10 Alternative Pop Music Artists You Need to Know

If you’re a fan of pop music, then you need to check out these 10 alternative pop music artists. These up-and-coming musicians are making some of the best pop music around, and you’re sure to enjoy their unique sounds.

Hozier

Hozier is an Irish singer-songwriter and musician from County Wicklow. He rose to international fame with his debut single “Take Me to Church”, a soulful ballad with a gospel-chorus that tackles religion and homophobia. Hozier’s self-titled debut album was released in 2014 to critical acclaim, reaching #2 on the Billboard 200 and spawning the hit singles “From Eden” and “Someone New”. His sophomore album Wasteland, Baby! was released in 2019 and topped the Billboard 200.

Tove Lo

Hailing from Stockholm, Sweden, Tove Lo is a singer and songwriter who initially made waves with her feature on the Jakob Littner-produced track “Out of Mind.” The track was included on both Littner’s extended play (EP) Harmony and her own debut EP Truth Serum. The following year, she collaborated with Years & Years on the song “Desire,” which eventually became her first top 40 hit as a solo artist.

In 2015, Tove Lo released her debut studio album, Queen of the Clouds. The album was met with critical acclaim, with many praising its honest and open lyrical content. The album spawned a number of successful singles, including “Habits (Stay High),” “Talking Body,” and “Timebomb.”

Tove Lo has continued to enjoy success with her follow-up albums Lady Wood (2016) and Blue Lips (2017). She has also collaborated with a number of other artists, including Flume, Alesso, Broods, Coldplay, and Nick Jonas.

Banks

Banks is the stage name of Jillian Rose Banks, an American singer and songwriter from Orange County, California. She released her debut album, Goddess, in 2014 to critical acclaim, followed by The Altar in 2016 and III in 2019. Her music has been described as “dark R&B” and she has been compared to fellow alternative R&B artists such as The Weeknd, Rihanna, and Frank Ocean.

Broods

If you’re looking for an alternative to the top 40 pop songs, then you need to check out these 10 alternative pop music artists. From the synth-pop sounds of CHVRCHES to the indie folk sensibilities of Bon Iver, there’s something for everyone on this list.

1. CHVRCHES
2. Bon Iver
3. The National
4. Sufjan Stevens
5. Arcade Fire
6. Lorde
7. Hozier
8. Mumford & Sons
9. The Lumineers
10. Imagine Dragons

MisterWives

Hailing from New York, MisterWives is an alternative pop band that is best known for their singles “Reflections” and “Our Own House.” The band’s sound has been described as a mix of indie pop, synth-pop, and electropop. MisterWives has toured with acts such as Imagine Dragons, Panic! at the Disco, and Twenty One Pilots. In 2016, the band was nominated for a Grammy Award for their song “Our Own House.”

The Paper Kites

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, The Paper Kites are an indie pop band that is quickly taking the world by storm. With their gorgeous melodies and emotive lyrics, The Paper Kites create music that is both instantly accessible and deeply moving. If you’re looking for an alternative to the mainstream pop scene, be sure to check out The Paper Kites!

Vance Joy

Originating from Melbourne, singer-songwriter Vance Joy first made waves in 2013 with his breakout single “Riptide”, which accumulated over 100 million Spotify streams. The track comes off of his debut studio album Dream Your Life Away, which went platinum in Australia & New Zealand, and gold in the US and Canada. Vance Joy’s sound has been described as a mix between indie folk and pop, and often uses meter changes and falsetto vocals which give his music a unique feel. He has toured with the likes of Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and Christina Perri, and headlined his own tours in support of Dream Your Life Away. Vance Joy’s sophomore album Nation of Two is set to be released on February 23rd, 2018 – keep an eye out for it!

Walk the Moon

This quartet from Cincinnati, Ohio, is composed of Nicholas Petricca (lead vocals, keyboard), Kevin Ray (bass guitar, backing vocals), Eli Maiman (guitar, backing vocals) and Sean Waugaman (drums). Their first album, i want! i want!, was released in 2010, but it was their second album, TALKING IS HARD, that put them on the map in 2014. The album’s lead single “Shut Up and Dance” reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has been certified quadruple-platinum by the RIAA. The band’s third album WHAT IF NOTHING was released in November 2017.

Milky Chance

Milky Chance is a German folk group that gained popularity in the early 2010s with their single “Stolen Dance.” The group’s musical style combines elements of pop, indie, and electronic music. Their debut album, Sadnecessary, was released in 2014 and peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard 200. The group’s follow-up album, Blossom, was released in 2017 and reached number four on the US Billboard 200.

The 1975

The 1975 are an English pop rock band from Manchester, consisting of lead vocalist, guitarist and pianist Matthew “Matty” Healy, drummer and producer George Daniel, bassist Ross MacDonald, and guitarist Adam Hann. The band’s origins trace to their formation in 2002 as teenagers at Wilmslow High School in Cheshire, when they began writing songs together. Gigs organized by a worker at the school led the band to perform on the Manchester music scene.

The group have released four albums: ‘The 1975’ (2013), ‘I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It’ (2016), ‘A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships’ (2018) and ‘Notes on a Conditional Form’ (2020). All four albums reached number one in the UK Albums Chart. The band has won numerous awards, including two Brit Awards—winning Best British Group in 2019—and have been nominated for five Grammy Awards. They were ranked number 15 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. In 2019, Healy was included in Billboard’s 21 under 21 list.