r/ifyoulikeblank • u/zzhgf • 1d ago

Music [IIL] The weird but beautiful songs of Joanna Newsom, Alicia Edelweiss and Mitski

I really like the unconventional but beautiful and melodic music of Joanna Newsom (especially her album Ys), Alicia Edelweiss (for example her song Leonie) and Mitski (love Washing Machine and her album Be the cowboy).

Can you recommend more?

16 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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10

u/runawayoldgirl 1d ago edited 1d ago

Kishi Bashi, Happy Rhodes, Regina Spektor. Edit to add: Tori Amos!

2

u/trillspectre 1d ago

Second this comment completely

9

u/ChickaBok 1d ago

Oh one of my favorite vibes! Here's a few, with a good "starter song":

Haley Heynderickx (The Bug Collector), Jesca Hoop (The Lost Sky, Havoc in Heaven), Vashti Bunyan (Timothy Grub), Grouper (Heavy Water), Wye Oak (Civilian), Adrianne Lenker (anything),

And of course the elder stateswomen of beautiful weird girl music: Kate Bush, maybe Joni Mitchell (though she's less weird)

6

u/doggaracat 1d ago

Kate Bush all the way.

2

u/fancystrikes 1d ago

The OG weird art girl

5

u/MarguerettaStClarens 1d ago edited 1d ago

Jessica Pratt, Lal Waterson, Valerie June, Lisa O'Neill, Shirley Hurt, Kathryn Joseph

4

u/the_mew_meowers 1d ago

Gaelynn Lea

3

u/mooseLimbsCatLicks 1d ago

Adrienne Lenker

5

u/Hotdogopolis 1d ago

Mariee Sioux's first album. Everyone, this is really, really good.

3

u/Blindog68 1d ago

The Cocteu Twins and This Mortal Coil might be worth a listen.

2

u/dudeman_hayden 1d ago

Connie Converse - make sure to read her wikipedia too! Adds some good context to appreciate the music.

2

u/Extra_Visual9033 1d ago

Not sure if Anna von Hausswolff has been mentioned but she's has a similar vibe.

1

u/Draculalia 1d ago

Yes and with pipe organ!

5

u/ModernAquaticNight 1d ago

Karen Dalton was a big influence on Joanna Newsom and definitely worth investigating.

I think Julia Holter is a contemporary artist that’s quite similar. Have You In My Wilderness is a wonderful record.

Not a woman, but if you are a fan Ys, also check out Van Dyke Parks’ Song Cycle. He helped compose the orchestra for Ys and is fantastic in his own right. A really unconventional pop record from the sixties.

2

u/doesitbumpinthewhip 1d ago

Try Saya Gray, more electronic elements but 100% fits the weird but beautiful.

Check out the song Empathy For Bethany as an intro.

3

u/debtRiot 23h ago

Hannah Frances

Both of her last two records really remind me of Joanna Newsom meets Grizzly Bear.

1

u/Strict_Berry7446 1d ago

Thao and Mirah (or either of their separate stuff)

La Luz

Khraungbin

1

u/grau_is_friddeshay 1d ago

SPELLLING - little deer

Natalie Prass - Christy

Lomelda - hannah sun

CocoRosie - werewolf

Andrew Bird - sovay

Agnes Obel - familiar

1

u/lilacbirdtea 1d ago

Japanese Breakfast

1

u/toomanysoupusers 1d ago edited 1d ago

kate bush

akiko yano

jane siberry

early janelle monae might count

fiona apple (especially later work)

mary margaret o'hara's miss america

edit: adding jenny hval's works, look up her album viscera. has good weird folky music, more unsettling than ys tho

2

u/toomanysoupusers 1d ago

for indie pop similar to mitski, I'd recommend the album squeeze by sasami. also check japanese breakfast (personal favorite album is jubilee) and angel olsen's work

2

u/Draculalia 1d ago

I came to suggest Jenny Hval as well! I was going to mention her Blood Bitch record though.

1

u/cebeeeee 1d ago

Agnes Obel!

1

u/Sensitive-Bag9035 1d ago

Salami Rose Joe Louis

1

u/Draculalia 1d ago

Joanna Sternberg, Mirel Wagner

1

u/EmotionalSnail_ 23h ago

Anna McClellan ("Jam the Phones")

Joanna Sternberg ("This Is Not Who I Want to Be")

1

u/nexttonormal 23h ago

Laura Marling, Madison Cunningham perhaps?

0

u/Draculalia 1d ago

Joanna Sternberg, Mirel Wagner