Desire for new music genres opens discovery platform opportunities

Origin Reddit Post

r/music

When was the last time you discovered a genre of music you had never heard before? What was it?

Posted by u/karayama_music•08/02/2025

Not just a song or a band, but a whole new sound. Something that felt like it came from another planet. Maybe it made no sense at first. Maybe it still doesn’t. But something about it pulled

Top Comments

u/Loud-Injury-4805

Desert blues from Saharan Africa. The guitars. The vocals. All of it. Start with Tinariwen and thank me later. ETA: found them a couple years ago taking a world music class in college.

u/crankerfance

Tricky

u/thespaceageisnow

Love Dungeon Synth. Cryo Crypt and Out of Season are some record labels with a ton of good stuff on them.

u/StevieNickedMyself

Similarly, last year, but Inuk. Tanya Tagaq.

u/ShuaigeTiger

Came to say exactly this! Got into it after a bit of tangential reading around the influences behind Dune.

u/karayama_music

Now i am listening Glory box and that's awesome! Thx for that gold!

u/karayama_music

Is it like anime musics?

u/sup3rdr01d

Listen again. It's absolutely incredible

u/karayama_music

Damn... It seems like it's time to go exploring...

u/Wyverz

Tuvan Throat singing band Hun Hur Tu Are really good. Saw them in California in the 90s https://youtu.be/R2ovoRyv4kw?si=cE-ShMYaqmjWanA_

u/banielbow

Non kpop Korean pop: https://youtu.be/QLRxO9AmNNo?si=Hr2KF0ZTyqtio5HW https://youtu.be/-sMzIJNF0Do?si=KSdA66ExMwqUHeUS Black Midi : https://youtu.be/Jfta3YqVHec?si=Mn65XUvstUoS0_En

u/bunshovel

Idk what the official name is but I’ve been calling it “Retro Phonk House” and I was drawn to the song “N****s Ain’t Barin’ Dat” by (then called) Triple Six Mafia, it led me to stuff by ICEOU

u/StevieNickedMyself

Similarly, last year, but Inuk. Tanya Tagaq.

u/Losing-My-Hedge

This is my answer too, I saw a busker player one in Prague and it was kinda mind blowing to come across an entirely new (to me) sound/instrument.

u/DatTF2

Sometimes I hate super specific genre categorization however this seems to be a case where that is useful.

u/2WhiteWitch

Norse bands playing the music of the old Gods Love this music its calming and recharging just think Vikings that music

u/karayama_music

Is it band??

u/56u2040308

A genre of music called western swing...a friend turned me on to a band called Asleep at the Wheel. They are great...you can find them on youtube

u/johnwongfat

I don't know if it's really a genre, but I've been digging whatever New Orleansish, bluegrassy stuff that people like Yes Ma'am and King Strang do.

u/ModerateOsprey

O yeah - thanks :D

u/GingerChic13

I had heard of it but never really paid attention until recently when I went down a trip-hop rabbit hole hard. I love the vibe.

u/NormalMode64

City Pop for me as well, although we differ because I actually was born in 1976, so I got to listen to a little bit of Japanese music in the handful of trips I took to Japan as a kid because

u/karayama_music

By the way, I also make entertainment music inspired by these bands. I would like to receive your comments as I trust your taste in music.

u/eedabaggadix

The last memorable one for me was City Pop, which is basically just 1980s pop music from Japan. It’s almost like vaporwave, giving nostalgic feelings to a time where I wasn’t even alive but I

u/karayama_music

What is the genre??

u/avec_serif

River by Ali Farka Touré. Trust me on this

u/counterfitster

Massive Attack. Their album Mezzanine is perfection, and you've probably heard either Angel or Teardrop in a movie or TV show, especially if you've ever watched House.

u/NormalMode64

City Pop for me as well, although we differ because I actually was born in 1976, so I got to listen to a little bit of Japanese music in the handful of trips I took to Japan as a kid because

u/Commercial-Novel-786

The land that lies between Southern Gothic, Gothic Country, and Western Gothic is my sweet spot. This feels like home to me. 16 Horsepower would be considered ground zero of the genre. Their

u/Telefragg

Dungeon synth, around a couple of years ago. Well, I did hear Burzum's "prison era" albums a lot earlier but I didn't know that there's an entire genre of that sound until recently, there's s

u/litobot

I found out about Merzbow a couple years ago. I still don't get what's going on there.

