CurrrlPunks is committed to highlighting BIPOC, Queer, Trans & other marginalized musicians in Alternative genres. Here are some artists you might enjoy, with a small description and links to their sites. Feel free to suggest any additions, as I’ll be constantly adding to this list. Happy listening!

 

Essentials

  • Bam Bam - iconic sludgy grunge from in Seattle in 1983, led by Tina Bell, the godmother of grunge 

  • Death - quick paced proto-punk, funk band formed in Detroit  in 1971

  • Fishbone - rock fusion of ska, punk, & funk metal with humor and political commentary; formed in 1979

  • Living Colour - blazing hardcore rock, punk, & funk metal with compelling lyrics; formed in 1984

  • Pure Hell- dynamic proto punk band formed in 1974 from Philadelphia 

  • Sista Grrrl- incredible collective formed in 1997 by Tamar-kali Brown, Honeychild Coleman, Simi (Stone) Sernaker and Maya Sokora

  • Skin - Alternative rock & metal singer & songwriter, lead vocalist of Skunk Anansie, first Black woman to headline Glastonbury in 1999

  • X-Ray Spex - led by the brilliant Poly Styrene, London based punk rock & new wave band formed in 1974

 

PUNK

  • Action/Adventure - BIPOC group out of Chicago, feel good heavy pop-punk that is reminiscent of our punk childhood

  • Bob Vylan -collision of grime, punk rock, & hip hop with charging lyrics of politics & social issues faced within the Black community 

  • Big Joanie - an essential Black feminist post-punk reminiscent of Riot Grrrl

  • BLKVapor- all Black Queer punk and noise rock 

  • Danny Denial - Black queer led artist of raw goth-pop punk

  • Dead Pioneers- “Unapologetically disruptive,” Indigenous fronted band that uses energized sarcasm to provide commentary on systemic marginalization

  • Fea - Chicana Punk band with kinetic anthems

  • Gully Boys - Harmonious grunge power pop, garage rock  

  • Hijas de la Muerte - 3  piece Indian and Hispanic unapologetic Grunge Punk 

  • Ho99o9 - (pronounced Horror) punk rap band with an anarchic death rap sound

  • Magnolia Park - Supercharged punk rock, genre bending 

  • Meet Me @ the Altar - Pop punk all girl band with an energetic sound 

  • The Muslims - Queer, Black & Brown band, anti-fascist, and balances humor with real political rage 

  • Pinkshift - Pop punk band that fuses elements of grunge and alt rock 

  • Pleasure Venom - Fierce femme punk rock with electrifying vocals

  • Red Arkade - Heavy punk rock band from Queens with a catchy & gritty sound

  • RumKicks - high energy South Korean punk band 

  • Skatune Network - Lively ska covers of songs with punk, emo, and rock edge

  • Special Interest - Dance punk balancing electronic beats & hardcore riffs

  • The 1865 - impactful blues-punk rock, self described as “Bad Brains meets Foo Fighters in a black woman’s hair salon for a cup of tea”

  • The Specials - Ska rock band infused with punk that smoothly delivers a resounding message

  • TV on the Radio - mix of post-punk electronic fun from Brooklyn

  • We Don’t Ride Llamas - Alt Afro-Punk band tapping into social commentary of marginalized peoples

  • Whole Wheat Bread- self described as ‘dirty south punk rock’ from Florida 

HARDCORE

  • Ache - hardcore punk band, lyrics cover difficult topics like depression

  • Dizeaze - hardcore band out of Chicago 

  • FEVER 333 - Hardcore punk, Rap Metal inspired by the Black Panther Party

  • Lake Lanier -Black alternative, woman fronted hardcore punk from NYC 

  • MAAFA - afro-progressive hardcore led by Afro-Brazilian artist, Flora Lucini - uses rhythms & instruments from the African Diaspora

  • Minority Threat - all Black hardcore band from the Midwest, with a  strong political message

  • Shoot da 5 - diverse, NYC based ‘Hardcore Con Sazon’ - hip hop & metal elements delivering themes about injustice and culture 

  • UnityTX- Dallas heavy metal band  that blend rap metal & industrial to their flow

  • Winter Wolf- band from the NY/NJ area, described as Harlem Rhythm punk - varying sounds of soul, grit, and hardcore 

 

METAL

  • Adrienne - Metalcore band from MA

  • Baby Metal- Japanese Kawaii Metal, a mix of J-pop idol and heavy metal 

  • Ballista - Metal/Hardcore that takes on subjects like racism & Trans issues 

  • Black Pantera - African-Brazilian band, name inspired by the Black Panthers 

  • Bloodywood - Folk metal band from India; uses cultural instruments

  • Buggin - harcore band from Chicago with a playful punk sound

  • Cinnamon Babe - Fiery fun Nu-Metal led by Stormi Maya

  • Cursed Affliction - alternative nu-metal with chilling electronic elements 

  • Divide and Dissolve - Instrumental doom metal; political titles conveying anti-colonial and dismantling white supremacy

