Alternative Music Artists to Follow Now: pt. I

I know I’m not the only one who has a hard time carpooling with other people because I can’t sing along to the top 40 hits on the radio. It’s true, I admit that I am stuck in my world of alternative music, though that’s not to say I don’t blast top 40 while I’m in the shower (the soft lull of Bon Iver just doesn’t cut through the sound of the water). Albeit less relatable at dance parties and when driving with your friends, alternative music often explores interesting musical harmonies and insightful lyrics that you can’t find anywhere else. So whether you are a seasoned alternative music-ee or are just beginning to explore the immense realm of artists, these are a few of my personal favourites.

The National

You know that magical moment when you discover an album and you like all the songs on it and can painlessly press ‘shuffle’ on your phone without having to worry about skipping tracks? That was me with The National’s 2013 album, Trouble Will Find Me. The Cincinnati-formed and Manhattan-based band is not your usual indie group. They consist of Matt Berninger (vocals), Aaron Dessner (guitar, keyboards), Bryce Dessner (guitar), Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums), all in their late 30s or mid 40s. Nonetheless, the band has been active since 2001, touring consistently across the U.S. and internationally, and performed with other big-names in the alternative music world such as St. Vincent, Bon Iver, and the next artist on the list, Sharon Van Etten. The National has released 6 studio albums, and was nominated the Grammy for best alternative album of the year for Trouble Will Find Me. I could listen to Matt Berninger’s deep and rich vocals for days. My personal top tracks from this great band include “Bloodbuzz Ohio”, “Sea of Love”, “Graceless”, and “Fake Empire”.

Sharon Van Etten

Known for her distinctive melancholic voice and heavy use of harmonies, Sharon Van Etten’s songs have been covered by many artists, aspiring and established, among them alternative music legend Bon Iver. Active since 2009, 4 albums and one EP have already been produced, all with songs of high quality. Her music has been featured extensively in TV, appearing in episodes of Elementary and promotion for The Walking Dead. She has also toured with The National and been a headliner at many essential indie music festivals. To get a taste of her sing-song style, take a listen to “One Day” and “Every Time the Sun Comes Up”.

 Belle & Sebastian

My latest musical obsession, Belle & Sebastian’s music is best represented by envisioning yourself sitting all cozied up in a cool coffee shop with a brew and oxfords (need some English influence in this scene to complete the English origin of this band) while reading J.D Salinger. Needless to say, there’s definitely a reason why their music is constantly being played at Analog Coffee. Formed in Glasgow in 1996, this band exudes a modern Beatles vibe in their music and have released 9 albums since then. Beyond their musical influence, the band has also worked its way into indie culture, being mentioned in movies such as 500 Days of Summer and High Fidelity. Led by Stuart Murdoch, who also formed God Help the Girl with several other female vocalists with Belle & Sebastian being the supporting band. In 2014, a film of the same name featuring a soundtrack made up songs by God Help the Girl and won an award at the Sundance Film Festival that same year. Top tracks by Belle & Sebastian include the classic hit, “I Want the World to Stop”, “Another Sunny Day”, “The Boy With the Arab Strap”, “Piazza, New York Catcher”, and much more.

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