The playlist you help create, full of artist submissions and up-and-coming musicians that you want the rest of the world to love as much as you do. Plus, win tickets to see Passion Pit!
I also saw Lacuna supporting Black Honey last week and think they are worth a look (They were great live and I chatted to them afterwards and they were really sweet)
Wow, can’t wait to dig into this playlist Gabbie!! I’ve gone back through my favorite albums from the last five years (2020 onwards) and pulled together a playlist of tracks that mostly fit your criteria. There are a handful of artists with a little over 30k monthly streams (rules are meant to be broken amirite?!?) that I couldn’t leave off my list.
There’s a lot here, but hopefully you’ll find some artists are appeal to you!
The new album The Joys of Being Pure At Heart by Hachiku is outstanding. Indie pop/bedroom pop/dream pop/whatever you want to call it, it's a wonderful, fun album and one of my favorites of 2025 so far.
Some of these are probably familiar. Some are pushing it as far as number of monthly listeners is concerned. Others are pushing it with respect to age. All are at least < 30000 and released 2020 or later. Usually the earliest releases were singles. I tried to share the most recent release that I like and apologize for not winnowing the albums or EPs down to representative tracks. I was surprised by how many older artists don't have many listeners and by how many bands I just discovered have been slogging away for 5 years or more. Of course, we lost a year or two in there... Kind of all over the place genre-wise. Hope there are some new things that some people like. I'll leave the playlist until Known Unknowns Vol. 6 is released, then I'll clear the deck for Vol. 7 submissions. I don't expect to have as many then. :-)
Ain’t - Pirouette
AmovingmoviE - I’ll Be Your Mirror (Velvet Underground Cover)
Big Fear - Sisyphus
Bluhm: When You’re Gone
Brave Boy - Pelican Child
Cameron Knowler - CRK
casü: nosso terceiro e último verão
CIEL: Call Me Silent
Danzón El Gato - El sonido bastardo
Fib: Heavy Lifting
Gold Dust: Whatever’s Left
Hell Nancy: American Singles
Kallsup: En sista räddning
knitting: Nite Lite
Lightheaded: Same Drop
Lurve: The Fall
Meral Polat: Meydana Gel
Pon Far: Not Yet
Population II: Maintenant Jamais
Red Fox Compilation, Room: Find Me A Place
Subs: State of Everything
Sungaze: Feel Better Tomorrow
Swindlers: Weary Eyes
Talking Contest: Water Park
(Богемный) Люфт: Второй прощальный концерт в клубе "Бездна"
So I know this guy AJDeiboldt, he's really really good. Very new. Bluesy folk/Americana with real poetic lyrics and soulful vocals. Nice guy too, definitely not the kind who would promo his own music in comment sections lol:
My uncle told me once that growing up in the 70s, there was too much music that it was hard to keep track of it all, and I feel that way about now lol, so I'm looking forward to checking out your playlists!
You had me at “Polish egg punk”…
who can possibly resist
I just saw Battery Acid for the first time tonight and they are a strong recommend! This is their latest single
https://open.spotify.com/track/0Wt5kgLJ0Ikx9qVBHekG26?si=eMP7wz7xQHyMqoblTNQGmg
I also saw Lacuna supporting Black Honey last week and think they are worth a look (They were great live and I chatted to them afterwards and they were really sweet)
https://open.spotify.com/track/20AtNHrJeH3hDVxIEPuRec?si=7kW4LN6EQWuRx67ADnqTyg
Finally, blues is not my usual thing but this band, The Keepsakes, is incredible live and definitely deserve more listeners!
https://open.spotify.com/track/4S0F5SLxpWl6IuvGfTFQ7c?si=7IDkHCUYR_e208G6g_GDkw
I like Lacuna. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, can’t wait to dig into this playlist Gabbie!! I’ve gone back through my favorite albums from the last five years (2020 onwards) and pulled together a playlist of tracks that mostly fit your criteria. There are a handful of artists with a little over 30k monthly streams (rules are meant to be broken amirite?!?) that I couldn’t leave off my list.
There’s a lot here, but hopefully you’ll find some artists are appeal to you!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MsuNpAEX0QACNrPA7lU4l
Bless you for making a playlist!
