As the landscapes of our lives change and shift with the ways of the world, newfound inspirations change and shift the soundscape of the music made along the way.
This year brought so many releases that required an eclectic mix of genre descriptors to accurately capture their sound, and the scene’s move toward defying and bouncing between genres has been astounding to watch. From artists we’ve covered here at Music Mecca to the general everyday soundtrack of our lives, the musicians of 2024 are doing things their own way and sounding superb doing it.
Without further adieu, here is a list of my Top 10 Genre-Bending Artists of 2024 — a diverse group of immensely innovative and creative individuals.
10. [DARYL] – The Wasted Casualties and I Dream Alone
When we covered [DARYL]’s October 2024 double album release, undeniable band synergy was apparent between these albums, but the band’s embodiment of at least two genres at once, between two different albums on the same day, was a testament to musicality that has left us impressed. “Entertain Me Tonight” of I Dream Alone carries a digital teenage pop dream feel while “Fuck You I Want My MTV” of The Wasted Casualties kicks with a Beastie Boys-reminiscent hard rock bop. Listeners may come to expect a 1980s vibe, but they’ll never quite know which of the versatile styles [DARYL] will show off and show it skillfully.
9. Punty – Figure 8
Austin, Texas’s alt-indie band Punty released their 3-track EP, Figure 8, on October 18th, 2024, meeting the spooky season with a fitting soundscape. The usually lo-fi, jangly, and acoustic group turned to 2000s auto-tuned shoegaze inspirations to invent a new Punty sound that is filled with angst and grit. Traces of electronic, hard metal, and brutalist riffage are interwoven with their frequented off-kilter harmonies and soothing melodies to offer another perspective of the band.
8. The Mall – The Mall on Audiotree Live
“The Mall is for punks who dance,” says Mark Plant, the project’s front musician, a polymath who has been all over St. Louis’s underground scene across multi-plus projects for almost a decade. Crossing EDM, punk, techno, hardcore, and breakcore to get something utterly experimental and impeccably intriguing, The Mall on Audiotree Live not only takes a turn from The Mall’s previous lean on the punk side of things, but it seems to create a new genre all together – something not quite punk and not quite electronic, but astoundingly considerate of both.
7. Ollella – “Optimist”
Bonding the timeless with modernity alongside angelic raw vocals, indie folk artist Ollella’s most recent single, “Optimist” (which we reviewed), was a no-brainer for this list. As the majority of Ollella’s songs are written on cello or the electric tenor guitar, there is profound definity to the songs’ structures, and “Optimist” is no different. Bass-clef rooted tones steer the way as ethereal electronics bubble through the sidescapes, creating an open yet melodic silhouette that is marvelously its own. Such a refined and well done combination of classical and current music is sure to stop a music lover in their tracks.
6. Pipe-eye – Pipe-defy
Cook Craig’s solo project Pipe-eye is redefining disco, funk, synth, and whatever lies between a grand combination of them all in his first album with p(doom) Records, Pipe-defy. Incorporations of 1970s and 80s-prompted dancing keys and electronics allow tracks like “Lords of Lithium” and “Fortune Cookie” to both float with bubbly atmospheric tones and drive the sound home with demanding electronica. Though Craig’s other musical projects eb toward the scintillatingly unique side of the musical spectrum, Pipe-eye’s Pipe-defy obliterates descriptors, adding an unexpected beep and boop at every melodic bend.
5. Warmduscher – Too Cold to Hold
Formed in the ripe post-punk environment of 2014 London, Warmduscher launched their fifth album, Too Cold to Hold, pulling from classic punk, romantic disco, electronica, swing jazz, and the list goes on. Tunes like “Immaculate Deception” and “Pure at the Heart,” bring together electronic beats, cinematic orchestra, and poetic-style vocals that create imagery steeped in intention. Reminiscent of Gilla Band, Warmduscher brands itself and its sound well but not by any conventional standard. It’s always galvanizing to hear the fun they’re having through their resonance, especially when the sound is indescribably their own.
4. Billiam – Animation Cel
This Melbourne, Australian-born garage power punk band released Animation Cel with Legless Records on August 8th, 2024, and the post-punk scene itself may still be left in awe of this unique take on the genre. Billiam’s work often starts like you’d expect any egg-punk album to, before a diverse array of synth textures paint a sonic image that is frankly unmatched. Tracks like “My Metronome” and “The Fog” genuinely sound like a badass video game clashed with reality. With an 8-bit sounding mix, chaotic instrumentation, and megaphone-style vocals of witty lyricism, Billiam’s bend on one of the most bendable genres is truly inspiring.
3. Max Bien Kahn – Flowers
New Orleans songsmith Max Bien Kahn’s aestheticism — both audio and visual — is eye-catching and refreshingly unique, as we mentioned in our review of his November 2024 album, Flowers, but his use of genre in the album was too thought-provoking to let lie. Switching between slow and sweet carols like “Whatever You Want” and bright energy getups like “Saturday Night”, Bien Kahn maintains a nonchalant energy while bringing deep topics to the forefront. Though the tracks may symbolize a bobbing indie feel at first listen, there’s further emphasis rooted in Kahn’s use of genre, altering the perceptions of intense subject matter through soothing melodies.
2. Shannon & The Clams – The Moon is in the Wrong Place
Weaving between antique love ballads and Americana jives, Oakland, California-based alt-indie band Shannon & The Clams released their absolutely stunning seventh album, The Moon is in the Wrong Place. As the listener embarks on their 14-track journey, it’s nearly impossible to predict where the sound will go, but it’s sure to go toward a wonderfully rich nook somewhere between or beyond doo-wop, surf rock, electronic, country, garage psychedelic, or even classic R&B. The band’s vintage tinge on every mix elevates the tunes’ timelessness, combining modern inspirations with a 1970s feel for tasteful eclectic effect.
1. The Mystery Lights – Purgatory
An all-time favorite, The Mystery Lights seem to know no boundaries, but they know how to use their boundlessness with oodles of flair and urbanity. “Mighty Fine & All Mine” sets a scene of twangy, grandiose, and galloping rock n’ roll, just before title track “Purgatory” rolls in with a big-band feel and funk-infused experimental groove. Just when you think you’ve caught the vibe, “In The Streets” and “Don’t Want No Don’t Need No” sneak in with slicing synths that elevate the songs’ textures immaculately, no matter if they’re new wave, country, or indie rock. The Mystery Lights are simply a delightful mystery – you never know what genre they’ll whip out, but you know it’ll be good.
Featured photo: The Mystery Lights — photo by Julia Khoroshilov
