For this feature, I’m going to take you on a digital tour across the United States, where we’re currently making everything great again – except underground music, which has always been, is currently, and will continue to be great regardless of what colour hat you wear. You just need to know where to look.
In this first instalment, I’m going to focus on an area very familiar to me. When most outsiders think of New York, they think of subways, statues, angry taxi drivers and Broadway… amongst other things. But more than 50% of us New Yawkers live in areas of the state that don’t look a thing like Home Alone 2. The Hudson Valley is a perfect example; not only is it rife with both urban and rural culture, but also diverse underground music and arts. I mean shit, if you need any further convincing, just know this is where Aaron Dessner of The National calls his studio home. Without further ado, here are seven – of many – acts you’ve probably never heard of and should immediately get acquainted with.
American Film History
American Film History is just the latest of many projects Hudson Valley mastermind Frank McGinnis has helmed over the years. His clever colloquialisms mix ever so sweetly with shimmery, intermingling guitar work to create warm, dream-pop that embraces you like a welcoming bear hug. The debut full length, Be Content With Your Light, Child came out last year on SubFamily Records, which is also based in the Hudson Valley.
Stellar Young
For the last seven years, this atmospheric, indie-rock quintet has consistently managed to operate just below the surface of national recognition. That’s a compliment. They’ve generated a regional buzz most young bands would kill for, and have retained that relevancy in spite of the limited musical attention spans of modernity. It doesn’t hurt to have friends in high places, like the gents in Coheed and Cambria for example. With an impressively consistent discography, there’s plenty here to make Stellar Young one of your new favourite bands.
Laura Stevenson
Stevenson has been crafting thought-provoking folk-punk tunes for the better part of a decade, and with her extensive touring habits and scrappy work ethic, it’s no wonder every release of hers garners more and more praise. Her latest release – 2019’s The Big Freeze – listens like an uber-confessional open mic session that, at times, will tear you to shreds. Bonus points for having a song named after a mental illness characterized by chronic skin-picking – because #same.
Olivia Quillio
Olivia Quillio is a singer/songwriter with a voice so soothing and well-crafted, it’s no stretch to say it’s well beyond her years. Her music, which calls to mind artists like Norah Jones and Feist, is a neverending quest to find peace within oneself. And although it’s been four years since her last proper studio album – come on, Olivia!! –she has been performing new songs on YouTube teasing an upcoming release for a bit now. One can only hope it’s sooner rather than later.
Phantogram
With nearly two million monthly listeners on Spotify and two Gold-Certified singles to their name, if there’s one artist on this list you recognize it’s probably this one. The electronic-pop duo has toured all over the world with a bunch of up-and-comers like Muse and Alt-J. On first listen, they might come across as trendy, but you have to remember: they were one of the ones setting the damn trend as far back as 2009. Educate yo’self.
Girl Blue
Girl Blue is the stage name of singer/songwriter Arielle O’Keefe who has a ridiculous knack for powerful vocal arrangements. Her first single – 2017’s ‘Fire Under Water’ – has nearly 3 million plays on Spotify, and deservedly so. With a voice not unlike Ingrid Michaelson, or even Aurora, O’Keefe has the potential to induce plenty of chills over the course of her career to come. While we wait for the proper follow up to the phenomenal debut released two years ago, she has managed to keep our ears happy with singles, Fleetwood Mac covers and most recently, a live solo EP.
Matt Pond PA
Not many people have the balls to try and cover a song like ‘Champagne Supernova’ outside of an open mic setting. Even fewer have the wherewithal to succeed at doing so. That was almost fifteen years ago, thanks to a little show called The OC. Ever since, Matt Pond has established himself as one of the most criminally underrated songwriters of our generation, and quite a jack-of-all-trades at that. From catchy pop hooks to campfire singalongs to sparse introversion, you name it and you’ll find it in his discography. Speaking of, it’s a bit overwhelming to dig through. There’s no bad place to start, but I’d recommend going all the way back to 2005 and listening through Several Arrows Later, which should really be an indie-rock staple at this point.
