alternative

Alternative music from the underground, straight to your listening device.

Synaptic Snap
I am always bewildered by one of the most common questions I have been asked in my life. "What kind of music do you like?" I think I would be suspicious of someone who actually did have a definitive answer to that question.
By Juliette McCoy Riitters5 years ago in Beat
These Are The Tunes Of My Teenage Days
Music is my therapy, my escape, and my way of being understood when I couldn't explain my pain. I'm sure others mention some of the same songs I'll be reminiscing about. These songs helped others out like they helped me get through troubling times. But the stories I have for these songs are different, I'll never forget what these songs did for me, how I found them, and the routines I had when I would escape into the world these songs immersed me into.
By Samantha Parrish5 years ago in Beat
The Ultimate PTV Rewind
Like every other Mexican scene kid in 2013, the members of Pierce the Veil were my idols. Pierce the Veil was IT for those outcast scene teens of music. It was dark and energetic, filled with rock that incorporated the perfect mix of rebellious lyricism. PTV's image catered to anti-societal norms, and was loaded with typical angst aesthetic of their time. Their sound can be placed into "emo rock" or alternative genres of music, but it's honestly pretty unique to me. There isn't really a specific genre that comes to mind, because PTV is its own form of rock and screamo. But for all the Warped Tour teens of the early 2010's, this band was essential to anyone's playlist.
By K L5 years ago in Beat
A MEANINGFUL JOURNEY
Growing up, weekend band practice and working for my Italian fathers' Autocar business didn't sit well alongside each other. The expectation for me was that I and my brothers helped my Dad and supported the family when I wasn't at school. I wasn't interested in cars, I was only interested in music and often had to fight to get out of the house, carrying my guitar and amp several miles on foot just to make it to rehearsal on a Saturday morning. I was heavily into classic rock music - Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, AC/DC and it stands to reason that these would inevitably be the kind of bands and sounds that I would try to emulate.
By Paolo Giuseppe Sergio Morena5 years ago in Beat
Songs of Drama-Trauma and Reclamation
My Teen Angst Playlist: Somebody by Depeche Mode Creep by Radiohead Hurt by NIN Rid of Me by PJ Harvey Crucify by Tori Amos
By cora lynnish5 years ago in Beat
In a Tizzy? Well, I’ve Got Some Tunes to Soothe You: Americana Edition. Third Place in Zen Playlist Challenge.
Pardon me, but I think it's a little unusual (rude) to leave Americana out of the conversation when we're talking about "zen" or soothing music. Personally, it's my go-to genre when I need any kind of comforting or encouragement. Whenever I find myself in a rut, I'll play one of my favorite Americana tunes and like magic, I find my way back to center with a renewed sense of purpose and steadfast motivation.
By Dream Silas5 years ago in Beat
Headbangers for Headaches
As one does in their formative years, I stole vintage things from my parents, since the styles from three decades ago were coming back, much like the ‘90s now (I know, I freaked out too). In my case, I stole ‘70s rock music from my dad, in that I was the one who exclusively used his iPod (throwback to the 5th generation). My teenage rebel soul, housed in a small body that’s been 5-foot-even since 8th grade, fell in love with the guitar riffs and headbanging of many bands like AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, The Clash, and Cream. ‘70s rock is now Classic Rock, but it was a gateway to my love of alternative rock. The guitar riffs, the yelling, the highway to hell for our misdeeds, wraps me in nostalgia, angst, and the kind of cool that I want to exude. The kind where men are afraid to approach my 5 foot self while I walk alone.
By Ariana GonBon5 years ago in Beat
Why Shoegaze is the Best Genre to Chill to.
Shoegaze is a genre that means a lot to me and one I often site as my favourite style of music. Not a lot of people are very familiar with it so I've included a playlist below of songs I think are great to dip your toes in to get into the genre.
By Paul Heder5 years ago in Beat
Synesthesia and Summer
‘“Ah music,” he said, wiping his eyes. “A magic beyond all we do here!”’ JK Rowling uses Dumbledore, a headmaster of a magic school, to remind us the power behind music. It seems to transcend so many other methods of relaxation and recuperation. Music therapy, singing to plants to make them grow, and music and meditation are beyond magic. The right playlist and the right relaxation method can combine for a perfect storm of rejuvenation.
By Noah Glenn5 years ago in Beat
Practicing Mindfulness: Hand Clapping, Foot Stomping Folk
The meditative sensation of tuning out the outside world and the narration in my head had always seemed very far out of reach for me. I’ve struggled with anxiety and ADHD all my life and have a hard time simply relaxing and living in the moment. This became extremely overwhelming when I was in college. I was constantly stressed about one problem or another and had no idea how to manage it. So, I tried taking a yoga and meditation class. But when my instructor told me to clear my mind, I could never seem to stop myself from free falling through a stream of consciousness no matter how hard I tried.
By Kailey Roberts5 years ago in Beat
A Meditative Playlist
There are so many soothing songs out there, that pick you up and carry you away into the netherspheres of another land. What about a playlist that has the ability not only to uplift, but to ground you in the spheres of this dimension too? A playlist that reminds us how lucky we are to be here amongst the plentitudes of Earth, rather than on some rockier, less gorgeous planet?
By Sophia Laurel Pack5 years ago in Beat
The Other Dylan Playlist
I remember clearly the first time I heard the song 6th Avenue Heartache. It was about a year after the album was actually released. I was driving south down Chicot Rd in Pascagoula, MS. I had just left my boyfriend's apartment at Compass Point. I remember the song coming on the local radio station and I immediately liked it.
By Heather Holland5 years ago in Beat