As of late, I’ve been on a quest to become the most niche and artsy person I can be. A major part of that has been cultivating an esoteric and underground music taste. My criteria for niche songs? Artists with fewer than 200,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Now, I’m aware that having hundreds of thousands of listeners means you’re not an underground artist, but this isn’t just a niche playlist, it’s also a performative one. I’m becoming one of those annoying music bros who shows you The Backseat Lovers and is shocked when you already know them because he was convinced he was the only one. With that disclaimer out of the way, here are my (not really) niche and (most definitely) performative picks, so now you can be cool (pretentious) too!
1. Borderline: “Tainted”
Starting off strong with a band whose very members exemplify the vibe I’m going for here: Borderline. The first song of theirs I listened to was actually “When It’s Raining,” and I had a minor obsession with it (i.e., listened to it 34 times in one day). However, I think the vibes of “Tainted” are much more indie and chill, plus it’s their newest release, so I’m opting for this one.
2. Saint Blonde: “Coil”
I can imagine the worst man I know putting this on the CarPlay in his 2022 Toyota Camry and watching to see if I’m impressed by his music taste. It’s a very catchy song, so I might be. While I really try to be a fan of the soft, slow, just-a-man-with-a-squeaky-guitar type of music, I always end up gravitating toward something uptempo. I’m a failure in that regard.
3. FIGHTMASTER: “Bad Man”
Now here’s another song I had a major phase with in December. I’m pretty sure it was my top song on Spotify for three weeks running. And with 61,911 monthly listeners, I can tell people I listen to FIGHTMASTER and get the blank stare of performative victory in return.
4. Kevin Burke: “Crave”
I’m a big fan of this one — introspective and melancholy with a driving beat. Kevin Burke has 15,647 monthly listeners on Spotify, making him the third most underground artist featured on this playlist.
5. Clem Turner: “Divine Loser”
This one is the kind of song that one indie guy puts on his Instagram notes when he wants someone to ask him if he’s doing okay. But also, Clem Turner has some really innovative lyrics (though admittedly emo) that the English major in me adores: “It’s balanced on my wrist / My pulse is populous / It grips my skeleton.” Doesn’t that just make you want to wear sunglasses inside and take photos on a thrifted digital camera?
6. Never Ending Fall: “Too Unrealistic”
All jokes aside, Never Ending Fall has quickly become one of my favorite bands. They came to me through the divine providence of Spotify’s Discover Weekly, and the entire American Disco album is truly wonderful. They deserve more than 216,796 monthly listeners, undoubtedly. If you listen to anyone off this playlist, let it be Never Ending Fall, and start with either this or “Bad Taste.”
7. Seeing Double: “Leah”
The harmonies in this song are actually divine. It’s perfect for a late night reading in public under a streetlamp with one wired earbud in.
8. HAFFWAY: “Whatever He’s On”
HAFFWAY can do no wrong in my ears (instead of eyes, because it’s music! Get it? No? I’ll see myself out). Also, nobody I’ve mentioned him to has known of him yet, which is a massive win.
9. Brother Bird: “sleep it off”
This song is aspirational for the playlist. An artist with 12,467 monthly listeners, a soft and sweet melody, ambiguous lyrics and simple instruments. I can feel my performative levels rising every time I listen.
10. The Tontons: “Golden”
Now this one is actually pretty underground. The Tontons have just 9,481 monthly listeners on Spotify, they don’t even have a bio and they haven’t released anything on Spotify since an EP in 2020. But it’s an amazing song, truly. Upbeat with sad lyrics, just how I like it. The listener count just means I get bragging rights for discovering it. Basically, I found the most niche artist, and everyone else can go home.
You can find the playlist here.
‘Solar Flare’ is a weekly playlist column where Sun contributors spotlight a slice of musical taste with the campus community. It runs every Monday.
Melissa Moon is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is the Arts & Culture Editor on the 144th Editorial Board, and was an Assistant Arts & Culture Editor on the 143rd Editorial Board. She can be reached at mmoon@cornellsun.com.
