There are many wonderful things about music streaming. The sheer volume of music available; how easy it is to share said music with your friends; the ability to build playlists around your personal preferences. But (even putting aside the obvious problems it has caused for musicians’ finances) there are also some downsides for listeners – chief among them that Spotify, Apple Music et al are run on a personalised algorithm that, if you’re not careful, can get you stuck in a rut.
Who among us hasn’t opened our streaming app, with literally a whole world of music available to us, only to listen to the same 10 songs we’ve had on repeat since 2016? Who doesn’t miss the days when a friend would mix you a CD and your eyes would be opened to fresh joy, or when you found a new artist on iTunes and entered a rabbit hole of obsession for two weeks?
If you can relate – having been told, in December, you were in a beloved artist’s top 0.003 per cent of listeners, only to feel a pang of regret at not having discovered a single new song save for “Espresso” – then this list is for you. Some artists are very new, some have been around the block a few times – but all of them will be sure to jolt you awake from your algorithm apathy. A list of, er, repeat offenders, and their very worthy antidotes.
If you can’t stop listening to Taylor Swift…
…try Chloe Qisha
Born in Malaysia and based in the UK, Qisha is a must-listen for Swifties – it’s modern pop that aches with feeling, with a hefty dose of vintage cool à la St. Vincent or Haim. Charging, danceable choruses, romantic lyrics, longing, pain and joy – all of pop’s most tender attributes come together in her output so far, comprising an EP and a few singles, all from 2024. Just like Swift, she understands the importance of push-and-pull – holding back and then letting go; leaning into nonchalance one moment and high drama the next.
Songs to stream: “I Lied, I’m Sorry”, “21st Century Cool Girl”
If you can’t stop listening to Bruce Springsteen…
…try Sam Fender
The young Brit rapidly becoming a national treasure, has been called “Geordie Springsteen” for good reason. Fender narrates the beauty and tragedy of everyday life, interrogates masculinity and captures it all in expansive songs aching with emotion. The chugging open-road feel is certainly redolent of Springsteen in all his glory. Fender’s personal story and political impetus – having grown up in working-class North-East England ravaged by austerity – makes his music feel all the more authentic and powerful.
Songs to stream: “People Watching”, “Seventeen Going Under”
If you can’t stop listening to Charli XCX…
…try AG Cook
Having just scooped up the Brit Award for best producer for his work on Charli XCX’s Brat, AG Cook is hardly an unknown – but he’s not only the studio-whiz for Charli, and his solo work could be just the thing to stop you hitting play on “365” yet again. Co-founder of the record label PC Music in 2013, Cook is one of the pioneers of hyperpop – that super-artificial, sugary sound that you’ll recognise from Brat and beyond. Cook’s solo output – two albums from 2020, plus 2024’s Britpop – is, of course, expertly produced, fizzing with electricity and colour so shiny you can see your reflection. But it’s also full of feeling and sensitivity – a cool, hard exterior with a very soft middle.
Songs to stream: “Silver”, “Britpop”
If you can’t stop listening to Sabrina Carpenter…
…try Bellah Mae
As much as Carpenter has become a pin-up, contrary to popular belief, that’s not why she’s beloved. Her repeat listeners return more for her sense of humour, her winking sense of empowerment, her relatability. All this – along with catchy grooves – can be found in the songs of 21-year-old Bellah Mae, who, like so many of her generation, found an audience on TikTok – first singing covers and then releasing her breakthrough hit, “Boyfriend of the Year”, in 2023. A classic pop voice with just the right amount of husk combines with lovelorn lyrics and a tiny touch of country – it’s just the ticket for those who still can’t get “Espresso” out of their heads.
Songs to stream: “Boyfriend of the Year”, “Mr Hypocrite”
If you can’t stop listening to Joni Mitchell…
…try The Weather Station
The artists who have attempted to emulate Joni Mitchell over the decades are too many to count – but doing something entirely original, while still evoking that raw, poetic feel, is The Weather Station, a Canadian band fronted by Tamara Lindeman, which has been going since 2006. Over complex, softly undulating landscapes of strings, saxophones, guitar and gentle drums, Lindeman explores the intricacies of relationships and our internal worlds. Sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes wildly uplifting, this is supremely powerful songwriting to take you on an emotional journey.
Songs to stream: “Tried to Tell You”, “Body Moves”
If you can’t stop listening to The Weeknd…
…try Jordan Adetunji
If moody R&B grooves are your thing, try the dulcet tones of Belfast singer and rapper Jordan Adetunji. Born in Croydon and raised in Northern Ireland since the age of 10, he has a phenomenally nimble voice and a knack for a riveting hook. His hit single “Kehlani” – referencing another R&B prodigy – shot him to fame last year, and then, when Kehlani featured on the remix, he ascended even higher. Despite his firm rooting in the bassy, slow-jam sounds of The Weeknd, Adetunji feels super contemporary, oozing the kind of confidence and charisma that becomes the biggest stars.
Songs to stream: “Kehlani Remix (feat. Kehlani)”, “Too Many Women (feat. Kwn)”
If you can’t stop listening to Amy Winehouse…
…try Lola Young
Young has found mainstream success with her hit single “Messy” – and her very open, very soulful, very British sound is a wonderful addition to any Winehouse fan’s rotation. There’s something about her directness that feels extremely refreshing – though many of her songs are about anxiety and self-doubt, musically, she is solidly self-assured. It has a wonderfully grounding and empathetic effect.
Songs to stream: “Messy”, “What Is It About Me”
If you can’t stop listening to Adele…
…try Sekou
If you thought they didn’t make them like Adele anymore, think again. British singer, and Brits 2024 Rising Star Award nominee, Sekou is not afraid of singing his heart out to an understated accompaniment – and his voice is phenomenal. Like early Adele, aged just 20, he packs a lifetime’s worth of feeling into his songs without a trace of cheesiness. He leans slightly more R&B than Adele’s classic style, but with that touch of Gen Z cool, Sekou is bringing la voce back to pop. Look out for his debut album later this year.
Songs to stream: “Better Man”, “Forgiving Myself”
If you can’t stop listening to Olivia Rodrigo…
…try Alessi Rose
Back in 2020, Olivia Rodrigo made waves with Sour – a pop album with edge, loaded with teen angst. That sad-girl-meets-pop-icon sound has proved addictive and powerful. If you can’t get enough of it, try Alessi Rose, a 22-year-old British singer with a confessional style and a Gen-Z-does-Y2K look. Lyrics analyse the remnants of failed relationships and choruses fuel them with shredding and driving drums.
Songs to stream: “IYKYK”, “Oh My”
If you can’t stop listening to Arctic Monkeys…
…try Sports Team
If you think no indie rock album can ever beat the Arctic Monkeys’ 2004 debut, you’d be right – but you’d also be missing out. Cambridge band Sports Team do not quite match the Arctics in charged everyday melancholy, but they make up for it in self-awareness and fun – and should sate your appetite for guitar-led choruses, tongue-in-cheek lyrics and rock-star charisma. There are two albums to get your teeth into and another – Boys These Days – on the way in May.
Songs to stream: “Condensation”, “I’m in Love (Subaru)”
