In Need of Recognition: Artists and bands that deserve more coverage for their unique styles and undercover hits

I’ve always taken my music seriously, tuning in to what each song makes me feel rather than fully focusing on the message from the artist or technicalities of the music. 

Because I tend to be picky with my music selections, I rarely ever listen to an artist’s entire discography and instead look for songs that fit the vibe of a playlist I’m making. I end up finding new artists almost weekly, so I looked deeper into the work of a few artists I’ve found that I think more people should know about, listen to and support. 

THE GREETING COMMITTEE

You may recognize this Kansas City-based band from their musical appearance in the film “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” or their most popular song “Hands Down,” which instantly transports you to a sunset drive in the summer heat.

Though that may sound cheesy, the indie-pop/indie-rock music that The Greeting Committee produces truly makes you visualize movie-like scenarios as you listen, but also have a liveliness that you can fully jam out if you’re in the mood for a one-person dance party. 

Their newest album, “Dandelion,” shows their growth from their previous music that struggles to voice negative feelings in more emotional music. They play with storytelling that inflicts different emotions. For instance, their song “Float Away” is a tear-jerking confession of guilt, but could also be blasted in a room full of dancing friends. 

The album also demonstrates the indie-rock side of the band, through songs like “Ada,” where lead singer Addie Santino tells about the struggles of being a woman from the perspective of a trans woman named Ada, referring to local KC guitarist Ada Brumback. Along with the song, Santino — an out gay member of the LGBTQ+ community — has also been praised by listeners for using she/her pronouns in her songs when referring to a significant other.

During Pride month last year, the band further celebrated pride with a Zoom performance and conversations with guest artists, which was announced on their highly aesthetic Instagram account — it reminds me of a girl’s phone screen once they discovered iOS 14 and Shortcuts and decided to make everything a soft, minty green with vintage photos of grass and flower fields. 

After listening through their albums, I’ve already added songs from The Greeting Committee to my “main character moment” and “sad high” Spotify playlists, ready for my bipolar drive to school each morning. 

RADKEY 

I may just be my father’s daughter, but for my first time listening to psychedelic rock and punk rock, I actually loved it. You might love it too if you’re a sucker for a guitar that sounds like you’re in a ride-or-die drag race. 

Listening to Radkey’s song “Start Freaking Out” blasting through your earbuds has the energy of a car crash, but as you pull your earbuds out you’re left sitting in traffic on the highway — it’s almost exhilarating. 

Much like The Greeting Committee, the band Radkey originated just an hour away from KC in St. Joseph, MO. But this band of three brothers has music far more intense than that from an indie movie. Their music sounds like going down with a fight and dying satisfied. 

While this is another band that might take some getting used to, Radkey is a little more contemporary than Jain. But if you’re still wary and need a little easing into a band with a more edge than you’re used to, I recommend listening to “Seize” first. Or just for the hell of it, listen to “Teen Titans Theme” for some nostalgia. 

But if you’d rather dive face first into life or death punk rock, listen to their songs “Red Letter,” “Dark Black Makeup,” and “Feed Your Brain,” which are some of my personal favorites. 

As you may notice from their Instagram page — which is in need of a little love — Radkey is a small, less-known local band that deserves more attraction for their retro rock style that’s unaware of restrictions. The three brothers, Dee, Isaiah, and Solomon Radke started their band back in highschool and have been smashing drums and shredding guitars since, now having released five albums. 

Radkey is currently touring with their latest album “Green Room,” but I’ll be waiting for them to come back for more concerts while I listen to “Cat and Mouse,” making my car speakers rattle. 

JAIN 

Of the artists I’ve listened to, Jain is one of the most experimental. She mixes French techno and what sounds like a little reggae to create her music with a whole new sound.

The mix of techno, Arabic percussion and African rhythms in songs like “Feel It” and “Flash” make you want to sway your hips  and dance the way you only do when you know no one is watching. But if you’re not used to exploratory, high-energy music, I suggest starting by listening to her songs “Souldier” or “Alright” to work your way into her genre. 

The songs feature prominent Arabic drums and dance beats, putting you in the climax of your movie when you finally defeat your foe. These rhythms come from Jain’s background, having been born in France and moved to Dubai, Adu Dhabi and the Congo — though she says her roots lie mainly in Dubai and Madagascar. 

Of her two released albums, I really enjoyed “Souldier” — it kept in theme with her mix of genres and became a celebration of cherishing time together while we can. Along with her typical swingy and upbeat music, there were songs like “Dream” and title song “Souldier” that wove calming lyrics into her style without being gloomy. 

Though it may seem out of your comfort zone to try such a different style of music, trust me when I say you won’t be disappointed by Jain.