Smaller bands you need to know

Tatiana Montavon

Streaming makes discovering or trying new music a lot easier, as we don't have to buy a song to
hear it, or rely on what the radio is playing. It's easier to find and listen to artists who are just
beginning to make a name and sound for themselves.
These are 13 artists and bands that range from just under 30,000 monthly listeners to just over
450,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, every one of which who's future looks exciting and
promising.

Note: All Spotify Listener numbers are from Sunday, February 13, 2022 and are likely to change.

Under 100,000 Monthly Spotify Listeners

Led By Lanterns (28,442 monthly listeners)

UK rock band Led By Lanterns have been releasing music since 2016, but their debut album,
"Paralysis" just dropped at the end of January this year. Self-described as a rock band with
heavy riffs and boyband vocals, Led By Lanterns' music is incredibly polished and rivals the
sound of more mainstream rock bands. It's genuinely surprising that a band with such a strong
discography is still fairly unknown.

Popular Tracks: "Alive," "DXWN," & "Criminal"

Recent Release: "Paralysis" album (2022)
Recommended Tracks: "Disconnected," "Paralysis," & "Catacombs"

Listen to Led By Lanterns on Spotify

NIGHTBREAKERS (33,675 monthly listeners)

NIGHTBREAKERS are an alt-pop band from Florida. With two EPs and a total of 13 tracks
released, they won 97X On Air's battle of the bands in Tampa this past November, giving them
the opportunity to open the Next Big Music Festival early last December. Their music is just
upbeat and absolutely fun to listen to.

Popular Tracks: "Attention," "Pressure," & "Back To"

Recent Release: "Feelings" EP (2021)
Recommended Tracks: "Quarter to Midnight," "Nashville," & "ALL I WANNA DO IS LOVE YOU"

Listen to NIGHTBREAKERS on Spotify

Emilie Adams (35,203 monthly listeners)

Emilie Adams is a dark electronic pop artist from Norway. With 2 EPs and 11 tracks released
under her name, she has quite an interesting catalog. Her lyrics are deeply personal to her. Her
songs are, quite frankly, critically underrated -- with the music she makes, she should be a
worldwide name, and it's honestly quite a surprise that she hasn't gotten the acclaim her music
deserves.

Popular Tracks: "Essence of Us," "Gone," & "Silky Silence"

Recent Release: "Bored" single (2022)
Recommended Tracks: "Monogamy," "Play God," & "Dance in the Rain"

Listen to Emilie Adams on Spotify

Those Who Dream (37,981 monthly listeners)

Australian alternative rock duo Those Who Dream are a pair of brothers who's, as their Spotify
bio claims, "as DIY as it gets" when it comes to their music. Launching onto the scene in 2017
with their debut EP "Life In Cyan," which earned a #4 spot on Apple Music's charts, they've
created and fostered a strong but small following through their honest and real music often
centered on mental health and self-discovery. Their music pairs honest lyrics with upbeat and
energetic instrumentals and production. It's fun, albeit, sometimes haunting. With eight tracks
released in total, Those Who Dream's future looks promising.

Popular Tracks: "Monster," "Violet," & "Coward"

Recent Release: "BUBBLEGUM" single (2021)
Recommended Tracks: "Red Chair," "BUBBLEGUM," & "Violet"

Listen to Those Who Dream on Spotify

Concrete Castles (47,489 monthly listeners)

From Pennsylvania, Concrete Castles began as the band First to Eleven, which is known for their
covers of pop and rock songs. The name Concrete Castles came from the first original song the
band wrote together, "Thrill," and became the name that they would use to release their
original music, starting with their debut single "Just a Friend" in March 2021. The trio released
their debut album "Wish I Missed U" in September of last year.

Popular Tracks: "Just a Friend," "Half Awake," & "Wish I Missed U" (ft. Anthony Green)
Recent Release: "Wish I Missed U" album (2021)
Recommended Tracks: "Atmosphere," "Porcelain," & "Suburbia"

Listen to Concrete Castles on Spotify

Eat Your Heart Out (58,902 monthly listeners)

The Australian alternative four-piece Eat Your Heart Out released their debut album back in
2019. Prior to, they've dropped three EPs, and have been signed to Fearless Records since 2017.
They're gearing up to drop their second full length this year.

Popular Tracks: "Shape of You" (cover), "Carousel," & "Drag Me Down"

Recent Release: "Florescence" album (2019)
Recommended Tracks: "Closer to the Sun," "Spinning," & "Blinded"

Listen to Eat Your Heart Out on Spotify

A Story Told (90,515 monthly listeners)

A Story Told is a rock band from West Virginia, who defines their music as "emotionally forward
pop rock." They released their debut album, "Keep Watch" in 2016, and have since released
two more albums, each better than the last. Their music is infectious and refreshing. They find a
gorgeous harmony between pop and rock, and between instrumentals and vocals. This band is
going places.

