streams on their indie-pop and dynamic EP’s and singles.

Almost Monday’s Dawson Daugherty, Luke Fabry, and Cole Clisby’s 2020 track, ‘broken people’, has surpassed 8 million streams on Spotify. The band has performed at the Bonnaroo, Firefly, BottleRock, and Lollapalooza music festivals, gaining traction despite their lack of full albums.  

GQ Australia named them in “21 Breakout Musicians to Know in 2021” and Forbes recognized their singles ‘til the end of time’ and ‘live forever’ in a spotlight interview. 

Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/artist/42FzVuyJH8YbkhzWSR2n8E?si=4xI6lzXXTyKn60YaUNyx5g

Don’t drive in silence! Plug in your phone and sing your heart out to these up-and-coming artists.