u/karayama_music

Thank you but it sounded a bit too loud, thank you anyway

u/GingerChic13

Portishead got me started

u/Bob_Spud

**Folk metal** and **Modern Folk.**.. it seems to be big in Asia [Otyken - Storm](https://youtu.be/CqwrwwOzVcQ?si=NeCxtMWphPCpHQDQ) Indigenous Siberain [ChudaHye Chagis live medlay](https:/

u/lrn2crie

I found powerviolence LATE in high school. It was the music I needed and it changed my life forever 😂

u/Scalebearwoof

Masters of chants / Enigma

u/mapadofu

Hurdy gurdy music https://youtu.be/QHmML7bu-iM?si=2Ij0Z8dyLBEbaRrm https://youtu.be/W0DrXyzlHM8?si=Bh0PT8GChp_9C8rm

u/Livid_Instance_7972

I saw Hella open for system of a down. Not too shaby

u/stjnky

In the 1980's I was mostly into classic rock and guitar virtuosos. Then the Pixies happened.

u/mikeyfireman

Whoa! Thank you!

u/oscarish

Gqom - south african dance music scene. It's seems to have gotten a much more mainstream sound now, but I stumbled on it accidentally early in its development, and it was very different sound

u/HankScorpio30

Bardcore - covers of modern songs done in a medieval style

u/eajsimko

Came to say this too. 1000 gecs album specifically

u/roytheodd

Mongolian throat yodeling

u/roytheodd

No. It's more like Star Lord's mix tape, but with stuff you've never heard and yet enjoy upon first listen. It's pop and jazz and synth with different tastes than Western music. Try it. You'l

u/2003tide

Afrobeat. Had an Uber driver playing Fela Kuti and was like this is awesome what is it?

u/Manamehendra

Really nasty American gangsta rap played by a Punjabi cabbie on his car stereo in Dubai. My tastes never ran to rap in the first place and my jaw hit the floorboards when I heard the lyrics,

u/counterfitster

Genre. Most notable group is probably Dillinger Escape Plan

u/karayama_music

Correct me if I misunderstood, you're talking a bit about rave style, aren't you?

u/almo2001

Just watch G Zoom. He does videos on this exploring the weirder sub genres of electronic music.

u/karayama_music

Ah.. That's cool... But u must watch beyblate too right?

u/jacknifetoaswan

I am Lorde, ya ya ya.

u/mapadofu

Clown Core

u/aaaamber2

I've not listened to much but some very freeform rock. Storm&Stress and U.S. Maple are the two I really enjoy.

u/phlebonaut

Zeuhl (French prog rock sub-genre) created by French classically trained percussionist, Christian Vander and his band Magma. They sing in a made up language called Kobaïan. The music in the

u/chupathingy99

Ooh, that's a lot of fun! Gutter Demons and Necromantix are a lot of fun.

u/eedabaggadix

The last memorable one for me was City Pop, which is basically just 1980s pop music from Japan. It’s almost like vaporwave, giving nostalgic feelings to a time where I wasn’t even alive but I

u/karayama_music

Thank u, i'll check it ✅

u/Anthrax4breakfast

Recently got into psychobilly. Lot of fun

u/elmo_touches_me

I don't know exactly how to describe it, but I first heard [Glass Beams](https://open.spotify.com/track/2oSurc3FKyPDaoVpdbb1N9?si=vh33-yvpTLePLeNOZpcWUg) in a sandwich shop, and immediately f

u/Ghost_Of_Malatesta

Rushad Eggleston

u/i-am-the-walrus789

Scandinavian punk rock. No idea what they're saying, but Fuck is the music good

u/SpaceXmars

Math rock

u/Excellent_Doctor1742

Gorenette Coleman - Tommorow I’ll be Festerin’! Goregrind and Free Jazz is not something I thought I’d ever hear.

u/karayama_music

Hmm... Some ways we can call them experimental but i cant put them that box... Anyways, thank u! When did u find them btw?

u/karayama_music

Ah.. It reminds me when i play skyrim...

u/karayama_music

Desert blues is my favorite genre! Although I discovered Glass Beams first, Tinariwen followed and then khruangbin. This trio is very powerful 💪

u/Status_Block591

This is what I came here to say. YT music algorithm is pretty great, kept feeding me little bites of portishead until I sat down and listened to Dummy straight thru and my mind was blown. Fro

u/SenorIngles

For me it was SOPHIE that introduced me to hyperpop. I had never heard anything like faceshopping before and it blew me away. Honestly her Oil of Every Pearls album is a genuine 10/10.

u/DogFun2635

Baille Funk. It’s bedroom dj shit for/from the Brazilian favelas.