Popular Tracks: "Feel Bad," "Weather," & "'99 Benz"

Recent Release: "American Made" album (2021)
Recommended Tracks: "Home for the Summer," "Good as Gold," & "'92"

Listen to A Story Told on Spotify

Under 250,000 Monthly Spotify Listeners

Awake At Last (102,669 monthly listeners)

This five-piece hard rock band has been releasing music since 2014, but their debut album was
released in 2019. "The Change," the second single off the album (and also the title track), was
released in late March 2019, and, the week of April 8, it had become the #1 most played song
on Sirius XM Octane Satellite Radio. From there, things started going up for the band at a higher
trajectory, touring with several larger bands in the scene, like Ice Nine Kills, From Ashes to New
and Palisades. They're planning a new full-length record release for 2022.

Popular Tracks: "Dead Generation," "Purgatorium," & "DEAD TO ME"

Recent Release: "ARMAGEDDON" single (2021)
Recommended Tracks: "The Change" (ft. Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills), "More Than
Animals," & "Paralyzed"

Listen to Awake At Last on Spotify

Thousand Below (206,555 monthly listeners)

San Diego rock band Thousand Below formed only a few years ago, back in 2016, and have
since released two albums, the first in 2017 and the second in 2019, as well as one EP in 2020.
Since signing to Rise Records in 2016, Thousand Below have been consistently releasing
emotionally charged music ranging across the spectrum of rock music.

Popular Tracks: "Sinking Me," "let go of your love," & "Chemical"

Recent Release: "Gone to Me" single (2021)
Recommended Tracks: "alone (out of my head)," "Learn to Lose and It All Gets Easier," & "171
xo"

Listen to Thousand Below on Spotify

American Teeth (215,003 monthly listeners)
Portland, Maine-born Elijah Noll, known as American Teeth, started releasing music only in
2019. Signed to Fearless Records, he released his debut album, "We Should Be Having Fun" in
October 2021. His catalog is full of catchy pop rock albums that fuse organic sounds and synths.

Popular Tracks: "Gemini," "2late," & "Barred Out" (ft. Twin XL)
Recent Release: "We Should Be Having Fun" album (2021)
Recommended Tracks: "Talk," "Gonna Be Okay," & "Tongue"

Listen to American Teeth on Spotify

No Love for the Middle Child (227,083 monthly listeners)

No Love For the Middle Child is a indie/alternative artist who plays seven instruments. He's also
a songwriter and producer who has produced and written for other notable artists like
Grandson ("Rain," "Death Of An Optimist," among others), and Zero 9:36 ("Adrenaline, "In My
Hands," "The End / Undead," among others). He released his first EP in February 2020, but had
started releasing a handful of singles under the moniker No Love for the Middle Child in
November 2019.
No Love for the Middle Child's music is unique and inspired. It'll definitely make you feel
something -- whether that'd be happiness or sadness, that depends on the song.

Popular Tracks: "Bullets in the Dark" (ft. Mod Sun), "February," & "Older" (ft. Cody Carson of
Set It Off)
Recent Release: "Losing Feeling" EP (2021)
Recommended Tracks: "No Sleep," "Walk Away" (ft. American Teeth), & "Simple Things"

Listen to No Love for the Middle Child on Spotify

Under 500,000 Monthly Spotify Listeners

Little Hurt (404,452 monthly listeners)

Solo artist, Colin Dieden, known as Little Hurt, after leaving the Mowgli's in 2019, began writing
and releasing music on his own. His music is raw and unfiltered in its lyrics, paired with emotive
pop rock instrumentals. Little Hurt's music is a testament to his songwriting capabilities and his
songs are sure to get stuck in your head.
Popular Tracks: "Alaska," "Good As It Gets," & "Better Drugs"
Recent Release: "Get Out of My Life" single (2022)
Recommended Tracks: "My Head Hurts," "It's OK to Be Not OK," & "Messed Up"

Listen to Little Hurt on Spotify

Boston Manor (454,809 monthly listeners)

Originating from Blackpool, England, five-piece punk rock band Boston Manor formed back in
2013. With three full length albums, and five EPs, their music blends emo and punk with
heavier influences that often sonically reminisces to the eras of 90s-grunge and early 2000s
post-hardcore. The band has been going full-throttle since their formation, with each release
better than the last. In typical punk and emo fashion, their music tackles everything from
societal issues, the music industry, to mental health.

Popular Tracks: "Halo," "Laika," & "Plasticine Dreams"

Recent Release: "Desperate Times, Desperate Pleasures" EP (2021)
Recommended Tracks: "England's Dreaming," "Desperate Pleasures," & "Brand New Kids"

Listen to Boston Manor on Spotify