Search results
Unlike contemporary singer/songwriters, who followed the trends of mainstream pop, alternative artists like Liz Phair, Will Oldham (in his many guises), and Elliott Smith garnered widespread acclaim, and even a measure of mass popularity, but remained firmly rooted outsde of the mainstream.
People also ask
Who are the best alternative rock bands & artists?
What is alternative music?
Why is alternative music so popular?
What is alternative pop?
- Pink Floyd. 1,992 votes. Pink Floyd, often regarded as one of the pioneers of alternative rock, captivated audiences with their transcendent blend of progressive rock, space-rock, and psychedelia in a time when music was craving a change.
- David Bowie. 2,171 votes. David Bowie, the genre-bending Starman, consistently redefined the boundaries of alternative rock with his chameleonic approach to music throughout his illustrious career.
- Nirvana. 6,734 votes. Nirvana's impact on the alternative rock scene is nothing short of revolutionary. Kurt Cobain's raw, angst-filled lyrics, coupled with the band's powerful and gritty sound, became the defining voice of the grunge movement that swept through the 1990s.
- The Cure. 3,397 votes. The Cure, led by enigmatic frontman Robert Smith, have been shaping the course of alternative music since their formation in the late 1970s with a unique blend of post-punk, new wave, and goth rock.
- Kate Bush
- Fiona Apple
- Bjork
- Florence Welch
- Phoebe Bridgers
- Lorde
- St Vincent
- Wolf Alice / Ellie Rowsell
- Lana Del Rey
- Karen O
Kate Bush seems to have created with no fear or care to what would sell or what would be radio-friendly, and that’s what made her one of the most eclectic and unbound musicians. She combined folk-rock, alt-rock, pop, and indie in a whirlwind of songs with bold production and the most artful and unusual lyrics full of fantasy and drama (She has a so...
Fiona is an intricate soul with a hybrid of inspiration from John Lennon, Maya Angelou, and Yoko Ono. As a child, she was classically trained on piano and began composing original songs at eight years old. Her first album, Tidal, contained songs written when she was only 17 and received a Grammy for Best Female Vocal Rock Performance on the song ‘C...
The 14-time Grammy-nominated indie artist is still said to have some of the greatest music videos. In an interview with Pitchfork, she stated “A video is not a promotional necessity, but a graceful tool to ease the passage of music into your brain”. Her music is thrilling, hypnotic, and artistic; mixing instruments with synthesizers, personal with ...
“I want my music to sound like throwing yourself out of a tree, or off a tall building, or as if you’re being sucked down into the ocean and you can’t breathe. It’s something overwhelming and all-encompassing that fills you up”- Florence Welch. No one could describe how her voice made you feel as well as she did in this quote. Her visceral voice go...
Phoebe is a four-time Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer from Los Angeles. While in school, her band Sloppy Jane got their cover of The Pixies’ “Gigantic” into an Apple ad that enabled her financially to keep pursuing her dream. This candid and multi-dimensional artist caught the eye of the public when she performed at the...
Lord is an indie/alternative-pop singer-songwriter from New Zealand. She’s known for her unconventional and introspective writing. Her music is a genuine, melancholic mix of catchy and eerie while her voice is sophisticated and deep; it almost feels like it is dramatically staring at you. She generally writes about youth culture, the drama of being...
Much like the rest of the indie artists on this list, Annie is an artist in a variety of forms: singer, songwriter, producer, and actress. Before becoming a solo artist, she was a member of the Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens’ touring band. She carried on to create albums, Marry Me, Actor, Strange Mercy, St. Vincent Masseduction, and Daddy’s Ho...
Wolf Alice are an English alternative rock/indie band with Elie Roswell as their lead singer. Wolf Alice has gone from performing at half-empty clubs in London to playing in huge festivals. The New Yorker described Ellie’s voice by saying “She can whisper like a child but howl like a rabid animal”. The band sometimes has a garage-rock feel to them,...
Lana del Rey’s genre has sparked some debate. She’s associated with several music styles, dream pop, rock, baroque pop, pop, psychedelic rock, and finally, indie pop. She’s cited being influenced by Lou Reed, Nancy Sinatra, Leonard Cohen, Amy Winehouse, and Eminem, which didn’t really ease any of the confusion. A few people called her sub-genre ‘Ho...
The American indie-rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs were formed in New York City in 2000. Their lead vocalist is Karen O. Their music is an edgy post-punk, dancefloor-friendly sound inspired by Blondie and the Banshees. The band recorded four albums and three of them got Grammy nominations for Best Alternative Music Album. They were: Fever to Tell, Show Y...
Find Hand-Picked Top Alternative Singer/Songwriter Songs on AllMusic
Dec 19, 2023 · The real definition for alternative music is just music that isn’t made by anyone in the mainstream and music that doesn’t follow specific templates to mainstream music styles. Pretty much anything can be a type of alternative music if it’s outside the social norms of its genre.
Browse the top alternative artists to find new music. Scrobble songs to get recommendations on tracks you'll love.
Find alternative singer-songwriter tracks, artists, and albums. Find the latest in alternative singer-songwriter music at Last.fm.
