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CurrrlPunks Recommends

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

  • Angel J. Nelson– grunge, pop, trap & R&B infused creations 

  • Bree Runway– unconventional, trailblazing sensation of pop & R&B/Soul

  • Chief Cleopatra – Texas based rock infused with soul

  • Cookiee Kawaii – upbeat jersey club & R&B sound to dance to

  • Dizzy Fae – electric rap & R&B 

  • Dreamer Isioma – a wonderful balance of various genres like Afrobeats, R&B & funk

  • EARTHGANG-  playful combination of southern rap, funk, & soul from Atlanta

  • 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