Music is my life, and it’s been my saving grace amid a year laden with unending trauma and turmoil. I love discovering new artists and bands to groove to and 2020 has provided time aplenty to do just that. Recently, I was listening to a playlist curated by punk duo Nova Twins entitled “Voices for the Unheard” on Spotify. It amplifies Black alternative artists and bands that deserve the spotlight. I was taken aback by the talent on said playlist and just how many of these acts initially flew under my radar. Thus, this article came to fruition.Β 

Below, I’ve included some highlights from the playlist that I loved, along with a few Black alternative artists/bands that weren’t on the playlist. Peruse at your leisure, and be sure to add these supremely talented acts to your musical rotation!

FEVER 333Β 
Photo of Jason Aalon Butler, Stephen Harrison and Aric Improta of rapcore band FEVER 333.

Pictured: (L to R): Jason Aalon Butler, Stephen Harrison and Aric Improta for Music Matters Media. Photo credit: Chuck Marcus.

FEVER 333Β is a hip-hop / punk hybrid whose messages of activism ring clearly amid blistering guitar riffs and guttural vocals. Jason Aalon ButlerΒ (originally ofΒ letlive.),Β Stephen HarrisonΒ andΒ Aric ImprotaΒ come together to create searing politically charged anthems regarding the current state of affairs. It’s bold, brash and brutal. Just the way I like my hip-hop / punk fusions. “BURN IT,” from their full-length albumΒ STRENGTH IN NUMB333RS,Β was my introduction to FEVER 333. It’s an in-your-face battle cry that propagates the message of burning down old systems like systemic racism in order to truly rebuild for the better. It’s a vital message that the world needs to hear.Β 

Militia VoxΒ 
Artist Militia Vox

Pictured: Militia Vox

Yes, I’ve written aboutΒ Militia VoxΒ before. But it bears repeating: give her a listen. Hands down, she has one of the best rock voices I’ve ever heard, and I listen to a boatload of rock music. Her cover of TOOL‘s “46 & 2” manages to evoke the same aura of the original version while putting her own spin on it. Industrial metal is a huge influence, but she’s also inspired by classical music. This is definitely evident in the arrangements of some of her tunes. Vox is also in a band calledΒ Judas PriestessΒ that covers, you guessed it, Judas PriestΒ jams. It’s just as badass as you think it is. Militia Vox should be a staple in the metal world. Fun fact: she has a four-octave range.Β 

Meet Me @ The AltarΒ 
TΓ©a Campbell, Edith Johnson and Ada Juarez of pop-punk band Meet Me @ the Altar.

Pictured (L to R): TΓ©a Campbell, Edith Johnson and Ada Juarez for MusicWeek. Photo credit: Lindsey Byrnes.

If you’re like me and you love old schoolΒ Paramore, then pop punk outfitΒ Meet Me @ The AltarΒ is the answer to both of our prayers.Β Edith JohnsonΒ (lead vocals),Β TΓ©a CampbellΒ (lead guitar, bass guitar) and Ada Juarez (drums) comprise Meet Me @ The Altar, although Johnson joined the fray later than the rest. The band just signed with Fueled By Ramen this year, which was Paramore’s old label. Johnson’s vocals are pitch perfect for this genre and I’m happy to see them carving their niche in the pop punk world. Long live pop punk, says 2005 Melody! Check out “Garden,” their latest single, for all the catchy, punky goodness.Β 

Sophia Urista with Brass AgainstΒ 
Professional photo of vocalist Sophia Urista with Brass Against for Revolver Magazine.

Pictured: vocalist Sophia Urista with Brass Against for Revolver Magazine. Photo credit: Shervin Lainez.

IfΒ Rage Against the MachineΒ and the brass section of a jazz band had a baby,Β Brass AgainstΒ would be the result of that lovemaking. Brass Against is a massive compilation of brass instrumentalists and a bevy of vocalists. While they’ve had multiple singers amid their tenure,Β Sophia UristaΒ has become a mainstay for the band. Frankly, her tracks are my favorites. Urista and Brass Against are a beautiful union of in-your-face, punchy vocals and brass instrumentation. They cover a wide array of punk songs, notably “Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine and “My Own Summer (Shove It)” byΒ Deftones. If you think that “Killing in the Name” would sound less badass with brass at the forefront, let me tell you this: it sounds exponentiallyΒ moreΒ badass.Β 

Nova TwinsΒ 
Georgia South and Amy Love of punk outfit Nova Twins for Fringe Frequency.

Pictured: Georgia South and Amy Love for Fringe Frequency. Photo credit: Sanaa Abstrakt.

What is there to say about Nova Twins that I haven’t already said? I realize I covered them previously, but I feel their signal needs another boost from yours truly. Without their “Voices for the Unheard” playlist, I wouldn’t have discovered the majority of the artists / bands on this list. Georgia SouthΒ provides slap-happy bass riffs while Amy LoveΒ brings the gritty vocals and searing guitar notes.Β Who Are the Girls?Β still gets regular playtime from me. It’s a perfectly feminist punk installment that ups my own badass factor tenfold when I listen to it. It’s the epitome of empowerment. If you want to know who the girls are, then give Nova Twins a listen.Β 

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SATEΒ 
Photo of solo artist SATE. Image by Mike Highfield.

Pictured: SATE. Photo credit: Mike Highfield.

