Known Unknowns #2 - August 2024

It's the monthly playlist that you helped create! Tell me about your favorite new artists that nobody else has heard of, then come back next month to hear everyone's picks & keep the cycle going.

Many of you have asked me what the best way is to discover new music, and I made you a handy guide. But my absolute favorite method is also the simplest: talk to your friends.

So let’s make it a routine, and let’s make it official.

The second Monday of every month (that’s today!) I’ll ask you to tell me about your favorite new artists (say, within the last three years?) that practically nobody else has heard of. I’m talking about the most underrated of the underrated: fewer than 5,000¹ monthly listeners on Spotify at the absolute most, and ideally under 1,000.

Perhaps it’s…

• Your favorite local band.

• A totally random TikTok find.

• Something that popped up on Spotify after you finished listening to the last album you put on.

• Hell, even your band. Even if you’ve submitted your music to me before.

I’m happy to report that when I first launched this discussion, you guys had so many bands to recommend that was able to fill up two entire playlists. And if you remember, I only shared one so far, full of power pop, egg punk, and heartland rock.

Vol. 2 is a little moodier and (mostly) synthier. I can’t always promise themed playlists (that’s up to your submissions!), but I’m loving the trajectory so far.

As usual, I’ll walk you through a few of my favorites below before sharing the entire playlist.

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1. girlish figure

For (former?) fans of: being a theater kid, antidepressant cocktails, Jem and the Holograms
Sounds kinda like: Kirsty MacColl, Rachel Bloom having a brat summer

2. Jade Hairpins

For (former?) fans of: learning the entire lore of the Boney M. Rasputin dance in Just Dance 2
Sounds kinda like: Scissor Sisters, Queen

3. The Belle Sounds

For (former?) fans of: Kate Bush, steering your ship directly into cliffs as soon as you hear an enchanting song
Sounds kinda like: Wilson Phillips

4. Camp Crush

For (former?) fans of: The ‘80s as a fictional concept
Sounds kinda like: A mix of Dua Lipa and Black Honey

5. Shawna Pair

For (former?) fans of: crying in the arcade
Sounds kinda like: Dead or Alive, Irene Cara

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Here’s the entire playlist. Enjoy with my blessings, leave your new small artist recommendations below (any genre, please), and if I didn’t include your suggestion, remember to plug it again next month!

1. I’m thinking this is probably too restrictive for future posts, though, so will probably kick it up to 10,000 or even 50,000… so don’t take this too literally, except that smaller = better!