u/counterfitster

For anyone looking for examples of genre they're just finding out about, may I offer [Every Noise at Once](https://everynoise.com)

u/lanks1

I was recently divorced and I met a woman on Tinder. We both like metal, so she says there is a show she wants to go to. I thought she meant Pantera, Napalm Death, etc. She meant that she e

u/banielbow

Check out goten project and thievery corporation then

u/mapadofu

ADG7, not really pop, but still Korean https://youtu.be/sdaOtnuw-Ew?si=lJ9lCJkfOa62ji6J

u/ThinBlueLinebacker

Chicken scratch

u/StevieNickedMyself

Israeli alternative from the 90s. Highly recommend Ha-Mechashefot.

u/Yojimbos_serape

Chap hop.

u/counterfitster

Genre. Most notable group is probably Dillinger Escape Plan

u/f700es

2008. Someone told me to check out Groove Salad on SomaFM. It's on everyday when I am at my desk working.

u/mapadofu

ADG7, not really pop, but still Korean https://youtu.be/sdaOtnuw-Ew?si=lJ9lCJkfOa62ji6J

u/enjoiturbulence

I was weirdly obsessed with Rephlex Records/Aphex Twin.

u/karayama_music

Ah... It's like gaspar noe movie but for ears

u/karayama_music

Desert blues is my favorite genre! Although I discovered Glass Beams first, Tinariwen followed and then khruangbin. This trio is very powerful 💪

u/mikeypi

Gothic Country.

u/karayama_music

I will, trusted your music ear!

u/pbcbmf

Residents

u/DryProgress4393

Saw the Rev with Motorhead and Nashville Pussy back in 2009 amazing show.

u/TreasurerAlex

Came here to say hyper pop/100 gecs. Saw them open for NIN a couple years back and fell in love. I also can’t stand hyper pop. They’re just that good at it that it’s transcendant of its genr

u/karayama_music

Any band?

u/Sparyer

When I started listening to Radiohead, Pink Floyd and Thom York, I don't know what they are, it's the most experimental thing, but I love it.

u/counterfitster

For anyone looking for examples of genre they're just finding out about, may I offer [Every Noise at Once](https://everynoise.com)

u/chupathingy99

Ooh, that's a lot of fun! Gutter Demons and Necromantix are a lot of fun.

u/counterfitster

Massive Attack. Their album Mezzanine is perfection, and you've probably heard either Angel or Teardrop in a movie or TV show, especially if you've ever watched House.

u/GingerChic13

Portishead got me started

u/karayama_music

Why did you stop your exploration after high school, captain?

u/Weezlebubbafett

During the covid era I stumbled into something called crate digging/collages. It's basically taking old records that had a tropical flavor (think of Hawaiian style music performed by white fo

u/Livid_Instance_7972

I saw Hella open for system of a down. Not too shaby

u/Bearded_scouser

Swing Beat, basically 1930/40’s music (or influenced by) remixed to a modern dance beat. My wife used to buy me random CD’s that would send me down a rabbit hole! Others that triggered me bef

u/sup3rdr01d

Thall https://open.spotify.com/album/4l7vAsUopNRu08SAkp9m8u?si=aAH8Be6uTp2J4wvKDGQh9Q

u/carls-rmrz69

Jungle and IDM in the mid 90s

u/TroutFishingUS

Gamelan - Javanese, Balinese ensemble music. It is mesmerizing, and quite different to my western ears.

u/GingerChic13

I had heard of it but never really paid attention until recently when I went down a trip-hop rabbit hole hard. I love the vibe.

u/roytheodd

Mongolian throat yodeling

u/i-am-the-walrus789

Scandinavian punk rock. No idea what they're saying, but Fuck is the music good

u/chupathingy99

He and Clowncore are prime examples of when virtuoso musicians get bored.

u/LazyAd9345

Trip hop is new to me and I’m loving it. Portishead and Massive Attack on repeat.

u/karayama_music

Viking spirit is great! Any suggestions?

u/stormpilgrim

1995. Walked into a record store near campus and heard something I could only describe as jazz musicians trying to play metal, or metal musicians trying to play jazz. That was the album "Don

u/roytheodd

Thanks, I'll give her a listen.

u/betterdaysgone

I went to a ‘Do Make Say Think’ concert many years ago where one of the members had a side project were they recorded conversations with friends and neighbors, then used the flow of those con

u/Status_Block591

This is what I came here to say. YT music algorithm is pretty great, kept feeding me little bites of portishead until I sat down and listened to Dummy straight thru and my mind was blown. Fro

u/mapadofu

Clown Core

u/johnwongfat

Ever check out Korpiklaani? They are Finnish folk metal. Might be up your alley.

