Wanna spice up your Spotify playlist while you’re stuck in quarantine? Spotify, as well as SoundCloud, and even YouTube have music content creators being discovered every year. Whether someone writes their own lyrics and posts themselves singing in their bedroom or a small band films themselves in a grungy looking garage covering a well-known rock song, there are many talented artists that deserve to have their voices heard. Other than creative writing, music is also my passion. I have hundreds of playlists created on Spotify. From my Addicting Songs playlist and my Emo Vibes playlist to songs I put together for a dance party, songs to jam to while on a road trip, and songs I imagine my fictional characters to listen to, I just love music! I especially love to discover music that is not popularized by being overplayed on the radio. Listening to popular songs is entertaining, especially to stay in the loop of what is hot in pop culture and being able to break out in song along with everyone at a dance. But, nothing beats the exceptional feeling of listening to a bop that has amazing potential to be a future hit! You can be the OG follower of a small band that gets picked up by a record label and starts suddenly booming on social media. I am pretty sure the majority of us can remember when One Direction was performing on X Factor UK and they made their adorkable video diaries. Being a long time fan and following a solo performer or band from the beginning, watching their music and confidence grow over time, can be really inspiring for those who want to perform themselves and are afraid they will never have a chance to be noticed. Many famous singers were discovered on YouTube, such as Cody Simpson, Christina Grimmie, Tiffany Alvord, Megan Nicole, and Shawn Mendes, who all simply posted cover videos. Now, many of us have seen them in concert and/or heard them on the radio. So, because of the Coronavirus pandemic and dystopian apocalypse we might as well be living in, we are all stuck at home. Whether you are an introvert, like myself, who enjoys being able to stay home and work at my own pace in my own bubble, or you’re an extrovert struggling to get by without human interaction, life is scary right now for all of us and every day we are stressed out. Although there isn’t much we can do other than socializing less in person and doing our part by wearing masks out in public, we can at least try and control our stress. Listening to music or creating music are both great stress-reducing activities. Rather than listening to and doing the TikTok dance to “Say So” by Doja Cat for the millionth time, I would like to recommend some artists you may have not heard of. Two artists I have been obsessed with since I was at least 13 years old are Anna Blue and Damien Dawn. I discovered these two German emo-pop singers on YouTube when their only songs online were “So Alone” by Anna Blue and “Your Heart” by Damien Dawn. I loved their animated music videos and I was obsessed with their music. I wanted to hear more! Both music videos were posted around 2010 and there was nothing left but fanfiction from those who were curious about the characters portrayed in the videos, dying to know the backstory of these mysterious singers. Damien Dawn’s character was portrayed as a vampire who longed to be with the girl who made him feel human, a love story that can make a teen girl’s heart flutter. A few years later, more songs were uploaded and now they currently have three albums, IN2 Minds, Blind Eyed, and NINE TO NINE, and a website where they sell merchandise. If you are as fascinated with internet personalities as I am, then you’ll probably enjoy these two who can be found on YouTube, Spotify, as well as follow them on social media.
Another artist I began to listen to around the same age is Johnnie Guilbert. I started watching him on YouTube under the channel My Digital Escape when I was entering the “emo phase” in middle school, which isn’t a phase, mom! He is an alternative/indie singer who currently has some songs on Spotify, as well as music videos on YouTube. His first EP in 2015, Not so Perfect, includes some of my favorite songs such as “Not so Perfect,” “Song Without a Name,” and “Wallflower ft. Catching Your Clouds.” Sounds Like Harmony is another music performer on YouTube with similar music, who blends the genres of alternative, indie, folk, and pop music. His song, “Autumn,” is such a cute and innocent love song with a music video that looks like the animation of Adventure Time and Tim Burton combined into one. Jordan Sweeto and Social Repose are also YouTube personalities who sing alternative and indie music, originals and covers. Jordan Sweeto has some fun animated music videos. Social Repose is known as “goth moth” by his fans because of his unique headdress and wings he wears in his videos. I would also like to shine some light on some local musical artists in Indiana. One of my close friends creates music and uploads to SoundCloud under the name, Merrit. He primarily focuses on EDM music, but loves dabbling in various styles of music. I, too, am uploading music on SoundCloud and posting content under Sierrallstar. Merrit and Sierrallstar are currently working on an EP as well as the main song called, “Suffering Together.” Be on the lookout for our new song with original music and lyrics! I will most likely write another music article because not a day goes by that I don’t hum or totally break out in song, playing air instruments in my bedroom while my cat watches as my main audience. Delve deeper into the internet and give your ears something new to listen to. You might just expand your musical horizon and find your new favorite song to spiffy up your Spotify.