25 modern must-hear bands you've probably never heard of

This bedroom pop group was started by Lauren Luiz, a famous actress and singer. As soon as I heard the song “Concussion,” which takes you through quite the journey with incredible wordplay, I was sold. However, I was also shocked to learn Girlhouse only has around 74,500 monthly Spotify listeners when the band deserves more.

Another dreamy bedroom pop group is Salmon Cat. With less than 18,400 monthly Spotify listeners, the band is criminally sold short. However, the members have explained that they enjoy working sans record label, as they're able to create without restrictions.

Colourway is an indie rock band worth checking out. With only a little over 3,100 monthly listeners, this duo is far too underrated in my opinion. I found them on Spotify’s “Discover Weekly” and instantly knew they’d be part of my regular rotation.

If you’re into indie pop bands, you won’t want to miss out on Atta Boy. This group, which only has a little over 130,500 monthly listeners, includes all the important elements of a successful indie band, from killer vocals to introspective lyrics.

Gold Steps is an incredible alternative/pop rock group that fled the live music capital of the world for the Midwest — an interesting choice for sure. On their Spotify, which has less than 6,400 monthly listeners, the band claims to “shirk the Midwest Nice stereotype in favor of assertiveness, lacing hook-laden, brutal honesty with a more polished, pop-forward sound.” If you’re a pop-punk lover at heart, you’ll enjoy their track “Empty Space.”

This American rock band from Los Angeles is yet another solid choice for pop-punks. In Her Own Words has that traditional emo sound so many of us search for today. If you want to get angsty, become one of their less than 200,000 monthly Spotify listeners. 

With a name like Moon Panda, you know the band’s got something special. This group markets itself as “spacey slacker pop,” “galactic om,” and “cosmic sway,” whatever that means. In simpler terms, they’re the perfect group to help you unwind and quiet your mind.

Bedside Kites is a subgroup of Charles Irwin, another majorly underrated indie band. Bedside Kites seems to have gained more attention over the years than Charles Irwin, which seemingly stopped making music. The indie group is made up of guitarist Sally and drummer Micah and creates genre-blending masterpieces that appeal to fans from the emo scene all the way to the indie folk scene.

I discovered Hunny Buzz through the OCD community on Instagram. Frontwoman Lyd Read spoke about how she wrote the song “Palpitations” based on her struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder. According to their website, “Hunny Buzz captures the polarizing duality of human nature perfectly in an Indie-pop melancholy yet bubbly style.”

This band is an alternative indie funk rock band with an incredibly upbeat sound. According to the Midwestern group's website, they “started in the back of a 2003 Toyota Sienna minivan named Jolene, amidst questionable company and dubious circumstances.” What better way to make music?

French Cassettes is an alternative/indie band from San Francisco with an incredibly unique sound. According to the band’s website, they merge “indie pop and rock with sticky, mischievous and exhilarating turns.” Take it from someone who saw them live with No Vacation: they’re worth the deep dive. 

I fell in love with Strongboi after originally following incredibly gifted and spiritual singer/songwriter Alice Phoebe Lou. A collaboration between Alice and Ziv Yamin, Strongboi is a must-hear alternative/indie band with a bubbly, captivating sound.

Are you a fan of The Smiths? The Cry is like a modern version of the beloved English rock band. The group's melancholic, echoey, British indie sound is reminiscent of the 1980s. 

Tiny Little Houses is a criminally underrated lo-fi indie rock band. The group formed as a duo in Melbourne, Australia, back in 2014 and now includes four members. They're known for their poignant lyrics and dreamy sound.

I was appalled to learn that Bully has less than 224,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, but then again, many amazing bands do. The rock band is a solo project by American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Alicia Bognanno. Bully has a raw, grunge, punk rock sound that can’t be matched.

Lunar Vacation is an indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. With a dreamy, addictive sound and introspective, poetic lyrics, the group deserves a spot on this list. The band may or may not have gotten me through a gutwrenching breakup.

I found Stories Untold — not to be confused with Story Untold — when they released their first album “Can’t Go Home” back in 2017. Originally, the tracks “College” and “All Your Fault” immediately caught my attention. The alternative rock/emo group has a unique sound that continues to evolve. 

The Brummies is an indie rock band made up of three artists who have been playing together since high school. According to the band’s Spotify page, The Brummies are “rooted in storytelling and sonic experimentation” and “exist in the space between now and nostalgia, crafting immersive soundscapes that feel both familiar and otherworld.”

One of the more renowned bands on this list, Laundry Day is a pop-rock band from New York City. “Jane” is my go-to rainy spring day song. For many, but certainly not enough, they’re a comfort band with a genre-defying sound.

Another incredible indie rock band to check out is Night Moves. The group's music has a haunting sound that makes you feel like you’re floating in water and gazing up at the stars. 

SWMRS is an indie punk band that’s been around for quite some time. While they’re certainly more well-known than others on this list, they don’t have nearly as many active listeners as they deserve. The band has a nostalgic sound you’re sure to appreciate.

The Illuminati Hotties is an indie rock band from Los Angeles, created and fronted by producer, mixer, and audio engineer Sarah Tudzin. Not only do they have a sick band name, but they also wear the title of “tenderpunk pioneer.” Tenderpunk essentially describes music that effortlessly achieves a soft yet tough sound.

Adult Mom started as a solo project by musician Stevie Knipe. However, the indie rock band has since grown to include three other members. One of my favorite songs by them is “Be Your Own 3am.”

Babygirl is a Toronto-based pop-rock band that was founded by two friends who met while studying music in college. This duo, Kiki Frances and Cameron Breithaupt, has released several EPs through Babygirl. They take influence from shoegaze and folk music, creating a poppy, melancholic sound. 

Champagne Lane is a feel-good indie surf rock band from Atlanta. According to their Facebook page, “Champagne Lane is the duo of multi-instrumentalists Jake Rogers and Jackson Welch.” The band is committed to evolving its sound, taking influence from jazz and blues.