u/Livid_Instance_7972

And mars volta too, I didn't like their radio song but their live show was pretty good. For weird genres check out estradasphere, or secret chiefs 3.

u/Silly-Mountain-6702

When Lorde's "royals" came on the radio the first time. What is this and can I please have a LOT more of it thank you. https://preview.redd.it/quvevfw7higf1.png?width=750&format=png&am

u/karayama_music

That is one of the bests! I can suggestions you Ummet Ozcan

u/lrn2crie

I never stopped but that was the ONE 😎

u/chupathingy99

That sax solo while triple parked in the restaurant parking lot changed me.

u/karayama_music

I feel unlucky that I didn't come across it until now... I'll look into it, thank you! To tell you the truth, I like music that is a mix of rock and ethnic music... Sometimes Anatolia and som

u/karayama_music

Hmm... Some ways we can call them experimental but i cant put them that box... Anyways, thank u! When did u find them btw?

u/lrn2crie

I found powerviolence LATE in high school. It was the music I needed and it changed my life forever 😂

u/roytheodd

Thanks, I'll give her a listen.

u/concerts85701

Check out the Rev Horton Heat

u/tehsuckness

I just checked out ICEOUT CLICK, I like it. It’s like downtempo mixed with Memphis hip hop. Some of it also has a Detroit techno vibe. As someone who was born in Detroit and grew up in TN in

u/needinput

check out asa-chang and junray, check out the song hana

u/Gonzostewie

Way back in college, I stumbled across Ginger Baker playing with Fela Kuti and a love of afrobeats was born.

u/karayama_music

Is it genre or band?

u/karayama_music

Daumn, that is fire 🔥

u/TreasurerAlex

Came here to say hyper pop/100 gecs. Saw them open for NIN a couple years back and fell in love. I also can’t stand hyper pop. They’re just that good at it that it’s transcendant of its genr

u/Scalebearwoof

The best way to describe it is to listen to it https://youtu.be/eXwSZkMiyIg?si=bmXCKIyD6iMZw9Am https://youtu.be/c1wSqVNC4pU?si=pOt0iHn_7gtU2l3y

u/ThatsEnoughInternets

Djent and it was amazing

u/karayama_music

Is it band or genre?

u/dirtyharry2

Honestly, he's all alone. It's like an art piece, almost musical theater. Brit-rap, but he also sings. It's a PR piece on mental health. Just give it a watch (all 9 minutes)

u/Anthrax4breakfast

Recently got into psychobilly. Lot of fun

u/aaaamber2

I've not listened to much but some very freeform rock. Storm&Stress and U.S. Maple are the two I really enjoy.

u/bunshovel

I dont think so, this stuff definitely leans more hip hop/trap, rave style is probably more dancy, house ish

u/karayama_music

What is the genre of this music?

u/Bob_Spud

**Folk metal** and **Modern Folk.**.. it seems to be big in Asia [Otyken - Storm](https://youtu.be/CqwrwwOzVcQ?si=NeCxtMWphPCpHQDQ) Indigenous Siberain [ChudaHye Chagis live medlay](htt

u/TroutFishingUS

Gamelan - Javanese, Balinese ensemble music. It is mesmerizing, and quite different to my western ears.

u/karayama_music

That is one of the bests! I can suggestions you Ummet Ozcan

u/Telefragg

Dungeon synth, around a couple of years ago. Well, I did hear Burzum's "prison era" albums a lot earlier but I didn't know that there's an entire genre of that sound until recently, there's s

u/roytheodd

I'm a fan of all kinds of music from around the world. I don't need to understand the lyrics. You got a recommendation?

u/ButForRealsTho

Refused is the best to ever do it

u/karayama_music

If you don't get me wrong, I recommend my own music to surprise someone familiar with the western music style... I'm doing it purely for fun!

u/karayama_music

Ah.. It reminds me when i play skyrim...

u/i-am-the-walrus789

Paa kii. Kynnet, and kissa have been three I've really really enjoyed. Kissa is a bit of a stretch from "punk" though

u/ThinBlueLinebacker

you're welcome!

u/karayama_music

Thank u! I have added my list, tomorrow i will check them. What do you think about ethnic music?

u/photoguy423

Not entirely certain where they fit genre wise, but Polysics and Yoshida Brothers.

