I’ve listened to way too much music, from abrasive punk bands like System of a Down to soft spoken singers like Clairo. Navigating between the various types of music is enjoyable, but no matter what I’ve always found myself gravitating towards experimental artists far more than others. These are the musical artists who don’t let constructs like genre and normalcy impose on their work, instead striving for bold and new sounds wholly unique to them. Music that can’t be replicated because it’s so tuned with the creator’s ethos. This unshackled ambition expresses not just a monetary focus, but a passion and appreciation for the powerful artform that is music. In an industry with more than a few audibly boring artists, experimental artists are paving a path for themselves which is why I’m more than happy to recommend a few I enjoy.

070 Shake

Case and point is 070 Shake, I won’t even attempt to assign her music a genre. Her latest album, “Modus Vivendi,” is a surreal trip through the cosmos packaged

in the form of music. This trip was aided by the legendary Mike Dean, who holds numerous production credits on Shake’s debut album. With 14 tracks there’s a little too much to get into, so I’ll focus on the standout song called “The Pines.” Shake personally describes it as a “twisted love story” and the song’s ambient yet violent nature perfectly embodies this. It opens with a devilish electric guitar as Shake longs for a better life for herself, but by the end regresses into a more violent state, with Shake screeching “fight back” over a majestic orchestra. Shake’s intoxicating vocals coupled with production that sounds like it was plucked straight from the sky will leave anyone willing to listen in for a journey.

Brockhampton

Next up is Brockhampton, who are a collective that, funnily enough, formed on a forum for Kanye fans. On a conceptual level, this may not sound like it would go smoothly, seeing how the only common denominator between them was a love for Kanye, but they formed a boy band and proceeded to release seven albums. The band is short lived however, lasting from 2016 to 2022, the group’s breakup was announced just last month, which is why I want to highlight their final album titled “Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine” that was released early 2021. The first song of the album, “Buzzcut,” is by far the most exploratory, utilizing a chopped up vocal from one of their unreleased songs that shell shocks the entire record. Every song on “Roadrunner” has a distinct feel that could have only been accomplished by them. This album is a wonderful amalgamation of sound that serves as their farewell to fans.

Charli XCX

Moving on, Charli XCX is a star that shines so bright you can feel it through her music. Charli started her career making fairly traditional pop and created a song that I know everyone is all too familiar with called “Boom Clap.” Its conventional yet infectious production and lyrics echoed across the airwaves when it released in 2014, debuting at number 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 and climbing to the position of eight before falling. This early style is juxtaposed by the raw, glitchy and flashy style that her craft has evolved into that refuses to abide by any rules. Charli went through a musical reawakening and her 2017 mixtape “Pop 2” realizes this evolution. The mixtape’s iconic sound was aided by “avant-pop” producers such as SOPHIE and A. G. Cook who have production credits on it. The abstract nature of the album moves between piercing electronic pop and frantic distortions throughout its 10-song track length. The song that personifies this collision of light and sound is its closing track, titled “Track 10.” During the song, the production decomposes and recomposes itself in a way only Charli could pull off because she brings an element of coalition to it with her vocals. Charli created something special, and it’s more than worth a listen.

Tyler, the Creator

Last but certainly not least is Tyler, the Creator. Tyler has been in the music scene for years, but I don’t think his music really began to stand out until “Flower Boy.” It’s a great album, I enjoyed it, but what I feel was even more important about it is how it paved the way for its successor “Igor.” To put it simply, “Igor” is a genre bending masterpiece. The way it twists and contorts every aspect of music conventions is awe inducing. There isn’t any music in the world that sounds even slightly similar to Igor, this is because not only did Tyler write the songs, but he handled the production as well. Sound isn’t the only variable that makes “Igor” memorable, it simultaneously progresses a soap opera of a story where a guy must come to terms with the fact that he won’t receive the same level of commitment from his partner, who refuses to leave his falsehood of a relationship for him. The climax of this Shakespearean tale is the audible jungle that is “New Magic Wand” as the main character threatens to go to the extremes to secure their relationship, but simultaneously begins to comprehend some of the faults in it. All in all, Igor is a sonic voyage with a riveting underlying story that fills a role no other music could replace.

Experimental is cool, and I’m going to keep searching for artists that bend the rules of what music should sound like, similar to what these few have done. This type of music delivers something that only someone with a passion for it could craft. One last song that I feel personifies this is Shake’s relatively new single “Neo Surf” which is accompanied by a stunning music video with some jaw dropping visuals. This brand of artistry can only be found in those few who are willing to be different, which is why next time you’re looking for a tune, try checking out one of them.