BALTVUS is my new obsession!
woah, nearly 1 mil listeners- not so unknown! but i haven't heard of them, will def have a listen
Mostly South American listeners, I believe. 🙂
The new album The Joys of Being Pure At Heart by Hachiku is outstanding. Indie pop/bedroom pop/dream pop/whatever you want to call it, it's a wonderful, fun album and one of my favorites of 2025 so far.
i hope that's a nod to the pains of being pure at heart! i will happily check it out
I'd liked their 2017 EP but didn't know about anything since then, so now I can look forward to catching up. Thanks!
Thank you for putting this together!
I love that Kowboje song -- looking forward to spending time with the whole EP. It's like Rank & File meets New Order. Thanks for the heads up!
Good luck to the winner for the @passionpit tickets - we’re pumped to have you!!! 🔥
Some of these are probably familiar. Some are pushing it as far as number of monthly listeners is concerned. Others are pushing it with respect to age. All are at least < 30000 and released 2020 or later. Usually the earliest releases were singles. I tried to share the most recent release that I like and apologize for not winnowing the albums or EPs down to representative tracks. I was surprised by how many older artists don't have many listeners and by how many bands I just discovered have been slogging away for 5 years or more. Of course, we lost a year or two in there... Kind of all over the place genre-wise. Hope there are some new things that some people like. I'll leave the playlist until Known Unknowns Vol. 6 is released, then I'll clear the deck for Vol. 7 submissions. I don't expect to have as many then. :-)
Ain’t - Pirouette
AmovingmoviE - I’ll Be Your Mirror (Velvet Underground Cover)
Big Fear - Sisyphus
Bluhm: When You’re Gone
Brave Boy - Pelican Child
Cameron Knowler - CRK
casü: nosso terceiro e último verão
CIEL: Call Me Silent
Danzón El Gato - El sonido bastardo
Fib: Heavy Lifting
Gold Dust: Whatever’s Left
Hell Nancy: American Singles
Kallsup: En sista räddning
knitting: Nite Lite
Lightheaded: Same Drop
Lurve: The Fall
Meral Polat: Meydana Gel
Pon Far: Not Yet
Population II: Maintenant Jamais
Red Fox Compilation, Room: Find Me A Place
Subs: State of Everything
Sungaze: Feel Better Tomorrow
Swindlers: Weary Eyes
Talking Contest: Water Park
(Богемный) Люфт: Второй прощальный концерт в клубе "Бездна"
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qUJjXCaE6T6PVly4oBQqA?si=11029c9c3b534fe3
this IS volume 6 ;) heading to the playlist now...thank you for making it so easy for me!
Infinity Rose, "Move With Love"
Linda Brady (on Substack), "Fear of Rejection"
Local Bylaws (Ginger Pennington on Substack), "Your Fate"
ginger is a longtime friend of NBfOH!
So I know this guy AJDeiboldt, he's really really good. Very new. Bluesy folk/Americana with real poetic lyrics and soulful vocals. Nice guy too, definitely not the kind who would promo his own music in comment sections lol:
https://open.spotify.com/track/6O8d8yahMm054H80EiZqNc?si=4ZV7pL-5SGuSAjaf_pRl8Q&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A0y99eRqxyvxfCIV1pMiqHX
My uncle told me once that growing up in the 70s, there was too much music that it was hard to keep track of it all, and I feel that way about now lol, so I'm looking forward to checking out your playlists!
haha no definitely not that kinda guy!
Ok here are some of my picks: Babe Report, Kissing On Camera, Twat Union, Shark?, Florry
i know florry... philly band?
Yep!
Thanks for sharing MLDE!
Thank you Gab
you got it bb
Here are a few albums by artists with less than 30,000 monthlies from 2024's Top 25:
Or Best Offer - Center
Anastasia Coope - Darning Woman
Arushi Jain - Delight
H. Pruz - No Glory
Elsa Hewitt - Chaos Emeralds
I-R - Detroit Densha Seikatsu
Hannah Frances - Keeper of the Shepherd
Frances Chang - Psychedelic Anxiety
Big Numbers - s/t
Wild Ponies - Dreamers
thank you thank you - got a playlist?
This is a welcome treat. Thank you!
i thought that said "welcome threat" and i was equally excited :) thank you, Lou!
Haha!