Alternative Grooves

Volume 03 | Bops Beyond the Billboard

Author

Valerie S.
October 16, 2024

What’s poppin’!

Recently I came across comments questioning Sabrina Carpenter’s nomination as Best New Artist for the Grammys, because she’s been making music for years. It got me thinking: What truly defines “new” music? And more importantly, what is mainstream music, and what’s not?

If you’ve heard enough music from both sides, you’ll realise that many non-mainstream tracks have similar vibes as mainstream hits — they’re simply just not in the Billboard Hot 100 list (yet).

Sabrina’s rise to global stardom shows us that a song’s impact is more about its exposure over its sound. While mainstream music often resonates with a wider audience, non-mainstream music doesn’t necessarily have to sound different to connect with listeners.

This week, let’s explore beyond the mainstream music we usually listen to. You never know, you might just stumble upon familiar tunes. ✌️

Keeping it new, one newsletter at a time,

Val ♫

(P.S If you are reading this in your email, please click “Read Online” at the top-right corner next to the date for a better reading experience!)

🎸 Event Recap: Baybeats 2024

Looking for music from the fringes of the mainstream? Start with performances from Baybeats 2024, which wrapped up last week.

Singapore’s biggest indie rock and alternative music festival featured both established and emerging artists from across Asia, all of whom brought the vibrant music scene to the public. Whether you’re into dreamy synth-pop or alt-rock acoustics, there’s something for every listener.

Here are my favourites from the festival:

  • XOXO by KIKI: Loved the percussions moving back and forth, it’s like ASMR for your ears. Listen with earphones for the best sound.

  • As Long As We Stay by FUGŌ and Heidi Moru: Looking for a song to play in the car with the windows down? This is the perfect chillhop vibes.

  • Sunset Memory by Terrestrea: For listeners looking to get lost in thought, this track gives that dreamy, zoned-out vibe — like floating in imaginary space.

  • Fractures by Caracal: It starts off with soulful rock, and builds into a raging storm. Think Paramore, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Lifehouse all wrapped into one song.

  • NOT ENOUGH by Tell Lie Vision: If you’re a Yellowcard fan who swears by “Only One”, you’re going to enjoy the drums and guitar work from this rock band.

🍷 R&B Ladies’ Night

R&B in the 2020s still draws major influences from its heyday in the 1990s and 2000s, combining soulful vocals from the next generation of artists and new synth textures to create fresh, yet familiar rhythms.

For those who grew up listening to Jordin Sparks, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé, you might find common ground in these:

🎼 Moving in Threes

I’ve always found songs with odd time signatures fascinating, because they never sound off-beat. Once synonymous with waltzes and romantic serenades, the "one-two-three" rhythm has now evolved to encompass a wide range of genres.

Here are some songs in ¾ time signature that don’t sound like a ballroom dance:

🎶 New Music This Week

Wish U by 16: It’s giving Episode 8 K-drama OST where our main couple just confessed their feelings for each other, and are now on their very cutesy first date. To make things even more memorable, that date just happens to be the first fall of snow.

hold me tight by Skyline: The melody reminds me of Sleep Well by d4vd, but a faster version. It’s an easy song to listen to while you’re hyper-focused at work or study.

In The Clouds by Nathan Hartono: This is one of those songs that will most likely pop up at a brunch party. I’m getting sunny city vibes, with a dash of tropical punch.

Inspired by this week’s music picks?

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