A Few Good Sources of Music

By Paris Foster
Music Journalist

Finding yourself listening to an endless loop of the same artists is a common slump that many people encounter. While it is nice coming back to your bread and butter tunes every now and then, it is best to broaden one’s tastes through new and exciting music.

Although, many will argue there is little to no good new music out there, this simply is not true.

If you are like me and grew up watching YouTube, you will know it is the source for just about everything —especially the obscure, foreign and weird.

Here are a couple of channels that dish out great musical content:

NPR Music

Specifically the “Tiny Desk” concerts. These are live performances done at the desk of “all songs considered” host, Bob Boilen, in Washington D.C. One of your favorite artists likely has a tiny desk concert. It is equally as likely for an artist you have never heard of to have one as well, just waiting to be discovered.

KEXP

Based up in Seattle, KEXP 90.3 is a public radio station specializing in alternative and indie rock music. What makes this channel special is its consistent output of excellently mixed live performances by lesser-known artists.

Pitchfork

My personal favorite source on the list, Pitchfork is a media company that began in the ’90s reviewing obscure indie music. The company has since grown to become a strong force in the music industry due to its album reviews and music festivals.

Additionally, the channel is home to many humorous and informative series featuring famous artists such as Billie Ellish, Dua Lipa, Thundercat and many more.

Amoeba

Definitely the most useful channel on this list. Amoeba Music is an independent music store chain with locations in Berkeley, San Francisco, Hollywood and Los Angeles. Their YouTube channel is home to interviews, recordings of live performances and chiefly their “what’s in my bag” series.

The series takes artists and celebrities and showcases their picks after doing rounds in the store. Not only will you discover new artists through this series, but you will also discover new music through those artists picks. It is also interesting to see what albums people like Ethan Hawke, Ice Cube, Dave Grohl and others like listening to.

Nardwaur

Yes, the best for last. Nardwaur the Human Serviette is a Canadian musician and interviewer whose legacy cannot be told with mere words. He has attained cult status due to his erratic persona and unhinged interviews of various musical artists such as Kurt Cobain, Lil Uzi Vert, and Tyler the Creator.

He often presents “gifts” to his interviewees that are frequently records. These records are usually gold and serve as a great source of new music along with the artists themselves.

These channels will certainly provide endless amounts of entertainment along with a heap of brand new fresh music to listen to. Although I have only scratched the surface, these channels are the big ones.

Once again, new music can be hard to find at times, and listening to your favorite nostalgic artists is a must. However, it is worth the effort to branch out one’s tastes, and through these channels it is made an easy feat.

Featured Image by Paris Foster