My Favorite Music Discoveries, Updated Monthly
Music Monthly
This Month’s Finds
October’s Gems & Jams
I have a weird knack for becoming absolutely obsessed with an artist’s relatively obscure songs upon discovering them; it’s not always or even often that their hit single captures me, but a “random” song elsewhere on the album. That’s the case this month with Lily from Joe P, and I have to give the Spotify algorithm credit for this one. Fascinated how Lily, with only 399k streams, was recommended to me over songs on the same album with millions of streams! Not only that, but though I enjoy the rest of the album, Lily is my standout favorite. Spooky!
Favorite New Artists of 2024
Stephen Wilson Jr.
Genre: Country / Rock
Sierra Ferrell
Genre: Country
I first caught notice of Stephen Wilson Jr. on TikTok (as is happening more often these days), and was immediately taken with his unique guitar and his ability to play it. Then I stumbled across his duet with Hailey Whitters, one of my favorite artists of 2021, and I was fully in. His style is a “grungy country”, which is not a tandem I would have thought of before hearing his music. Beyond loving his music, I really connected with an interview I read (featured right). Looking forward to seeing him live in May.
Chappell Roan
Genre: Pop
Genre: Folk
Among the countless things my girlfriend has excellent taste in, music is one, and I owe her big time for tuning me into Chappell’s recent rise to pop stardom. Chappell’s beats are SO catchy and her story so deeply heartfelt in her lyrics. I’m bopping to songs and experiences that I do not relate to, and yet, there’s a certain universality to her music and her emotions.
Sierra was one of those artists whose music I had come across in the past, but who I’d never really paid attention to as an artist until this year. TikTok was again a big influence, exposing me to her live performances and the incredible timbre of her voice.
Charley Crockett
There’s so much to love about Charley’s music, and for me it was definitely his voice that at first caught my ear. But listening to him more and more, and realizing that Bluesy influence, I’m realizing it’s a genre I don’t have a lot of exposure to, but always seem to love when I hear it. I love when artists incorporate multiple influences and genres into their work, and although it was the country influence that initially put Charley on my radar, it will be the blues sounds that sticks with me.
Bella White
Genre: Country / Folk
I first heard Bella White when she opened for John Craigie at a concert I went to last November. Her voice was instantly memorable, and the performance was impressively intimate above the din of a noisy crowd. But it was the fact that her sound nestled into my subconscious over the resulting few months, appearing in my dreams (truly!), and popping into my head spontaneously. I finally gave her albums a listen and was not disappointed!
IF YOU LISTEN TO ONE SONG
Learn More
IF YOU LISTEN TO ONE SONG
Learn More
IF YOU LISTEN TO ONE SONG
Learn More
IF YOU LISTEN TO ONE SONG
Learn More
IF YOU LISTEN TO ONE SONG
Learn More
Royel Otis
Genre: Alternative Rock
Like many others, I discovered Royel Otis through TikTok. Specifically, their astounding covers of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s disco-pop classic Murder on the Dancefloor and the Cranberries’ song Linger. It was a gateway into their own music, which has very much established its own legacy in my listening habits this year. It’s an album that feels like a cohesive album, and yet every song stands on its own merits. Seeing them live has only increased my love for this group.
IF YOU LISTEN TO ONE SONG
Learn More
Midland
Genre: Country
I was late to the party on Midland, having listened to them in past years but only this year really falling in love with this group from Texas. It was my mom that first sent me “Cheating Songs”, which was constantly getting stuck in my head. After collaborations with Jon Pardi and Orville Peck, it’s no surprise that they ended up back in my rotation, and this time I was all in! Some of my favorite jams of the year, up or down tempo.
IF YOU LISTEN TO ONE SONG
Learn More
My Top Songs of 2024
Playlists
Monthly
My Favorite Genres
(If you couldn’t already tell)
Johnny Flynn
Manchester Orchestra
FOLK
FOLK
COUNTRY
COUNTRY
Jon Pardi
ALT ROCK
ALT ROCK
POP
POP
Chappell Roan