Music is an irrefutable necessity for every day college life. You listen to it at the gym, library and even when walking to and from class. Even though music is an incredibly large part of the American college student culture, there are a lot of artists that go unappreciated and unknown by the majority of people. So, here are my top five favorite underrated artists. I have also added links to the mentioned tracks on Spotify for your convenience.
1. DEMAR
As she only 970 likes on her Facebook page, DEMAR is an incredibly underrated musician. She has the single best cover of Swimming Pools (Drank) by Kendrick Lamar that I have ever heard. She is an alternative pop/R&B artist that is perfect for when you are feeling a strong, female vocalist. As of right now she has no upcoming tour dates, and she only has two tracks on Spotify, so I recommend looking her up on SoundCloud, where she has a few more demo songs.
2. Marian Hill
Marian Hill has a unique sound of alternative jazz with an electronic twist. She has the kind of music that makes you want to move your hips and learn how to play the sax. I recommend her songs Down and Lips to start, but really her entire album Sway is pure gold. You can find her at music festivals like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza.
3. Alina Baraz & Galimatias
Alina Baraz is a young singer/songwriter whose vocals (especially when paired with the chill electronic sound of Galimatias) are simply outstanding. She's the most chill artist on my current playlist and she is perfect for when you really just want to get absorbed in a soft, ethereal sound. I recommend the songs Can I and Make You Feel from their Urban Flora EP. Felix Jaehn did an excellent job remixing their song Fantasy, if you're feeling a more up tempo version of their music. You can also find her at Lollapalooza this coming July
4. Blackbear
Blackbear is the first male artist on this list, but he is currently one of my favorite artists and I high key vibe with all of his music. He has recently released a new album, Help, that I haven't listened to fully yet, but his previous album Deadroses was top notch. He is an R&B sounding singer/rapper with a mild electronic vibe. I recommend his songs Idfc and Dirty Laundry, as well as his remix of the song Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish. Fair warning, his music is explicit. He currently has no show dates available, but hopefully he will hit up the East Coast sometime soon.
5. Vindata
Vindata is an electronic band that just gets me hype. They have a fantastic combination of dope (yes, dope) beats and incredible vocals that make for an all together great sound. Their music gives off a low key trip vibe, but I dig it. I strongly recommend starting out with the more low key songs like All I Really Need and Wide Awake, and then working your way up to the more up tempo songs like Where You Are. You can find them at the Movement Music Festival in Detroit during late May.
Well there are five of my current favorite artists at the moment, so I encourage you to expand your musical horizons and give them a listen.
