Known Unknowns #5 - The Relaunch
It's back: the playlist you help create, full of the smallest, most underrated artists that you want the rest of the world to love as much as you do. Plus - the first record giveaway of 2025!
Don’t miss the record giveaway in today’s post!
Once upon a time not so long ago, I actually intended to have some sort of publication schedule. Part of that schedule involved a monthly playlist called Known Unknowns.
What Was Known Unknowns?
The second Monday of each month, I’d post a 90-minute1 playlist of songs from teeny tiny, unknown artists2. I’d cobble it together from submissions I’d received that month from musicians, random songs I’d discovered through my own listening, and - most importantly - reader recommendations.
The coolest part about Known Unknowns is that it was kind of self-perpetuating. Each time I’d post a playlist of last month’s finds, I’d also ask commenters to give me their latest discoveries so I could generate the following month’s playlist.
I stopped for a few reasons.
First, end-of-year activities (obsessive listening and list-making) got in the way.
Second, I have too much I want to write about, and I only have enough time and energy to crank out about 1.2 articles per week. It took up too much real estate.
Third, I’m not actually sure how interesting this is for anyone… at least so often as monthly.
All that said, I personally appreciated having a structured outlet to make this whole new music recommendation situation more of a two-way street. So, like it or not,
Known Unknowns is Back (Just Less Often)
How often? I don’t know. You can tell I’m not great with schedules.
Basically, whenever I feel like I’m spilling over with enough good music to share with you and nothing else feels more urgent, I’ll throw one of these your way.
This will work the same as it always did:
Below, you’ll find a big fat playlist of the best small artists all of us could put together since last October.
I’ll ask you to add your recommendations in the comments for the next installment (whenever that will be!), keeping in mind that artists should be small (the smaller the better, but <30,000 monthly Spotify listeners is a good start).
Ready steady?
The Preview
I always like to feature a handful of standouts before I hit you with the full playlist.
1. get lost cassidy frost
Our very own Dedicate Your Life To Music3 might actually be the lovechild of Khaela Maricich and Kimya Dawson. They have a brand new cassette that you should check out, too.
2. French Film
The debut single from Austin post-punk band has a shoegaze-y Blonde Redhead thing happening.
3. Meril Wubslin
This Swiss-Belgian trio plays dark, hypnotic alt-folk with dark, pulsing rhythms and haunting harmonies.
4. The Lipschitz
Surfy, angular, DIY bedroom punk that will appeal to Sonic Youth fans.
5. congratulations
Filthy pop for the indie sleaze revivalist. No, it doesn’t sound like New Young Pony Club’s “Ice Cream,” but you’ll understand why my head went straight there.
Before I share the playlist, a quick announcement.
THE FIRST RECORD GIVEAWAY OF 2025 IS ON!
This is a gorgeous, cinematic folk record. I share the same sentiments as my friend David Coleman that it’s very much a slow burn, and admit I had a similar initial reaction (he first dismissed it as fit for a Dawson’s Creek soundtrack, and now we’re both feeling some kind of way about it). All you have to do to enter is be a paid subscriber. I’ll choose a winner on January 31st.
Okay, now that that’s settled…
The Playlist
Please enjoy the 5th volume of Known Unknowns!
Don’t forget to leave your new small artist recommendations below (any genre, please), and if I didn’t include your suggestion, remember to plug it again next time around.
Also on Amazon, Apple, Tidal, & YouTube.
Ciao for now.
xo
Gabbie
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Fun fact: most of my playlists are about 90 minutes because that’s how long cassettes play. I really am trying to make mix tapes for you over here!
With some obvious exceptions for not-so-teeny, not-so-unknown artists. But the intention was there.
My biggest regret from my recent trip to SF is that I didn’t get a photo of us together when we hung out. I AM BUMMED.
And since it wasn't clear, I think, in this post... the music should be NEW. This is NEW bands for old heads ;)
Last 5 years or so?
Thanks for keeping this running while also taking care of your priorities! Whatever it takes to have you creating and curating is the schedule that works for us.