  • Knife Wound - heavy metal band from Atlanta 

  • Nova Twins - fierce alt duo that combine nu-metal, rap, and bass heavy rock 

  • Nini Music - folk metal and instrumentalist from Taiwan, Asian folk legends through a fusion of rock elements 

  • Shepherd's Reign- Mighty Polynesian heavy metal band with cultural heritage & dynamic storytelling 

  • Skindred - Heavy metal fused with Reggae rock and hip hop 

  • Soul Glo - hardcore punk with high energy and captivating hooks  

  • Tetrarch - Metal, hard rock from Atlanta, with dark vibes and heavy riffage 

  • Voice of Baceprot (VOB) - female metal trio from Indonesia, heavy rock with a global message 

  • Zaeer (زئير)- heavy metal rock band, plays original Arabic songs 

ALTERNATIVE 

  • ALT BLK ERA - Sister duo, genre-bending with haunting, fierce sounds

  • Breezy Supreme - unapologetic Black alternative punk artist from DC area

  • Blvck Hippie - Black fronted, sad boy indie rock and post-punk rock, inspired by VHS music

  • Black Polish - dance worthy mood Indie rock

  • Connie Constance - Indie pop rock; self dubbed a fairy bitch genre 

  • Élishia Sharie - Electrifying neo alt artist fusing elements of 80’s classic and 90’s alt rock  

  • Gemini Aaliyah -chilling goth alt bangers and gloomy fairy tales 

  • Guitar Gabby & The TxLips Band- rock band led by women & gender expansive professionals

  • Iniko- non-binary artist that blends R&B, rock, & reggae, creates a spellbinding experience 

  • Hemlocke Springs- synth lofi and indie pop, feels like a dream, happy adventures 

  • LustSickPuppy-genreless but elements of Techno punk, breakcore, nu-metal and hip hop

  • Mimi’s Revenge- Compelling harmonic vocals, Alternative Pop with an airy feel 

  • Mint Green - Emo pop alternative band with melodious lyrics 

  • Oxymorrrons - Queens born group fusing alternative rock with hip-hop & punk

  • Rico Nasty - “sugar trap” artist that blends harcore rap & rock with a punk aesthetic, our Black alternative Queen 

  • Samiah- cathartic and epic rock by this dazzling Black artist; vocals on 1000

  • Santigold- new wave & electronic styles, transcendental storytelling

  • Shamir - dance electro pop & lofi indie blends, multiple genres

  • Sneaks - post-punk, indie pop, spaced out hip hop 

  • Lava La Rue -neo-psychedelia, soul, & indie pop artist fusion

  • TeZATalks- hardcore pop with a blend of alt-rap, nu-metal, electronic, & melodic vocals

  • Tres Leches - experimental blends of art-punk, pop,cumbia, and rock 

  • Urban Heat- dark 80s energy, contagious electric dance vibes

  • Zahariah - timeless sounds of rock, pop, and hip hop

 

DARK WAVE/ POST PUNK/ SYNTH

  • Camlann- Marxist dark synth duo from Indonesia with captivating  vocals from Ony Godfrey 

  • Dark Chisme- Seattle based darkwave duo, fusing Latin, house, & electric sounds with synth 

  • Glass Spells- San Diego duo of dreamy synth pop rock, nostalgic retro sounds with lyrics of Mexican Heritage

  • Grizz- fuses Goth electronic with hip hop & dark retro sounds, danceable beats 

  • Meldamor- Phoenix, Arizona based Darkwave fusing heavy metal & fierce post-punk

  • Past Self- Las Vegas “K-Goth,” Post-punk interchanging Korean & English lyrics, entrancing synth sounds 

  • Tiffadelic- Post-punk/Darkwave -hypnotic vocals, synth -storytelling that bend time

  • Twin Tribes - dark synth, post- punk band reminiscent of 80’s Goth rock  

  • Vick Vapors- California based, Latino Post-Punk artist making perfect dark bangers & chilling vibes

 

ALT HIP HOP/SOUL

  • Princess Nokai - experimental trip hop styles with rap rock elements 

  • Talia Goddess- unconventional innovator of songs & words, from Brooklyn 

  • Tank and the Bangas -lively, magical medley of funk, soul, hip hop, spoken word, & new jazz from New Orleans

  • THOT SQUAD- a.k.a. BLVCK BUNNIE, bold & twerkable anthems

  • Tierra Whack- experimental rap with a uniquely creative & artistic take on the genre