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Our last newsletter offered a cure for the issue of music boredom; if you missed it, read it here (and then come back, please!): We’ll Cure Your Musical Rut.

This week, we have a doozy of a newsletter for you. We’ve scoured the internet, read countless articles, and delved into the depths of Reddit to come up with ten of the most overrated artists around. Nothing says you can’t enjoy them, and don’t shoot the messenger if you’re a Switfy or from the Beyhive. For good measure and a new addition to our newsletter, we have a Taste Takeover from the writer of Amplify this week - with some underrated and lesser-known artists, too.

Onwards!

What is an ‘Overrated Artist’?

Generally, the term covers hearing a musician or band way too much and being underwhelmed by what they produce. It happens across all types of art; music isn’t the only place to find this issue.

When musical taste comes into play, and true fans, it is also a place for some contention. With some artists having ‘armies’ of fans, expressing a distaste for their music online can land you in a keyboard fight.

We’re not taking sides; we are just going to deliver our findings (for now).

Overrated Doesn’t = No Talent

Most artists that reach the point of mass overplay do have talent; that is why they are there in the first place. Their vocals and lyrics resonate with millions, which in turn sees them getting more airplay. We also get the issue of a few songs becoming incredibly popular while the rest of their catalog is undiscovered.

When something gets overplayed, even fans will get sick of it eventually, and soon, the song itself slides into overrated.

Musicians and artists can be fantastic, but due to the excessive hype, they find themselves on the overrated list. The list we’ve included is consistent across forums and media outlets alike.

Did one of your favorites make the list? Who do you think is overrated? Leave us a comment and let us know.

And now on to our brand new feature!

Something we want to do is build a community and introduce your ears to new music and your eyes to great blogs and social pages. The first to be featured here is Hannah from Amplify. You’ll find interviews, reviews, and ones to watch. We love Small Artists To Watch.

• Gracie Abrams – Gracie encapsulates honest, conversational lyricism with a pop production or acoustic feel to create her music. I specifically love her recent album, ‘The Secret Of Us.’ Within this work, her lyricism sounds like a conversation you may have with your best friend in its’ tone and speed. This is evident in the more up-tempo tracks like “That’s So True” and “Risk,” where they combine this with a catchy beat to attract listeners. However, she can also create slower, more emotionally struck songs like “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” and “Felt Good About You”, similar to her style when she first began creating. Her vocals are a stand-out as she has spoken about growing confidence in her vocal ability and showcasing that range on live shows such as SNL. She is currently on tour, attracting a wider audience, and is one of my favourite artists right now. 

• Thomas Headon – an indie artist who recently returned to the music scene with an EP, ‘Wasn’t a fighting kid.’ All the songs are extremely unique in production, each hitting an original style. There is almost a faster production in the songs filled with heightened emotion, which is more frustrating for him, and it combines well with his faster tone in those songs. This is evident in songs like ‘Panic,’ and ‘Hero.’ This is something Thomas has always done well in his work. I also think this EP is cohesive, which is important to me in an artist’s work; I can see a clear outro song within this work. His work has a level of authenticity, which I love listening to. 

• Olivia Rodrigo - an artist who really cements herself as a multi-faceted artist and songwriter. She has not stopped since her hit’ Driver’s License,’ released at only 17 (years old). This is another artist who makes such a cohesive record, with the assistance of producer Dan Nigro, which is an aspect she brings forward. My favourite album is hers, ‘Guts.’ She writes about her experience as a teenager and all the trials and tribulations that come with that, with love and friendships in the mix. Songs like ‘Pretty isn’t Pretty’ speak on the double standards girls and women face in society and how she relates to that, which is an important topic to her wide audience and makes her very relatable to a whole generation. I also love the track, ‘Teenage Dream,’ which speaks on her getting older and how she wished for time to go back and has that worry all teenagers may have for the future. She started writing songs in her bedroom, and I like her relatability to listeners and her ability to inspire her generation. I see her tapping into the rock genre a little more, especially when performing live, and I think that fits her vocal tone perfectly. 

• Sydney Rose – I always like discovering smaller artists, and this is an artist I recently got into. This came after her recent release, ‘We Hug Now,’ which has a captivating bridge. This has also been done well over time on TikTok and has grown her audience. She takes on a more acoustic feel in her work, focusing on her incredible raw vocals and acoustic instrumental. However, she can also build production when needed. I find her a comforting artist in her tone, perfect for an autumn day.

  I look forward to what she will release next.  

• Nieve Ella – An artist who has solidified herself in that indie category, tapping slowly into more of a rock-focused production. She has a unique style, tone, and production that I think sets her apart from other musicians. Her recent EP, ’Watch It Ache and Bleed,’ put her more onto that alt-rock scene. Her vocals blend seamlessly with the production level, bringing that to life during her live performances. Having seen her live, I find her stage presence captivates her audience and draws me to her as an artist.  

Want to get involved? Email: [email protected] You don’t need a blog - we’re happy to hear from our readers too!

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