6 Artists to Listen to If You Love Phoebe Bridgers

Spotify is so good to us. Nothing sets the tone for my morning quite like waking up to forty-seven curated playlists made especially for each of my one-hundred moods. I never listen to Taylor Swift anymore (except for when I’m sad or angry or anxious or happy or excited or scared), but my Spotify Wrapped still hasn’t quite caught up with my rebrand.  

This is because I, much like you, Dear Reader, am a creature of habit. I smart-shuffle my liked songs so often it would make my ‘album-only’ friends’ heads spin. And where does every shuffle road lead to? Well, the same place every other path leads in this life: Phoebe Bridgers. If you had a Tumblr account in 2014, shopped Hot Topic’s two for $28 tee sales, or still wear Vans, I urge you to read on. Mother Bridgers is here for you. Surrender to the sound!

For those of you who have been living under a rock, Phoebe Bridgers is a Grammy award-winning indie folk rock artist best known for her 2017 album Stranger in the Alps. She speaks to the recovering emo in all of us, penning confessional, heart-wrenching ballads; some so lyric-driven they could almost be spoken. She carved out a unique spot for herself in the alternative singer-songwriter community as a melder of rock, country, and pop inspirations.  You’d be hard-pressed not to find something that speaks to the part of you that is still riding around in the back of a truck on a starry summer night with your high school friends. 

Still, we only have two full-length albums to work with (one hundred more, please), and I have oh so much time to fill listening to my Sad Girl Hours playlist. If you haven’t listened to both of these all the way through, I recommend bookmarking this page, doing your homework, and coming back for more. 

If you’re like me, you can put a double-check in that box and carry on. Without further adieu, I present six artists to stream yesterday to fully cement your place in the Pharbz fam.

boygenius, obviously.

It’s hard to follow Phoebe Bridgers without catching wind of her other project, boygenius. The girl-power supergroup comprised of Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus (two more killer artists to check out) just released their debut album, The Record, earlier this year. Boygenius takes a broader, more self-confident look at the ‘little things’ Bridgers explores in her solo work without sacrificing the sordid, introspective moments we’ve all come to love. 

Ethel Cain

Ethel Cain has now gifted us with two EPs and (finally!) one full-length album. The Florida native’s 2022 single “Ptolemaea” made the rounds on TikTok a few months ago, creating some buzz for her debut album, Preacher’s Daughter. Cain waffles between rock, folk, and pop sounds without wavering from her commitment to inspect the condition of the American South. Her new single, “Famous Last Words (An Ode to Eaters)” is quickly gaining traction in alternative circles, offering hope that a sophomore album with even surer footing is just around the corner. Americana is not dead, and Ethel Cain is here to make sure it stays that way.

 The National

Ohio’s The National was formed in 1999 by members Matt Berninger, Aaron and Bryce Dessner, and Scott and Bryan Devendorf. Their mellow, rock-forward guitar and heavy-handed drum lines perfectly complement Berninger’s iconic speak-singing. While The National has been around for quite some time, they’ve been circulating new fanbases in the past couple of years after their feature on Taylor Swift’s 2020 album evermore, followed by a Swift feature on their own 2023 album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein. They’ve released a whopping nine full-length albums since their New York debut, pulling listeners from all genres who are drawn to their wordy, conversational lyricism and raw live performances.

Lady Lamb

Lady Lamb is on the come-up! Aly Spaltro has been releasing pop-rock power anthems since 2010. Her hyper-specificity and clever soulfulness make her the perfect next listen after Bridgers’ 2020 Punisher. While the scalding lead guitar of her earlier albums leaves nothing to be desired, Spaltro’s voice is the unequivocal star of her latest release, In The Mammoth Nothing Of The Night. “Arms” experiments with Spanish-inspired guitar and lulling piano melodies, while “You Are The Apple” could have just as easily featured on Arctic Monkeys’ 2006 Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. She officially released the folksy “Between Two Trees” in February, complete with a sweeping, melancholic violin to seal the deal.

Snail Mail

Bridger’s musical colleague and future co-star in A24’s upcoming horror feature I Saw The TV Glow, Snail Mail, is a budding alternative icon. The one-woman production is the brainchild of guitarist and singer/songwriter Lindsey Jordan. Her long-awaited sophomore album, Valentine, is an angsty, indie rock-centric look at life, love, and self.  Her ethereal instrumentation and less-is-more production echo SITA and Bridgers’ vulnerable, idiomatic writing. It has been two years since the release of Valentine, and while no signs have pointed towards an album anytime soon, fans are hopeful for a new release in the coming months. Jordan is currently completing an international tour, but will briefly return to the US in September alongside our next artist, Weyes Blood, for The National’s Homecoming Festival in Cincinnati.

Weyes Blood

Weyes Blood, also known as Natalie Laurie Mering, is a veteran in indie/alternative communities. Mering made a splash in 2019 with her dreamy single “Andromeda,” but has been making music since she was just 15 years old. Besides being my favorite artist on this list, Weyes Blood is known for her delicate melodies and sweeping, pseudo-psychedelic choruses. Her lyrics are less concerned with looking inward and more interested in true human connection; made complete with cinematic music videos and intimate, immersive live shows. And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow is her fifth and latest full-length album, released in 2022.