Toronto artistΒ SATEΒ brings the funk and the rock. Her music is the perfect mixture of rock, gritty funk and bluesy soul. She has one of the best rock voices in the business. Her full-length album,Β RedBlack&Blue, is rife with empowerment and invigoration. “Warrior” was the track that struck a chord with me and I’m sure you’ll be hooked too. My new dream is to see SATE and Militia Vox sing a duet together. The world needs this. Her most recent single, “Dirty Little Lie,” is a good time and a half. If you love dirty, funky rock, you’ll love SATE. I have no doubt.Β 

OxymorronsΒ 
Photo of band Oxymorrons by photographer Aaron "Ignatius" Ortiz.

Pictured (L to R): Kami “KI” Bellevue, Matty Mayz, Jafe Paulino and Demi “Deee” Bellevue for Billboard Magazine. Photo credit: Aaron “Ignatius” Ortiz.

OxymorronsΒ have successfully blended hip-hop and rock for a wholly unique sound that’s their own. Warning: listening to their musicΒ willΒ make you want to rage against the machine.Β Kami “KI” Bellevue andΒ Demi “Deee” BellevueΒ provide vocals whileΒ Matty MayzΒ plays drums andΒ Jafe PaulinoΒ adds vocals, guitar and bass to the mix. Additionally, Oxymorrons recently brought lead guitarist Adam November into the fold. Their latest single, “Justice,” is a bastion of amplification for the Black Lives Matter movement. Oxymorrons aim to “speak for, and to, the rejected.” You can’t listen to this band without feeling a burst of uninhibited energy.Β 

Big JoanieΒ 
Picture of punk band Big Joanie for Louder. Image by Elise Rose.

Pictured (L to R): Estella Adeyeri, Chardine Taylor-Stone and Stephanie Phillips for Louder. Photo credit: Elise Rose.

Big JoanieΒ is a Black feminist punk band that hails from the UK. The trio consists of Chardine Taylor-Stone (drums and vocals), Stephanie Phillips (guitar and vocals) and Estella Adeyeri (bass and vocals). They’ve extensively toured with popular feminist punk actsΒ Bikini KillΒ andΒ Sleater-Kinney. I’d say their music is highly influenced by the aforementioned, but I also get faint HoleΒ vibes when I listen to them. “Fall Asleep” from their full-length albumΒ SistahsΒ was my introduction to Big Joanie. I haven’t looked back since. Be sure to check out their latest double single Cranes In the Sky, and you’ll get a taste of the slight Hole vibes I’m referring to. Big Joanie is the raw punk cure for what ails you.Β 

The New RespectsΒ 
Photo of pop rock band The New Respects at Chicago's Lollapalooza in 2019. Image by Roman Sobus.

Pictured (L to R): Darius Fitzgerald, Lexi Fitzgerald, Jasmine Mullen and Zandy Fitzgerald at Lollapalooza. Photo credit: Roman Sobus.

The New RespectsΒ is a family affair. Twins Zandy Fitzgerald and Lexi Fitzgerald, brother Darius Fitzgerald and cousin Jasmine Mullen comprise a multi-faceted musical act that infuses pop, soul and rock ‘n roll. “Trouble,” their most popular tune from 2018 albumΒ Before the Sun Goes Down, was the song that got me hooked. Their cover of “You Should Be Dancing” by theΒ Bee Gees was featured in Netflix’sΒ To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You. Full disclosure: I actually prefer The New Respects’ version. Their music is infectious and mood elevating. You can’t help but feel a rush of serotonin when listening to them. If you love old school soul and pop, you’ll dig The New Respects.Β 

ShingaiΒ 
Solo artist Shingai is represented by Insanity Group. Image by Mario Testino.

Pictured: Shingai Shoniwa. Photo credit: Mario Testino.

ShingaiΒ is the lead vocalist / bassist for UK indie rock outfit The Noisettes, but since 2019 she’s been churning out music as a solo artist. Her debut solo album, Too Bold, was just released last month. What really struck me about Shingai was the seamless blending of genres in her music. There are definitely elements of soul, pop, indie and plenty of intriguing instrumentation. Her Spotify page cites her sound as “inspired by her London, Bantu and Zimbabwean heritage, which gives ‘Too Bold’ an effervescent soundscape spirit, which is both electrifying and compelling.” I’m always on the lookout for pop artists who take bold risks musically, and Shingai does that and then some. If you like ethereal soundscapes unlike anything you’ve heard before, you’ll love Shingai.Β 

Honorable Mention: Infinity SongΒ 
Photo of family band Infinity Song. Image by Angel Marie Boyd.

Pictured (L to R): Abraham Boyd, MoMo Boyd, Victory Boyd, Angel Boyd and Israel Boyd. Photo credit: Angel Boyd.

Family bands are the best bands. That’s just straight up fact. Detroit’sΒ Infinity Song boasts Abraham Boyd, MoMo Boyd, Victory Boyd, Angel Boyd and Israel Boyd. They started performing publicly at a young age, hitting the streets of the Big Apple in the hopes of sharing their immense talents with the world. There’s just something so calming about their music. It’s rife with breathtaking harmonies, soulful melodies and sweet rhythmic sounds. Their tone really lives in the jazz, soul, acoustic, pop and cinematic musicscape. I recently discovered them on Twitter when they did a wonderful rendition of “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac. I was smitten from the start. Infinity Song’s debut album, Mad Love, was released last month. Give “Everything Is Gonna Be Alright” a listen. It’s a comforting respite from the cataclysmic world we currently live in.Β 

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What are your favorite Black alternative artists and bands? Sound off in the comments below! Be sure to check out Nova Twins’ “Voices for the Unheard” playlist on Spotify here.Β 

 

This article was originally published on 11/6/20

 

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