The wonderful and overwhelmingly widespread realm of YouTube is one of the most dearly appreciated tools of our generation. I have a clear memory of my 14-year-old self coming home from a New Year’s party and heading straight for my laptop. The break of dawn shone bright on my face, reflecting directly from my laptop screen. What a wonderful way to spend the first 6 hours of 2014.
If you don’t live under a rock, you’re probably aware of the number of musicians who have emerged from the depths and catapulted into fame after being discovered on this little website. To name a few, we have Justin Bieber, 5 Seconds of Summer, Tori Kelly, Shawn Mendes, James Bay, Alessia Cara, Charlie Puth, The Weeknd and Ed Sheeran.
Once discovered, and after putting in heaps of work to create a #boppingbop, they reach mainstream media. I’m here to shed a little light on the YouTube musicians who don’t strive to be discovered. These artists have individual trademarks, a versatile collection of goals, and endless creativity.
For your convenience, here are some of my most favorite creators:
Dodie Clark – doddleoddle
My personal favorite of all time. Dodie Clark is a singer and songwriter who has a flair for beautiful lyrics and accompanying her songs with imaginative videos. From soft covers of upbeat songs to gorgeous harmonies, Dodie Clark has the perfect vibe for 3am conversations with best friends, or when you just need something soft enough to study. Her music is available on Apple Music and Spotify.
Jon Cozart – Paint
Although he hasn’t been active in some time, Jon is one who must be included on the list. His field of expertise is writing hilarious and informative acappella (sometimes, ukulele) songs about all types of topics, from Disney princesses to the 2016 election. His music is available on Apple Music and Spotify.
Conan Gray is a beautiful little college-aged boy with acoustic takes on different songs, as well as original music scattered across his channel. His music leans towards indie-folk and indie-pop, depending on what your mood is. His music is available on Apple Music and Spotify.
If you’re for a more contemporary indie-folk sound, Rusty and his mustache are here for you. The gentlest man alive plays the guitar with so much passion you’ll not only want to hear his music, but also watch him play it. His love for songwriting is so evident and it’s heart-warming to witness. His music is available on Apple Music and Spotify.
This pink-haired sweetheart writes original music and creates her own music videos. Her music falls in that rare sweet spot between indie and pop. She has collaborated with Dodie as well as Rusty Clanton, creating the sweetest blend of sound you could ever hope to hear. Her music is available on Apple Music and Spotify.
If you’re craving upbeat jams, British YouTuber Emma Blackery has a list of pop-punk EPs that go back to 2012. Along with releasing original music, she also gained a loyal fanbase. She has also collaborated with a number of YouTubers on this list. Her music is available on Apple Music and Spotify.
With the smallest subscriber count of the artists, last but certainly not least, is Tatiana Manoais. Her beautiful vocals are a perfect soundtrack to listen to when it’s one of those good days. Good vibes guaranteed. Her music is also available on Apple Music and Spotify.
Being a creator takes an enormous amount of talent and artistic vision. Although these artists do seek higher triumphs, and strive to create EPs (Extended Play records), they don’t need the mainstream approval to keep creating. They are an entirely different brand of artists who didn’t exist 15 years ago. I encourage you to look beyond this list and try to find little special moments in music found in the most unexpected places.