Your Neighbor's Band Is Actually Kind of Good
- Dawson Moulder
- Jan 4, 2021
- 4 min read
We all know someone from high school who posts a song or two on Soundcloud and suddenly thinks they’re on their way to headlining Coachella and signing a million dollar record deal with Capitol Records. Often times this person flaunts mediocre lyrics, with a half decent beat they bought online, and has no idea how to use autotune properly. But every once in a while “that person,” is kind of good. Recently a close friend of mine was sharing how “this” person in their hometown happened to be their neighbor. Hailing from a small suburb of San Jose, her neighbor and a couple of his buddies were putting together a project that would be responsible for one of the hottest songs of 2020. This boy next door happened to be 1 of the 5 members of Peach Tree Rascals, whose song “Mariposa” has tallied over 145 million streams on Spotify alone since its release. It might not be to the same extent, but this article highlights artists who are on their way to creating similar success for themselves this coming year. Each artist mentioned currently has under 15,000 monthly listeners on Spotify which is a number I can see increasing as their careers grow in 2021.
1. Marlon Funaki - 239 Monthly Listeners
Marlon is a dynamic artist out of the Inland Empire whose sound echoes the exciting surf rock vibes championed by artists like The Growlers, Surf Curse, and The Buttertones. Marlon captivates his listeners with his extraordinary voice that seems to age him 10 years, as he shares stories of what it is like to struggle understanding love as a young adult. Two tracks that best showcase Marlon’s talents are, “Why Can’t You Be Mine” and “Where Do We Go,” which both feature jaw dropping guitar solos that quite literally took my breath away. With all that said, something I truly believe sets Funaki apart from the pack, and what I believe will be the catalyst in his eventual climb to stardom, is his ability to incorporate Spanish into his music. In “Dame Tu Mano” you can hear as he shifts between the two languages, similar to an artist much of the Indie world has come to know and love, Cuco. With this in mind it is my belief that Marlon is someone who will have bright future in the industry.
2. Leisure Club - 13,545 Monthly Listeners
I really can’t say enough about this group here. To get to know Leisure Club we have to travel north of the border to Vancouver, Canada. This surf rock band is truly something to behold. A group of guys who truly have perfected their sound since their formation back in 2016 where they came together over common love of music and a “mutual interest in relaxed living,” according to their website. Leisure Club has unlocked the secret code of what it takes to create a piece of art that will speak to your soul directly and tell you exactly how to feel. Their versatility ranges from the upbeat happy vibes that, “Hollow Heartbeat” and “TV Shows” seem to encapsulate, to the nostalgic sound of “Low Light”. This sort of variety will keep you enamored as you shuffle through the anomaly that is Leisure Club.
3. Mandala - 1,003 Monthly Listeners
Here is a group whose story is just as impressive as their music. Hailing from Waterbury, Connecticut, Mandala has been able to develop their alt-rock sound to a tee. This quartet is the kind of band that gets better every time you listen. Each press of the play button is like peeling an onion, there are so many layers to the genius that is Mandala. Songs like “Heavy Sleeper” and “Motel Lobby” really take you on a journey with key changes that only make you more intrigued as to where the song may go next. Their sound most closely reminds me of The Greeting Committee and Peach Pit, especially considering they tend to incorporate a guitar solo in almost every track. Even if you don’t find yourself falling in love with this group like I have, I definitely encourage you to read their biography on Spotify where you can learn more about the amazing story of the kids from Kennedy High.
4. Big Sierra - 1,464 Monthly Listeners
When the pandemic first began most people spent the early part of lockdowns learning how to make bread, watching Tiger King, or raiding their local grocery stores for toilet paper. This talented artist from Northern California took these troubling times to really explore his creative side. Through this process three tracks have been born that are unequivocally impressive, especially because they were all recorded in the man’s living room. One song that truly separates itself from the pack is “Floating out.” The song can best be described in two words…pure magic. From the dreamy guitar riffs to the vibrant vocals, the song completely captivated me. Only 5 months out from Big Sierra's first release, I can only see this quarantine project becoming a much bigger deal as we head into 2021.
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