u/TikiJeff

Maximum the Hormone, from Japan, has a kind of punk/ hip hop/ pop, blend that I have really enjoyed finding.

u/eedabaggadix

I’m not sure. The only anime I have ever seen is Pokémon and Dragon Ball Z

u/SpaceXmars

Math rock

u/LazloDaLlama

I never heard of hyper pop until I discovered 100 gecs. Started listening ironically and actually ended up liking them. Not interested in the genre as a whole though.

u/carls-rmrz69

Jungle and IDM in the mid 90s

u/karayama_music

Now i am listening Glory box and that's awesome! Thx for that gold!

u/Loud-Injury-4805

Desert blues from Saharan Africa. The guitars. The vocals. All of it. Start with Tinariwen and thank me later. ETA: found them a couple years ago taking a world music class in college.

u/CicciolinoOdoroso

Went to see Glass beams last month in Milan.

u/dirtyharry2

Hi Ren https://g.co/kgs/iZBnPS4

u/ThinBlueLinebacker

It's a genre of [contemporary Native American dance music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_scratch) that is close to Norteno. Some of it sounds like yakkity sax, some of it is more like

u/libidonoir

Northern Soul and the whole dancing scene. So fun to watch.

u/Sparyer

When I started listening to Radiohead, Pink Floyd and Thom York, I don't know what they are, it's the most experimental thing, but I love it.

u/sup3rdr01d

Thall https://open.spotify.com/album/4l7vAsUopNRu08SAkp9m8u?si=aAH8Be6uTp2J4wvKDGQh9Q

u/HankScorpio30

Bardcore - covers of modern songs done in a medieval style

u/banielbow

Non kpop Korean pop: https://youtu.be/QLRxO9AmNNo?si=Hr2KF0ZTyqtio5HW https://youtu.be/-sMzIJNF0Do?si=KSdA66ExMwqUHeUS Black Midi : https://youtu.be/Jfta3YqVHec?si=Mn65XUvstUoS0_En

u/karayama_music

[spotify-likhar](https://open.spotify.com/track/5kqlkhcy0uEzbfHWTY9S0c?si=hujL7Hg1TF6RzQaOdYQHpw) [youtube-likhar](https://youtu.be/tAfyuh_6rAA) The main spirit is same but vibes changing.

u/crankerfance

Tricky

u/LazloDaLlama

I never heard of hyper pop until I discovered 100 gecs. Started listening ironically and actually ended up liking them. Not interested in the genre as a whole though.

u/karayama_music

Is it genre or band?

u/Ghost_Of_Malatesta

Rushad Eggleston

u/karayama_music

Damn... It seems like it's time to go exploring...

u/chupathingy99

He and Clowncore are prime examples of when virtuoso musicians get bored.

u/karayama_music

This text felts me like an other language! LOL! That is awesome info, thank you

u/Scuta44

Heilung. Their music is based on texts and runic inscriptions from Germanic peoples of the Iron Age and Viking Age.

u/Hempseed420

Chimurenga music of Zimbabwe is awesome

u/wkw3

You must listen to The Cramps.

u/brothersp0rt

Exotica “Exotica is a musical genre that emerged in the 1950s, characterized by its use of exotic instrumentation and rhythms to create a sense of fantasy and escape, often evoking images o

u/concerts85701

Check out the Rev Horton Heat

u/GingerChic13

Glad I could contribute ☺️

u/chupathingy99

That sax solo while triple parked in the restaurant parking lot changed me.

u/enjoiturbulence

I was weirdly obsessed with Rephlex Records/Aphex Twin.

u/synthfreek

You should check out Deadbolt - Shrunken Head. It’s like The Cramps, a Tiki Bar and the classic Universal Monster movies rolled into one.

u/oscarish

And there are SO many different subgenres of gamelan, from Javanese court music, to the Balinese walking gamelans that play during street festivals. It's so diverse!

u/karayama_music

Any band?

u/wdaloz

Bout 5 years i finally found Zamrock and still cant stop Its psychedelic 60/70s rock from Zambia sortof blending in some African roots, britpop, bluesy sabbath and psychedelic rock

u/slickrico

Gamelan is amazing music. There was a local gamelan that used to do concerts in my area of like 2-12hrs that would just put you into such a trance. Sad they packed up shop during covid. I got

u/Mrexplodey

Dillinger isn't a math rock band. They're what's known as "Mathcore" which is basically more intense, proggier metalcore

Origin Reddit Post

r/music

When was the last time you discovered a genre of music you had never heard before? What was it?

Top Comments

Ask AI About This

Create Your Own